Chapter 64: Ruling over the Riverlands

301 AC

Robb

He looked outside the window of the Tully solar to the streams and fields below the castle. He could see the winter sun reflect on the cold water. The image brough him peace every time he looked at it. If he turned his head, he could see his army camped more to the west. Well, a small part of his army that was. Most were off somewhere. Jon had taken nine thousand five hundred of his men to the Westerlands or scattered them around in garrisons in the Reach's lands above the Goldroad. He himself had sent another two thousand men to the area, to deter any moves the Tyrells might be thinking about.

Most other Riverlanders and Crownlanders were at home. They were restoring their keeps and rebuilding their towns and villages. Thousands of his Northmen had either joined them or they were helping them in gathering crops or resources, most help was done by gathering large amounts of wood to rebuild all the building that had been burned down. Other groups had been sent with the aim of defeating any rebel or bandit groups in the area and sadly those had been many. This only left two thousand loyal men below the walls of Riverrun. Uncle Edmure had thanked him profusely for sending away most of them, as the constant supply of tens of thousands of men had been straining his people and stores.

He constantly helped to refresh their stores, yet he understood it made House Tully uneasy. Especially now, with another supply line running towards Casterly Rock and Lannisport being established to help out. A great feast had been held when they heard the news of the latter's easy fall. All had celebrated as if the war had already ended. He understood them, but he had no time to celebrate.

These lands he looked upon would never be safe, if he didn't do anything about it now. He walked back again towards the desk and the maps scattered around it. He had spent weeks identifying all problems of the Riverlands. He had talked with many nobles big and small about a multitude of issues and ideas to counter them. He had even spoken with a few of the common folk. In the end he had identified two types of problems. Problems the Riverlands had had for centuries and which needed structural longtime solutions and urgent matters that, if solved well, wouldn't be of any concern for his sons or grandsons when their time to rule came.

He identified five timeless issues. First and foremost, there was the comparative weakness of House Tully. In all of the kingdoms, the ruling house was the strongest with perhaps one or two houses coming close to them. Not in the Riverlands where Houses Blackwood, Bracken, Frey, Mallister and before Robert's Rebellion also Darry had been stronger than them. He would need to find a way to strengthen his uncle's house, without endangering his own interests in the Riverlands.

Secondly, there was the constant disunity in the Riverlands. Their whole history consisted of some houses betraying others and allying with invaders. Never had House Tully managed to rally the whole of the Riverlands in the last three hundred years. He had united them and protected them against the Lannisters, but in spite of that some houses had still betrayed him. With their common enemy soon gone, he needed to do something about this or he and his uncle would soon face rebellion.

Thirdly, there was the Blackwood-Bracken feud. Many wars had been fought because of it and even when they fought together it weakened the cohesion of the army. It needed to stop. Measures needed to be taken to end it for good, even though both families told him it had been tried before and always just flared up again after a generation or two.

Fourthly, there were the religious problems. The Blackwoods, most of their vassals and a few minor knightly houses that were scattered around were the only ones who still held strong to the Old Gods. Now, with his ascendancy to the Crown of the Trident, religion would surely be a reason for strife once more. To talk about this, Ser Lucas Blackwood would soon arrive to advice him. Apparently, he had some light to shed on the situation.

Lastly, you had the geographical location of the kingdom. It was locked between the North, the Vale, the Westerlands, the Reach and the Storm Kingdom, while the Ironborn threatened it from the sea. The only kingdom that wasn't a threat to its safety was Dorne. This was the sole reason they had come off so easy in the negotiations.

He had been working hard to search for solutions on all of these problems. Some, he had already thought off before and were already being implanted. Others were new and still needed to be discussed and planned out. Many things had been discussed with Jon on the march, however, he had spent the last few weeks thinking how to implement his ideas.

Then there were the second kind of problems. Things that needed to be fixed now or they would instantly endanger the security of the Riverlands. Many a night had been spent with Riverlords and especially his uncles to discuss these issues.

Firstly, he had to decide what to do with the traitorous houses. He would punish them severely and reward his followers, but he couldn't reward anyone too much and risk destroying the balance of power. A very difficult balancing exercise which had held him awake for many nights at a time.

Secondly, there were the successions of the houses that were close to extinction. Houses Hayford and Stokeworth had only unwed female heirs left before their lines ended. The Rosby line's fate was even worse, with no clear heir to speak off.

Thirdly, there was the destruction of the lands due to the war. Already, Maidenpool, Stoney Sept and Saltpans were being resettled. Their houses were re-erected, their walls were rebuild and bodies were buried. However, not only the cities were hit. All the lands south of the Red Fork were ravaged. Its keeps and holdfasts razed, its farms set ablaze and abandoned and its population decimated.

Many of the people had fled north to Riverrun, Seagard or other castles. These people were now returned to their homeland and helped with restarting their lives. Yet even then, over a million people would never return home. A sickening number, all taken to the grave by hunger, disease or the malicious deeds of their enemies. The tens of thousands of people being resettled from King's Landing would greatly help to replenish the lands, although their integration would take a lot of time and hard work as well. They would need to quickly assimilate in the Riverlander culture, not an easy feat to accomplish in that great a number.

This hung closely together with the fourth issue, the integration of the Northern Crownlands into the Riverlands. Any sense of feeling of being a 'Crownlander' would need to disappear. They would need to act and feel like Riverlanders now. As long as they felt distinctive from the others, unrest would be rising under the surface.

Fifthly, there was the case of the former Targaryen loyalists. They had been heavily punished by Robert Baratheon and Hoster Tully and there was still some resentment there because of it. If he wanted the Riverlanders to be united, he would need to make sure they let go of all this resentment.

The amount of work in front of him had been dizzying, but he was finally getting somewhere. As if the Gods had heard him, his work once again continued with a knock on his door. "Ser Lucas Blackwood is here to see you, Your Grace." One of his loyal guards shouted from outside the door. "Thank you, let him in Wyndal."

The Riverlander knight walked in and after a loyal bow, both of them embraced as the friends they were. From all the Riverlanders, Ser Lucas had been the one who had best adapted to the presence of the Northmen in his homeland. He was friends with nearly all of them and helped bridge relations between them and his countrymen, especially his lordly brother.

"Your Grace, I thank you for taking the time to listen to me. I know you are very busy." He started speaking, as he nudged towards the maps on the desk. He held up his hand. "It is no problem, Lucas. I'm eager to hear what you wish to speak off."

"Well, I have heard you speak of repopulating the Riverlands many times. I have also heard some Northmen speak in hushed tones about the limited presence of the Old Gods in these lands. Other ones have been discussing a possibility to stay here in the South, instead of returning home and straining their families resources for winter."

"Aye, I have been present at discussions on either one of these subjects. However, what would it have to do with you Ser?" He responded suspiciously. If this would cause any more possible strife between the Riverlanders, he would have to nip it in the bud as soon as possible.

"Well, I was wondering how familiar you were with the Widow Fairs in the Riverlands after the Dance of Dragons, Your Grace? Especially their aftermath and how their descendants live now. It is closely connected to my family's history, so I thought it be good if I would explain it to you. Maybe it can help you to solve all these problems at once." The Blackwood knight answered his question.

"Hmmn, the Widow Fairs?" His friend nodded. "I know my ancestor Lord Cregan Stark went south in the Dance of Dragons with an army that consisted for a large part of childless and unwed men. Older men and younger sons with no future in the North. As the army had fought no battles, most were still alive at the end of the war. They feared to become a burden, if they went back home. Many wished to remain in the south and organized weddings were held in the Riverlands with the widows of men fallen in the war. Together these new couples helped resettle the Riverlands, I think that's about it."

"That is exactly right, Your Grace. Under the impulse of Lord Cregan's new wife Alysanne Blackwood, a kinswoman of mine, these so-called Widow Fairs were held at the Twins, Stoney Sept, Fairmarket, Raventree Hall and Riverrun. The latter two benefited the most of it, as most of the five thousand Northmen settled in the lands of Houses Blackwood and Tully." The knight laughed, emphasizing his own family as the reason why he was telling this to him. He motioned for him to continue his story.

"After the war, the Riverlands were blessed with sixty years of peace and prosperity. Sadly, this is a rarity in our history. Except for the Conquest of Dorne, we weren't involved in any wars and never were our homes looted or our crops burned. This led to a huge population boom after the war. Everywhere the population grew at an incredible rate, among them the descendants of the couples made by these Widow Fairs. They rejuvenated the population of the Old Gods believers in the Riverlands. By the time the First Blackfyre Rebellion came along, the number of their descendants had risen to over eighty thousand people."

"Some would assimilate and convert, but most would not. During the Blackfyre Rebellion and future wars, some pious lords tried to get rid of their flourishing communities and many of them fled to our lands. We accepted them with open arms, as they strengthened both our house and our religion. As you know, most smallfolk usually remain on the same lands they were born on generation after generation. Yet, throughout the years, we made it a point to accept landless younger sons and uncles of these descendants in our lands. This suited us, as we became stronger, the smallfolk itself, as we gave them better chances in life, and the lords they left, as it limited the growth of and their problems with these communities in their lands. As such, many of their descendants have come to live with us and our lands have prospered. However, many still remain scattered around the Riverlands." This caught him off-guard. He knew many Old Gods believers still dwelled in the Blackwood lands and had even heard some saw it as their sanctuary, but he didn't know of the other communities.

"I have asked around in the circles of the lower nobility how these communities are doing and have demanded any notes my father and grandfather had on them at our home. In the end, I can conclude that before the war these communities were still very much alive and even thriving. Especially at the other four other places these fairs had been held. Sadly, the community that had peacefully existed to the southwest of Stoney Sept was completely wiped out during the war. A combination of Lannisters, hunger and zealots using the chaos has barely left any of them alive. Even so, the large communities in the Frey, Tully and Paege lands still hold strong and smaller ones are scattered in the lands of neighboring families. House Blackwood even seems to have had a history of marrying into these houses after wars, like the Blackfyre Rebellions, that had depleted our manpower. As part of the dowry, these houses would send some members of these communities our way to replenish our numbers with good Old Gods believing Riverlanders."

Although very interesting, he still didn't understand were his friend was going with this. He expressed as much to him. Ser Lucas only grinned. "Well, this is your solution, Your Grace."

"What is?" He frowned.

"Widow Fairs … You can hold Widow Fairs for those Northmen not willing to go back north again. I think I can safely say that you are planning to reward some of your loyal, Old Gods believing countrymen with lands in the South. Organize Widow Fairs and move those willing of the existing communities towards those lands. It would give a future and a home to those wishing to stay here. It would help repopulate those areas with loyal men in the prime of their lives ready to help rebuild the area and it would help strengthen the situation of the Old Gods south of the Neck as well help integrate the Northmen. It would also lessen the conflict of the nobles you rewarded ruling over an entire population of Seven believers."

He looked in shock at his friend. It would indeed help to solve all of those problems in one move. It would be a stroke of genius that would satisfy and help everyone, everyone except one group. "What about the pious Seven believers in the South? We would anger them greatly with this." He expressed his concerns.

Ser Lucas shrugged. "Aye, probably … but most of them are dead or their families too weakened to do anything about it right now. The old Lord Vance of Wayfarer's Rest is dead, Lord Karyl is young and less zealous than his father. His distant cousin the Lord of Atranta is broken after the dead of his two sons and we all know what happened to his lands. Lord Piper lost his heir and his lands have been ravaged by war. Old Lord Lychester is almost senile and his heir is the underage grandson of one of his cousins. House Bracken's lands were burned by the Lannisters and House Mooton is reduced to a young boy in the custody of Lord Edmure with a town that needs to be rebuild from the ground up … if there was ever a time to do this it is now."

He listened to his friend's plea and couldn't help but agree. However, that didn't chance the fact that once these houses had gotten back up the threat would remain. "What about the future? Once these houses have replenished and are strong again."

"By then, all these nobles you have rewarded would be strong and settled in as well. My brother will be more than willing to ally with them, as will other more moderate houses. In the end, the Riverlands would be once again divided and if they are so stupid as to try anything you can come south with tens of thousands of Northmen to settle the issue once and for all. Besides, we won't be converting the whole of the land. I just think it would be beneficial if my house isn't the only sanctuary for our believes south of the Neck. It leaves us and our people isolated and surrounded."

He thought about that. It was true that as long as the Blackwoods were the only major house to not believe in the Seven, some would ostracize them. The only reason they were still here was because of their power and might, as many had tried to bring them down before. If he had a handful of lords like that, it would weaken any organized resistance the New Gods' believers would ever want against his house. He was sure surrounding kingdoms would always try to use religion to destabilize his realm or even use it as a precursor to invade. It could also help unify the Riverlands in the long term, although strife in the earlier stages would most likely be unavoidable.

"I thank you for your intelligent council, my friend. You have given me a lot to think about." He said to the Blackwood knight, dismissing him from the solar. The idea was sound, but it had also confirmed his belief in his friend as well. The knight deserved to be rewarded and he would do well in his new functions.

He spent the rest of the day calculating and overthinking the implications it would have on his plan. He subtly spoke of parts of it with Lords Deddings, Rodrik Umber and Ser Robert Paege. All gave interesting viewpoints on certain topics he was still unsure about and it also served as a means to measure their intellect.

After dinner he called both his uncles to the solar. After weeks of planning, it was finally time to make some important decisions. To do this effectively, he needed the support of his uncle Edmure as Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. He intentionally invited uncle Brynden as well, as he had a great influence on his other uncle and always gave sound advice.

When they entered, he offered them all a glass of Arbor Gold. Since their raiding into the Reach, they had hundreds, if not thousands, of barrels of the Arbor stuff. He greeted them and sat down at the table in the middle of the solar with his uncles. He had very consciously not taken his place on the lord's seat, as it might insult uncle Edmure. The fact he had appropriated his solar for weeks now must be hard enough.

"Uncles, I have need of your council, your guidance and also of your consent on a lot of the measures I am planning for the Riverlands. I need House Tully to agree to the reforms to make sure the Riverlands will replenish quicker and stronger from these hardships than ever before. I have asked for your guidance many times in the progress of creating my proposals, now is the time to finally decide everything. It is my plan that we together redesign the Riverlands of the future. Houses Stark and Tully, my family, will rule these lands now, without any interference of outside lords or kings and tonight we create this new world." He spoke up solemnly.

Ser Brynden just raised his eyebrow. "I say this with the uttermost respect Your Grace, but just because you are technically my grand-nephew doesn't mean you need to make every sentence you tell us part of some grand speech. Just get on with it and let us talk of the measures at hand." Edmure almost spit out his wine laughing at the remark and he couldn't hide his own smirk at the words of his mother's uncle.

"Alright, grand-uncle, if that's what you want, I will oblige." He responded with a mock bow. All three laughed at that. It was a weird dynamic. He and Edmure were the most important nobles of his kingdom, while the Blackfish was as renowned and respected as anyone ever could be. Yet, when push came to shove, they were all just family. Family, duty and honor were the wise house words of House Tully, in that order. The words of his mother and because of that also a little bit his own. That's what they would do tonight. They would do their duty and they would do it honorably, but still family came first.

He explained them the long-lasting and very topical issues he saw for the future of the Riverlands. Uncle Brynden agreed with all of them, while uncle Edmure only made a problem of the religious issues. He had anticipated that. Just like his mother, he had been very zealously educated in the light of the Seven.

To create some goodwill, he first discussed the weak position of House Tully. "House Tully needs to become stronger. You need additional lands and incomes." No one was happier with that than the new Lord of Riverrun.

"What do you have in mind?" Ser Brynden asked.

"You will of course get the seven miles of Westerlands' territory that borders your own, but I want to go further. If you both agree, I plan to give some of the lands of House Goodbrook to Riverrun directly. I marked them here on the map." He told them, as he handed them a parchment.

"More specifically it concerns the villages of Cornby, Creaksbend, Welsbridge, Welsbank and Forgebury. The lands of Pasture Hill and Meadow Bank all the way to and including Battletown. The holdfasts of Creek Tower, Swampfast and Troutbend. The cascades of Shella's Tears and nearby Shella's Forest. Also included are the money makers of Flower's Mill and the Beesong hives. The hundred or so scattered farmsteads in between those lands are of course also included."

The Blackfish whistled. "This is a fifth of the lands of House Goodbrook, not a small gift."

"Why not simply transfer all the lands of House Goodbrook to us? It would make us the strongest house in the Riverlands with a single stroke of ink and you would never have to worry about your first concern." The Lord of Riverrun asked him greedily.

"No, that wouldn't do." He replied resolutely. "It would change the power dynamics in the Riverlands too drastically and would create concern and jealousy among your bannermen. House Tully would also be seen as greedy and opportunistic, which we can't have. Besides, the keep of House Goodbrook is too great a castle to be reduced to a mere holdfast. I have plans to gift it to someone else."

"You want to end House Goodbrook?" Ser Brynden asked him in shock.

"I plan to end most of the houses that betrayed us at Atranta. A clear message will be made to any who dare to stab us in the back. If you betray House Stark, you and your family won't survive this. However, we digress. This will be discussed in detail later on in the evening." Both seemed pleased enough by this and let it go.

"So, these lands come directly under Riverrun?" Uncle Edmure asked, circling the area on the map.

"Aye, it will significantly strengthen House Tully and bring in much appreciated extra coin. Twenty years ago, you were behind Houses Blackwood, Bracken, Frey, Mallister and Darry in strength. Now, you would only need to leave Houses Blackwood, Bracken and Mallister in front of you and with these lands the gap will have become significantly smaller." He replied. Lord Edmure seemed pleased at the result, while Ser Brynden seemed to appreciate the diplomatic implications of it all.

"I also have another proposal to strengthen House Tully directly." He continued. "There is more?" Ser Brynden asked.

He nodded and turned towards uncle Edmure. "House Whent has gone extinct. Your mother was one of the possible heirs. If you discount all of those which married into House Frey and their descendants, she becomes the only possible heir. As such, I think it reasonably if you were to inherit Harrenhal."

"You would give me Harrenhal? On top of expanding Riverrun's lands?" The smile that split his uncle's face really was a sight to see.

"Aye, but on two conditions. You are to pass it on to your second son at the latest at his twentieth birthday. If you fail to have multiple sons or only one Tully line were to remain, the lands will go to either Bran or Rickon through our mother's line."

"What happens before I have fathered a second son or before he comes of age?"

"You would be Lord of Harrenhal and you have to appoint someone to oversee its workings. This is also the second condition, that you spend coin and effort to rebuilding and repopulating those lands. If you wish to tear down part of the castle to make it more affordable, I will allow it but send me the plans before you start anything." He replied. Edmure agreed very quickly, he looked as happy as a child on his nameday.

"Now, to stay on the topic of fathering sons. I had an idea to start solving the disunity and the Blackwood-Bracken feud, but it would need your approval uncle." He started to explain, while turning himself to his mother's younger brother.

"My approval? How come?" He replied.

"Marriage has the possibility to unite many houses. Just look at what we have achieved together simply because my parents married and got me. Lord Jonos has five daughters and no trueborn sons. I will propose that his oldest daughter and heir Barbara marries his nephew Hendry. The lad has shown himself capable during the war and it will ensure the Bracken bloodline and name for the future. At the same time, I will propose that you marry her sister Jayne and Lord Brynden Blackwood marries the third daughter Catelyn Bracken. It would bond Houses Blackwood and Bracken together with not only each other, but their overlords as well. I would be surprised if they refused the opportunity." He explained his plan.

Uncle Edmure looked at him in shock. "I'd need to marry?" He asked. "Aye, you would. I think binding them together to House Tully it is the only way to ensure they will accept."

The Blackfish laughed loudly and slapped his nephew on his back. "Ha, it was about time Edmure. You know Hoster would want you to give him some red-haired grandchildren. Maybe name one of your sons after him, that'll certainly please the old grunt from the grave."

Although the words seemed harsh, you could see how he still missed the older brother which had been estranged from him for so long. "He would be happy with that, wouldn't he?" Edmure asked silently. Ser Brynden nodded to his nephew, keeping his arm around his shoulder.

"Strategically, it would tie you to your two most powerful vassals in the most powerful way possible. It would help pacify the region as well. You have many powerful friends, for example in both Houses Vance, as well as the heirs to Houses Mallister, Ryger, … If you also tie those two houses to you in marriage no one will dare to challenge your authority, or mine through you." He explained more.

"It could be even better than that." The Blackfish interrupted. If you'd marry Jayne and those two sisters marry a Bracken and a Blackwood, two sisters still remain. There is a high chance they would be high sought-after brides. House Bracken is powerful on its own and they would be sisters-in-law to the Lord of Riverrun. You would have the possibility to bring even more houses to your side with this move. It is a great marriage idea and Jayne is comely enough, she looks much like her mother." He added the last part for Edmure to hear.

"Aye, she's not ugly by any means. However, I didn't see myself marry just yet." He weakly rebuked the offer.

He looked over towards him. "Uncle, you have become Lord of Riverrun. You have come into your own well, but you have a duty. Both to your late father and House Tully as a whole. It is time you marry anyway."

"Haha, you sound exactly like Hoster, Robb! Cat would be immensely proud, I reckon. I'm just happy my grumpy old brother never lived long enough to see Cat's eldest scold a Tully into marrying or I would've never heard the end of it." He laughed loudly, pinking away a tear from his left eye.

Both he and Edmure had to smile at the memory of Hoster Tully and his famed relationship with his rebellious younger brother.

After a while, Edmure nodded. "You're right. It is the right thing to do. I'll do it Robb." He thanked his uncle and continued on.

"Then there are the religious problems. I plan to reward all my loyal subjects with lands and wealth. This includes giving some lands in the South to Old Gods believers. It will strengthen the position of the religion north of the Blackwater, without threatening the majority of the Faith anywhere. Together with the marriage, it will help to make sure the Blackwoods aren't isolated anymore. Together they would serve as a bridge between the North and the Riverlands, like the Manderlys are a bridge with the South for us."

"I can understand that Robb but giving our ancestral lands to Northmen won't go off easy with my vassals." Edmure countered.

"That's why I'll only give them lands from the former Crownlands. These lands need to integrate anyway. The Northern influence will help break the connection these lands formerly had with the Targaryens and the Baratheons and help them come closer to the rest of the kingdom. I will also make sure these Northmen take Southern brides and adapt somewhat to your court. Most of them will take heiresses from the South as a wife, making sure their progeny is well accustomed to life here even if they behave somewhat differently. I would also like to promote marriages between the Riverlands and the North in general. I'll go over who would get what later." Both Tullys thought it over for a while but agreed in the end.

"Now, the geographical vulnerability of the Riverlands." He sighed, clapping his hands together. This would always be a difficult thing to solve, but he had done his best.

"The Riverlands are famed for being attacked by literally everybody in the course of their history. You border every kingdom except for Dorne and I would make it more defensible from the outside. Some decisions you already know. We expanded it south to the Blackwater and I plan to annex all the lands north of the Goldroad. Yet, just taking these lands will not hold the enemy from taking it back next generation. You also have the issue of the defenses with the Westerlands and the Vale. They might be allies for now, but that could always change in the future." Both his uncles nodded, gesturing for him to go on.

"First, I would like to discuss the southern border. I had the idea of erecting a few castles along the Blackwater. It would ensure our southeastern border and deter any weird ideas future Baratheons might get. More concretely, I want a new castle to be build in the King's Landing area and one here, where the Goldroad crosses the Blackwater." He said, as he pointed the spot out on the map. "If we control both bridges with strong castles, getting over the river won't be easy for any opposing force."

The Blackfish bowed down over the map. "Just the crossing with the Blackwater Rush or these crossings with its main tributary too?" He asked, as he pointed to the crossings a little more to the north. "Both would do, but I think the Blackwater Rush has priority. Besides, those other crossings are already in the core lands of houses who have bent the knee. The crossing with the Blackwater Rush itself and half the lands next to it are vacant after the extinction of a knightly house and the houses next to it know they owe us small tracts of lands for their opposition. If you add it all together, you could create a small but capable house to protect the crossing. Either make it a very strong knightly house or a small lordly one. In the King's Landing area, you could create another strong lordly house, who will rule over most of the Targaryen lands north of the river and a town of some thirty-five thousand people. I'd pity the enemy wishing to march through that area quickly in the future."

"These are great plans Robb but how would you pay for this and all the other plans you're going to propose in the next hours?" Ser Brynden asked him.

He grinned at his uncle. "Do you know how much coin Winterfell gained during this war?" He stood up and walked to the desk and picked out a piece of parchment. He started reading aloud. "Sixty-six thousand dragons indemnity with Dorne, forty thousand more from sacking their camp, a million's worth of coin from sacking the Westerlands, one million fifty thousand indemnity from the Westerlands, Jon has brough up two hundred and fifty thousand dragons worth of coin from raiding directly for House Stark. The former Crownland houses together paid two hundred fifty thousand as indemnity, as much was also gained from looting in the area and the capital, one million three hundred thousand coins gained from the treacherous houses of Frey, Goodbrook and Vyprens, … That is all after giving the lion's share to the vassals." Both Tullys looked at him in utter shock

"You need to add some more too. I will demand the Reach for more indemnities and we will sack the Iron Isles at some point. Factor in that the lands gained from the Crownlands, Westerlands and Reach will bring in additional coin in the future and that we have new highly beneficial trade deals with most surrounding kingdoms and Braavos. I think we can afford to build a few castles. Already over three million coins have been gathered here in the South. Jon will collect the first payment of the Lannisters in the West and more will flow in through trade and indemnities over the years. You don't build castles in a year. We need the funds to start the work and then the constant influx of coin from trade and indemnities can keep paying for the building processes in the future."

"You wish to invest all that coin in the Riverlands?" Edmure asked, his mouth agape.

"No, I need to invest in the North too, but that's not on discussion today. Besides, I have already invested greatly in the Riverlands with captured cattle, people from the Crownlands and so on. I will invest parts of it, other parts I will offer as cheap loans. I wish for the existing keeps on the western and eastern borders to be strengthened against future attacks. I plan to give loans to rebuild and fortify Pinkmaiden, Wayfarer's Rest, Willow Wood, Stoney Sept, Saltpans, Maidenpool and maybe others. Of course, not all at once but over the next two decades or so." Both still looked at him in shock.

"Why do I have the feeling that that's not everything?" The Blackfish asked suspiciously.

He laughed loudly. "Because it isn't. I wish to raise new houses and keeps on the lands we annex from the Reach north of the Goldroad. Some lands go to nearby houses as rewards, then enough lands remain to raise two strong lordly houses. I wish for them to raise keeps as a buffer between the Reach and Stoney Sept and our heartland."

Ser Brynden looked over the map and let all he had set sink in. His military mind seemed to be working quickly. "So, four new keeps on the southern border. Two to keep the Blackwater Rush border here and here." He pointed towards the two big crossings of the major river. He nodded. "Two more castles once the Blackwater turns inland to hold the southwest and protect all lands between the Blackwater and the Goldroad, as well as the many crossings of the former river that reach into the heartland." He nodded again.

"Then you won't raise new castles in the west and east, but you'll fortify the existing ones, as besides Riverrun they haven't proven enough to hold Tywin during the war. You will also slightly strengthen the border families like Houses Vance, Piper and others with the lands gained from the Westerlands to pay for the upkeep of their stronger castles." He could only agree again, his uncle understood him completely. "To avoid a similar situation from the Vale, you'll also fortify some of the eastern towns and keeps. Especially Saltpans and Maidenpool, who also proved to not be strong enough. They will probably pay for the upkeep with enhanced trade coming their way." He just laughed. As expected, his uncle saw his plans very clearly.

"What about the Ironborn or the north?" He asked, completing the analysis. He grinned at the Blackfish's military intelligence. "I plan to deal with the ironborn to a degree that they won't dare to attack the Riverlands in a hundred years or more. Maybe expand the Mallister fleet a little could be an option too, same for one in Duskendale on the other side. I won't build any fortifications between the North and the Riverlands. You already have the Twins and it would only slow me down if I would need to come down." He responded. Both knew what he didn't say. If the Riverlands ever rebelled against House Stark, he wouldn't be able to be stopped easily. They looked at each other, but none spoke the words out loud.

"So, four new castles and many loans to fortify existing ones? Maybe expand a small fleet or two." Edmure summarized.

"Aye, and new roads and towns accompanying those places. I plan to transport some of the excess population from King's Landing towards the crossing point of the Goldroad with the Blackwater to start a town of some five to eight thousand people. It will attract enough local trade to guarantee its existence and will help strengthen our hold on the area. It will also solve part of the remaining overpopulation in King's Landing. Stones from the city wall can be used to help cheaply create both castles once it is partly broken down."

"How many hours did you spend on these plans?" Edmure laughed jokingly.

"Hours? Weeks and months, you mean! Wait until you hear who I am pushing forward for the lordships of all of these." He laughed back.

"You already have people in mind?" He asked. "Aye, for most, but I would ask your insight. I will give you the honor of promoting some on your own too." His uncle seemed happy at that.

"Then we have the old grudges of the Targaryen supporters. I plan to give them all back some of the lands they lost in the Rebellion, or other lands from traitors to make up for part of their losses. I would ask that you would give the new generation prominent places in the Riverlands, when they grow back up. Especially the Mooton and Darry boys. They are the last of their lines and if you foster them well and give them good positions after, all animosity can be in the past for good." Both Tullys agreed and Edmure scribbled something in his notes about the boys.

"What about Bran? Will he come back to Riverrun? The boys befriending a prince of both Stark and Tully blood will do a lot to better relations." Edmure asked him.

He thought about that. "You are right. I will discuss it with Bran and my mother once I get back home." He made a note of that on a parchment and put it on his desk.

"Now … for the traitorous houses. I told you already. I plan to end the lines of most of the houses. Most of their wealth will be confiscated by me. I would offer the remainder of much of their lands to friends of you, Edmure. To ensure good relations and to reward those houses for their loyalty." His uncle perked forward, very interested in what he would say now.

"The lands of House Goodbrook will be diminished mostly by giving some to House Tully, whilst much smaller symbolic portions will be given to other surrounding lords. Garse Goodbrook had a sister without progeny that was widowed during the war. I would give her hand in marriage to Ser Lucas Blackwood with three quarters of the original Goodbrook lands as a dowry. He could change his name to accommodate the new area. I think he will do well as a lord."

Both uncles seemed to agree. "Ser Lucas also spoke to me of Widow Fairs. He didn't know he was getting any lands, but he told me the story of their descendants and their affinity for House Blackwood. Some also seemed to be in Tully lands?"

"Yes, in the hills to the north many villages with Old Gods believers still roam. Especially the lands of the knightly House Wolf, named after the army his ancestors belonged to. Some three thousand of them are intermingled there, maybe a few hundred others scattered around too. They have always been a concern of ours but seem to be loyal."

"Well, why not give them a place of their own? Allow any willing to depart to the former Goodbrook lands under Ser Lucas. The same goes for the other communities in the Riverlands. It would take the concern out of your hands and the area could be partially repopulated with people from the Crownlands and easily integrate them in the area?" He asked.

"You would propose population exchanges?" Ser Brynden asked.

"Aye, as long as the people themselves are willing. It will help with religious problems. Ser Lucas' hold over his new lands will become stronger and the Seven believing houses like House Tully won't have to fear their Old Gods believing minorities anymore. Some Northmen will wish to remain in the Riverlands too. By organizing Widow Fairs we can keep them in these lands. They would mostly populate the lands given to Northmen, but could help Ser Lucas too. They would keep away from your pious lords and still serve to strengthen and rebuild the lands."

Edmure seemed doubtful but the Blackfish understood his point. "It's true Lord Tytos and even his father before him always felt isolated because of the religious issues, Edmure. It is one of the main things that always fuels their feud with House Bracken. The idea they need to show their strength, or otherwise they will be isolated. Besides it would help rebuild the Goodbrook lands and others from the damage done due to the war."

"Well, only if both the lord and peasant agree. Otherwise I won't accept it. Maybe Ser Lucas could send some pious peasants back to replenish their lost numbers too. I don't want houses to be weakened because of religious reasons." The Lord of Riverrun spoke.

He agreed with that. "Thirty percent of the lands of House Vypren will be distributed to the surrounding lords as a gift, for example to House Deddings. The remaining lands I would offer together with the former lord's niece's hand to Ser Robert Paege. Ser Robert has fought loyally and ably during the war, although always staying in the shadows somewhat. I know he is a companion of yours and after a few talks with him the man seems capable to me."

Edmure agreed. "Robert is a quiet, but capable man. He'll get the job done whatever it is you ask him. House Paege will also rejoice at being looked upon so highly."

"I had hoped that would be the case. Both would be given lordly status, the third of your friends I would reward is Ser Hugo Vance. I would give him the lands and keep of House Haigh, as well as half of those of House Erenford. He would be made a very strong knightly house directly sworn to Riverrun, if he changes his name. There are too many Houses Vance already." He laughed. Both grinned with him and Edmure nodded, glad to see his friends rewarded and his own social powerbase expanded.

"The other half of the lands of House Erenford I would give to another one of your friends' families. To neighboring House Ryger. I think the heir Tristan is a friend of yours?" His uncle nodded. "I would give them the lands for their service, on the condition the Erenford keep is demolished. This will hopefully make up for their losses after Robert's Rebellion and keep them loyal from now on."

Ser Brynden voiced his support for the plan and the good it would do for the already restoring relations between their houses. "Some more villages and lands from House Frey or any of their other vassals will be given to Houses Mallister, Paege, Terrick and Shawney. All of the above will account to around two thirds of their lands being distributed."

"What of House Frey itself?" Edmure asked. He raised his hand. "Its main vassals during the betrayal, Houses Charlton, Erenford and Haigh will seize to exist. The same will go for their allies Houses Goodbrook and Vypren. For them and the vast majority of House Frey the ruling will be as followed."

He took a deep breath and started. "All of those that were at the battle of Atranta or part of planning of it will be beheaded. All other males over the ages of fourteen will be sent to the Wall or be executed if they refuse. All males under the age of fourteen will be fostered by loyal houses or orphanages in the North until the age of fourteen when they will be sent to the Wall ending their male lines. They will be raised to best serve the Black Brothers and nothing else."

"All adult females will be sent to the Sept in Oldtown or the Silent Sisters, all underage girls will also be sent to the Starry Sept to be raised a Septa. All female widows from other houses will be sent back to their original families or the Septs if those don't want them back. Many Septas died during the war all over Westeros, I think they will appreciate the gesture of so many noble ladies replenishing to their ranks."

Edmure hesitatingly asked him. "Are you sure Robb? This would stamp out those six houses root and stem. Combine it with what happened at the Twins and this would be your own Rains of Castamere."

"Aye I know, and I am sure. We all lost too many people in Atranta to ever forgive what happened there." He said, his tone cold and hard. Ser Brynden nodded at that. Lord Tytos and many others that had died there that day had been good friends of him. Edmure had also lost friends so he didn't protest any further.

"However, there will be some exceptions and special cases for House Frey. The male progeny of Gemma Lannister and Emmon Frey will be explicitly sent to Winterfell to keep an eye on until they join the Night's Watch. I have received a letter asking for the Caron Mother of Perra Frey to be returned to the Stormlands to reestablish the Caron line. She will marry a distant Caron cousin and continue her dynasty. Her daughter Perra will be disinherited and marry a low household knight of the Carons for her to accept. Roslin Frey will be spared and will be acknowledged as the heir to Rosby through her mother, as I promised the late Lord Rosby and lastly the only male to be spared will be Ser Olyvar Frey."

All simply accepted the conditions as they were of no great consequences. "Ser Olyvar will be recognized as the knight of the Twins. House Frey will be demoted to a knightly house and will only rule a third of their former lands."

"You would let them live?" Edmure exclaimed. "You will kill off the other houses but let the Freys live?"

"No, I will have sent a hundred members of that Gods' forsaken family to their grave or to orders which won't allow them to produce children. I took their wealth, most of their lands and their lordly title away from them. However, Olyvar has always been loyal. He will be rewarded. He will marry his great-niece Walda Frey of the main line to put to rest any inheritance disputes. Solutions about the Freys in Braavos and the grandchildren of Lady Waynwood will be sought, as long as they remain disinherited. In the end the only ones left in the line of inheritance to the Twins will be Olyvar's children. If his line were to die out, the castle would fall into the Crown's hands."

"Still, they have their bridge. The family could regain much of their power in a few decades." Ser Brynden brought up.

"Not really!" He laughed loudly. "I will forbid the Freys to levy a toll on any of the houses that were present at Atranta for the next twenty years. This will severely limit their resources for the next two decades and serve as partial compensation. On top of that, they will be forbidden to ask toll of a Tully or Stark ever again on the punishment of death. I will not have what happened at the beginning of the war happen ever again."

"That indeed changes things." The Blackfish mused. "They wouldn't be able to replenish during Olyvar's lifetime, but what about his children?"

"Well, his children will be isolated with Frey parents on both sides and no allies. I would have his heir raised in Riverrun and none of his children would be allowed to marry without mine or my heir's consent. As such we can greatly control how the house bounces back and that it will be loyal when it does." He replied.

"Will Olyvar accept all those constraints?" Edmure asked.

"Aye, I think so. He had never any hopes of being more than a household knight. Especially after his family's betrayal, this will still far exceed his expectations."

"Under these conditions I accept. I will foster his son and make sure that he is as loyal as can be to us in the future." He nodded appreciatingly. "That's all concerning the rebels. We still have the problem of raising new lords. For the Goldroad houses, I personally thought about Ser Corlys Menning. Ever since he arrived, he has been nothing but loyal and capable. He could take more people from King's Landing with him and quickly built a small powerbase with them. Those people would also help the area to come loose from the Reach and integrate further towards us. In turn I think about sending a few hundred or even thousand Reachmen farmers to the heart of the Riverlands to help rebuild the land on the condition they can be integrated well there. I plan to get rid of all Reach knightly houses big and small in the area and replace them with Riverlanders and Crownlanders to make the change on the upper levels complete."

"Ser Corlys will do great. House Menning sure deserves it after what they lost to the Lannisters." Ser Brynden said. "Aye, I agree. He would have to marry a lady from the Riverlands to tie him to us and could use his nieces to tighten his grip over his lands or work on better relations with his neighbors."

All agreed with the nomination of Ser Corlys. "However, getting rid of all those houses will effectively mean they will be exiles with claims in the courts of Houses Rowan, Footly, Tyrell and others in the Reach. They will never stop to reclaim their homelands back. It will cause strife in the future." The Blackfish added.

"Sadly, uncle I don't think future wars with the Reach are avoidable whatever the peace agreement will say. They are too pious and will never allow an Old Gods believing king south of the Neck. They will also try to expand their lands like the Gardeners of old have always done. The only thing we can do is weaken them enough so they can't try anything serious in the next few decades, while maintaining alliances with the Baratheons and Lannisters to easily keep their aspirations in check after that. By fortifying these areas we can also greatly deter their aspirations. The longer we can hold of future wars, the less will be listened to these exiles cries for their lands back."

All grimly accepted his analysis. "What of the second Goldroad house?" Uncle Edmure asked.

"I would give the option to promote the second one to you. Do you have anyone in mind? Preferably someone from not too big of a noble family, to not upset the delicately established balance of power."

The Lord of Riverrun thought long and hard, until something came to him. "What about Ser Harry Parrell?

"The knight who saved your life at Atranta?"

"Yes, that one. He served loyally and ably in my household ever since. We have spent many a night drinking until the early hours while you were off in the Stormlands and I consider him a friend. He seems quite smart and I have seen the effectiveness of his blade firsthand. He comes from a knightly house sworn to House Shawney. Even so, he is only a cousin to the current head of the family." Edmure explained his choice.

"Aye a real Riverlander, that could work. I would have to talk to him first though. I want to get to know him before I suddenly give him a lordship." He responded.

"Of course, do what you must."

"If I'm right, that ends the discussions for the original Riverlands and the expansions from the Reach and Westerlands. However, we have yet to discuss what to do with the Northern Crownlands." The Blackfish spoke up.

"Aye, that's true. I would have the Crownland houses that fought for Tywin, like Houses Byrch, Chelsted and others, hand over small lands and have wards send to Riverrun or Winterfell to be fostered. If we play it well, we could help influence who they marry to tie these houses closely to us in just a single generation."

All nodded. "Now there are a few heiresses in the Crownlands. I will arrange all of their marriages. In return, their houses will keep existing and keep their lands. Firstly, there is Lollys Stokeworth. Her older sister is still alive, but she is past childbearing age and a widow besides. Lollys' husband and children will in time get to rule these lands. I would propose Ser Desmond Grell to marry her. He is a capable and very loyal subject of House Tully and will help your influence in the area. He could serve as the master-at-arms in Stokeworth while raising his kids and influencing House Stokeworth. It is rumored that Lady Falyse is depressed and sickly and she might not live too long. This would put Stokeworth firmly in one of your most loyal subjects' hands."

Both his uncles voiced their approval of the proposal and so he continued on. "As mentioned before, Roslin Frey will be recognized as the heir to Rosby. Her mother was old Lord Gyles niece and he wanted one of her children to succeed him. She will marry one of the Karstark cousins. Preferably Osric, if not him than Alaric."

"Alaric? I have never met an Alaric Karstark." Edmure responded.

"Aye, you haven't. He is at the Wall now and was instrumental in repelling both Wildling attacks and an attack from the bastard of House Bolton. I grew up with him and just like Osric he isn't like his brother, father or grandfather. He deserves to be rewarded and would do well as a lord." He explained.

His uncle seemed content enough with that. "There has also been an important landed knightly house under House Rosby that has gone extinct due to the war. I would give their lands to Ser Rodrik Locke, nephew of Lord Malladhor. The young knight proved himself in the Vale and executed all my commands loyally and ably. He will serve Osric or Alaric well. Some of the Widow Fairs men will settle in the lands of Rosby, together with the few companions these men take with them. Ser Rodrik will be forced to take a Southern wife, preferably one from the nearby knightly houses."

Both remained silent, which he interpreted as approval. "Lady Ermesande Hayford will be betrothed to Martyn Cassel. She will be raised in Winterfell from the age of ten. When the time comes for them to marry, they will move back south together. The current castellan will remain in power until then."

"Martyn Cassel? Family of Rodrik, Martyn and Jory?" The Blackfish asked.

"Aye, he is Jory's eldest son. He is also the nephew of Lord Cerwyn. Both Houses Cassel and Cerwyn deserve to be rewarded for their loyal service. Martyn is also good friends with my siblings and apparently my wife and daughter look fondly upon him too. I will personally raise him to make a good lord." He answered the question.

"Aye, both Martyn and Jory deserved better and Rodrik is as loyal as ever. That family deserves to be rewarded." Ser Brynden agreed.

"Sow's Horn, sworn to House Hayford is also empty with House Hogg becoming extinct. The lands will be given to a nephew of Lord Slate. He will marry someone from the region and help keep an eye on the castellan. Some of the lands of House Hayford have become heavily depopulated, especially those around Sow's Horn. They will partly be resettled with men from the Widow Fairs as well."

"House Staunton's lands are to be split. A third will go to the clans of Cracklaw Point. Some small tracts of lands will be given to House Mooton, to compensate for the Rebellion and help the house re-boom after the destruction of Maidenpool. The rest, among them Rook's Rest will be given to the second son of House Roote. In return, House Roote will return the lands they gained from House Darry after the Rebellion. This will serve to smooth things over with House Darry, while still handsomely rewarding House Roote." Edmure looked pleased with another Riverlander being awarded lands in the Crownlands.

"Lord Bracken's natural born son Ser Harry Rivers will be given lands on the point where the Goldroad crosses the Blackwater. He will able to create his own powerful knightly house sworn to Riverrun there. He will have permission to build a small, but strong, keep there, as well as a border town over five thousand people in size. Both will be heavily funded by the Crown. As mentioned before, the population will be composed almost entirely from immigrants from King's Landing."

"Interesting choice. You give both a Blackwood and a Bracken lands. The Blackwood gets the better title, but in compensation the Bracken gets a lot of coin and help from the Crown to better his lands. It might work." Ser Brynden said, respect clear in his voice. Ser Harry had been a war companion from his uncle since before he had arrived in the Riverlands. He knew he held the man in great esteem, as had been shown when he had knighted him.

"Lastly there is the King's Landing area. To govern the chaotic region, we need a strong hand. I would propose Rodrik Umber. The Greatjon's younger brother has shown himself capable in leading men and both the fighting and tactical aspects of war. We need a strong man to hold the mouth of the Blackwater and he would be able to do that. He has also led a contingent of levies from the city for months now and they follow him loyally despite differences in religion and culture. Those men, in combination with some of the Northmen and especially Umber men wishing to stay in the South, would be more than enough to hold the river and deter both the Storm Kingdom and the Reach from trying anything in the next twenty years. By that time, the area will be mostly fixed up and almost impregnable without months long sieges for any foreign army."

"You would give an Umber lands serving under me?" Edmure asked, clearly in doubt.

"Aye, he will of course marry a Riverlander noblewoman. Personally, I was thinking of a Paege. He seems to be getting along well with Ser Halmon and the Paege lands house thousands of Old Gods believers still. Maybe some of those could repopulate the farmer populations along the mouth of the Blackwater with folks that will be more inclined to be loyal to him. It will make for a good mix to weed out the Crownlander culture at its roots. Anyway, both sides would have to agree with that plan." He replied.

"Maybe, but all the lands remain in ruin, especially the city. What are you going to do with that?" The Lord of Riverrun asked him. He walked over to the desk and pulled out a map of King's Landing and the surrounding lands. He showed it to them.

"In short? Rural areas wil be rebuild as they were. New villages and farmsteads will be erected on the former tourney grounds and along the roads and the water much closer to the present city limits. A new castle will be built on Visenya's Hill where the ruins of the Great Sept are located now. This castle will dominate the area and the town below. Of the present city walls, three quarters will be demolished and the stones used for other nearby building projects like the aforementioned castle." He went over the map with his index finger so the other men could easily follow his thoughts.

"The present town will only be located around Visenya's Hill, especially on its eastern side. The only part of the walls to remain standing will be those from the Lion's Gate to the Mud Gate. From there new fortifications will be built so they surround the hill and encompass less than a quarter the city does now. The town will be much smaller, but also cleaner than its predecessor. It will have wider streets, stone houses, green spaces and a better sewer system. People will be less packed together to better fight diseases and fires, which ran rampant in the old city. Still, the city of some thirty-five thousand inhabitants will have strong fortifications to repel anyone dumb enough to risk crossing the Blackwater. The inner city will be loosely remodeled after the workings of White Harbor."

Ser Brynden whistled. "You clearly thought it true. I like the plan personally, but what of the other parts of the city? You mention over three quarts being abandoned?"

"Those will be cleared of rubble. Its walls and houses will be demolished and the cobble for their roads reused elsewhere. In time, I would want most of those lands to be reconverted to fields and be planted again, but I fear that will take many, many decades. It is likely none of us will see the end of that project in our lifetimes. However, it would finish the transformation of King's Landing from a dirty and urban trading metropole to a clean yet small local border city that lives on local trade and agriculture."

"What about the trade and the income the city once brought in?" Edmure asked.

"The trade the city now carries will be distributed between Saltpans, Maidenpool and Duskendale and to a lesser capacity some foreign cities, like Wickenden, Gulltown and Driftmark. Helping the growth of Saltpans and Maidenpool will quickly help those regions recover, while Duskendale will become the most important city between Gulltown and Dorne. It is better located and much more defensible than the King's Landing area now is and is less easily cut off by the Storm Kingdom in case of war. Some trade, like the ones with Braavos and Lorath will probably divert to White Harbor. All in all, the trade revenue of the Riverlands will increase exponentially, while other regions also benefit with mixed degrees."

Edmure looked very greedily at the prospect of so much coins flowing in his lands. "Uncle, I do hope that you remember that the foreign trade tariffs are paid to the Crown, not the Lord Paramount."

Edmure looked caught and apologized. "Of course, Robb. However, the extra tax revenue those houses will bring in will still be a considerable sum."

"Aye, it will be." He allowed. "Use it wisely. House Tully could help to defend the Riverlands in the future. You could also give out cheap loans to your vassals to rebuild or fortify their lands. To help Houses Mallister and Rykker to build up a small fleet. You could also spend some coin to help clean up the mess in King's Landing. These lands are sworn to you as well, you will benefit from it if they get stronger." His uncle nodded, while the Blackfish mumbled his support for the statement.

"You should also remember that this will increase the amount of taxes you will have to pay to the Crown. House Tully's wealth will significantly increase, but your expenses will also increase. We expect those expenses to be met and your finances to be managed productively. You are the second most powerful noble and house in the realm now. You have a duty to your people, if you wish this country to be safe for your future children. I expect you to help the Riverlands to reach its full potential uncle." He stated, looking very serious in the same blue eyes he had inherited from his own mother.

His uncle met his gaze and seemed to sit just a little taller. "I will, Robb. I have seen enough and will not fail my people again like I did at the start of the war. I wasn't ready and didn't know what to do. I think I do now. I will not squander the opportunity."

He smiled at the Lord of Riverrun. He had indeed grown significantly this last year. They all had. Those that had survived at least. "I know you won't." He smiled. After a minute of comfortable silence, he spoke up. "This concludes our business, I believe. I don't know about you, but personally I could use an hour or two of relaxing with a few more glasses of wine from the Arbor, my treat. How about you?"

Both men grinned and they asked the servants to bring a lot more of the stuff. They brought over some light food as well and they enjoyed a rare moment of family time together. Edmure was very interested in how Winterfell was doing. He asked after his mother and his siblings and tried to pry for every little detail on little Eddara. It warmed his heart. For all his faults, his uncle was still a true Tully. Family came above all else. If they got out of this war together, they had an opportunity to build something lasting for their shared family to enjoy.

This is it for this chapter!

Robb plans the future of the Riverlands with House Tully. He tries to solve internal problems, as well as strengthen the country against external threats. He wants to integrate the conquered lands and hand out the spoils of war to his supporters and their families. The Riverlanders get most of the spoils, while his Northerners still get significant parts. This is because he still has spoils to give in the North and those won't go to Southerners. Besides, Rodrik Umber will be able to raise his own knightly houses etc. Through that method many Flints, Clansmen and smaller Northern houses will get rewards too. Robb knows this. Also take into account that they will take a lot of plunder home.

He also addresses the future issues of religion and has quality bonding time with his Tully relatives. If Robb wants to succeed as both King in the North and King of the Trident, he will have to show the Riverlanders he is partly one of them as well. This all begins with Edmure. Edmure himself gains most of the war, closely followed by the Brackens, Blackwoods and many many other houses. You get a very detailed insight in the Starks' finances too.

Thank you for your support. Hope you enjoy this much larger chapter.

Reviews:

- Foxy-Floof: Thank you! Yeah, that's what being the most powerful man in the kingdoms for 40 years will do to you.

- KEZZ 1: Thank you so much!

- Supremus85: We might be … we'll see.

- Poly19hum: Thank you very much!

- LectorHistoria: He can't really hire mercenaries. Every Westerosi mercenary has already been hired and probably deserted him. He can't hire Essosi mercs, because they have no place to land. Tywin lost all ports on the eastside and they could never transport themselves through the Redwyne Straits with the Ironborn and Redwyne navies there. I won't comment on the assassins just yet. ;-)

- Rebfan90: Thank you!

- Greatazuredragon: The problem is that if something else happens somewhere, the Vale- and/or Northmen would need to leave. This would give Tywin his opening and that's what he is hoping for. It might also be the case when supplies run out, but with the Lannisport supplies this will take a while.

- Cliff West: Haha, not a bad idea!

- Andy2800: Thank you so much for these compliments. It warms my heart to hear them. I think I gave you a lot of action already so hopefully you liked that.

- Force Smuggler: It was about time. ;-)

- Nex Praenuntius: Well, tbh I actually learned this from the great GRRM himself. The battle at the Shield Islands is explained that way. Robb's whole campaign in the Westerlands and the battle of Riverrun are explained that way. It's just too much for the POV's you have and the pace of the story to include every battle or intrigue and a POV everywhere. I have written many chapters where it was the opposite, especially lately and both I and the story needed a little break from direct action. However, I will take it into account and make sure it doesn't happen too often. Thank you!

- Iacopo Passerini: No problem, I get it! Pride cometh before the fall. Tywin needs to watch out. There was heavy fighting in Lannisport (600 men died from Jon's army), but it was next to nothing compared to what an assault would have brought. More importantly, the city was spared which helps Willem and helps please the smallfolk.

- CadetMarshal: I agree. However, a large army will need to surround Casterly Rock until it falls which is a big strain on the very damaged Westerlands economy.

That depends on what Willas will do. Will he risk a pitched battle or a campaign? Robb has reinforced the area they took from the Reach and there are 3k troops stationed there with many more in the Riverlands and Westerlands quickly able to come to their aid. The lands of the Reach are in shambles everywhere and Robb has made sure that the lands bordering him have suffered the same fate.

The fleet can indeed make an attack on them feasible now under the right conditions. Interesting idea! I will look into that more.

- Farroljgk: Thank you so much! You ask a lot of great questions, although I can't answer many of them without spoiling the story. We'll see what Willas and Randyll do in future chapters. Glad you agree with the Dornish plot. The ironborn are much weaker and very divided. The civil war could go a number of ways. More on that later. Tywin will be discussed in the next chapter.

With pleasure! It was a great idea and it has already been added into my writer notes for future chapters.

Sad to hear that! I hope you're fine now?

Galwidanatitud: As I explained before, no they won't. If you wish to know my whole reasoning, I explained it in the reactions and author notes of multiple earlier chapters.

- Snoperek: He does, he tried to plan for a lot of it here. However, it will take years, even decades, to accomplish. Who knows what happens during those times. At least ten more, I think. The epilogue will be long with large time jumps.

- Jimmy Hashbrowns: If you look at the entire story, this chapter was pretty average. If you look at the last 4 chapters, this one is around 20-25% shorter at max. It might be because of the time jumps that it feels shorter. Besides, this is the largest chapter of the story so enjoy! Sometimes you have more to tell than other times.

- Guest: Oh, he's definitely going to try something. The question is: will it work and will his men continue to follow him?

Jon will choose his own name and will negotiate for a wife himself, after he is officially made a lord with lands. Robb will of course put in a good word, but he won't just assign him a wife.