Chapter 69: Resolving unresolved issues
301 AC
Robb
He woke up at the sight of first light. For a moment he didn't know where he was. For three years he had woken up in different places almost every week, on marches every day. He looked around and found himself in his father's rooms. No, these are my rooms now. He corrected himself. He had to get used to the fact.
His own rooms lay empty now. They were the traditional rooms of the heir of Winterfell and would lay empty until a son of his was born. Eddara would be given her own rooms close to Arya and Sansa soon. She would like that.
Used to his surroundings, he noticed a weight on his chest. He slowly turned his head towards it and saw Alys' face laying upon him. Her brown hair was messily sprawled over his naked torso, as her arm lay across it. He smiled widely. What a sight to wake up to. They were packed under three layers of furs to battle the winter cold, but under it they wore nothing at all. Both out of convenience for their frequent lovemaking and to share each other's body heat to battle the cold.
He lay there watching her for a long time, before finally getting some of the strains of hair out of her face. He shifted his weight slightly and started making soft circles on her skin with his index finger. He did that until she slowly shifted awake. When she turned around atop him, her eyes desperately staying closed, he smiled. "Good morning wife", he said.
She stopped turning and slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. "Morning husband", she grumbled although a small smile played upon her face. He gave her a quick kiss on her forehead and pulled her closer in his arms. She welcomed this and shifted her body weight upon his. She looked up at him. "How long have you been awake for?"
"Since first light. I didn't want to wake you, you looked so peaceful. However, I will need to start my day soon and I didn't want to sneak out without a good morning." He responded softly.
"A good morning is what you wanted, eh?" She grinned shyly.
He laughed loudly. "No, that's not why I woke you. Although if you're offering … ?" He grinned back.
She groaned. "No Robb, I can't. I still feel sore everywhere after last night."
"Which time?" He grinned again. His ego taking the better off him.
She rolled her eyes at him and snuggled into his chest. Whilst doing so, she murmured. "The third time, definitely the third time."
He laughed uncontrollably at that. He looked at her with a giant grin on his face. "Well, My Queen, I will let you rest then. I would not want you to feel like you overstayed your welcome here in my rooms."
"Phuh, your rooms … if this continues like this, we can easily start calling them our rooms. I haven't slept in my room ever since you returned. Ten nights in a row, what will the maids think of me."
"Ha, let them think. Your husband hadn't seen you for nearly three years. Ten nights is the top of the iceberg. By the time I am satisfied, they will have already become tired of gossiping." He replied with a wink.
She smiled at that. "It was not simply you that missed me. I missed you too. Our stay in Moat Cailin was far too short. It is only now that I start realizing we are a married couple."
He laughed at her. "Me too. I was lucky to have Harry and Torr with me in the South. Some mornings I woke up and thought I had dreamed you. They were my anchor to our memories together. Well, them and your letters of course."
"Personally, I preferred Sansa and Bran as an anchor to my brothers, but to each their own." She laughed, making fun of her own family.
"Speaking of your brothers, I am meeting with them after we break our fast. It is time that this situation in Karhold is resolved. This can't go on like this. Arnolf has overreached mightily. His power and that of his sons and grandsons in Karhold needs to be broken."
"All of them? None of them actually did anything wrong besides Arnolf and Hother, and Hother died for his mistakes." She asked in surprise.
"Aye, but we both know that Hother was there in name of his grandfather. I will never be able to prove it, so I can't sentence him for it, but I will break his power. Besides there is nothing old Arnolf does that his two sons don't know about."
She relented to that. "And my cousins?"
"I will not punish them, but I do need to get some of them outside of Karhold. Os has asked if he can stay in Winterfell with us and has even refused land that I offered him in the South. I am thinking of naming him steward as the permanent successor to Vayon Poole. The man is a magician when it comes to organizing and logistics. He would do well."
She nodded at that. "The others?"
"Alaric has served me and the North loyally and ably at the Wall. I wasn't there, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve to be rewarded. He also needs to get away from the influence of his grandfather, as he won't look favorably upon him anymore. I plan to reward him with lands in the South. With some luck, he can even convince his elder brother and father to leave the North. This would split up Arnolf's clan for good and limit his hold over your ancestral lands."
"You won't banish any of them or send some to the Wall?" His wife asked him.
"No, they are my kin by marriage. I can't even prove that they betrayed me. However, their hold will be broken. If any refuse my orders, the Wall it shall be, but it will be by their own choice." He responded.
"Good, that way this thing will blow over quickest. I just want Harry's succession to father's lands to go as smoothly as possible."
"So do I, my love. I will never allow anything to happen to your brother or your father's legacy."
"I know that Robb." She replied, as she snuggled even closer. Together they lay there for a few more moments, until the both of them had to get up. They split up, as both had to be made ready by their servants. Afterwards, they met again in the nursery. They had tried to install a routine of breaking their fast together as a family, often joined ny one or more of his siblings."
He was first at the nursery and had already been playing with their daughter. The little girl was quickly getting used to him, in large part to the ever present direwolf she was so fond off. Grey and Edda were rolling around on the ground whilst he was tickling them both when Alys arrived.
Eddara jumped up and ran to her mother's arms and together they walked to the Great Hall. There they were joined by Arya and Bran and later on by Jon and Torr too. Harry broke his fast with Houses Umber, Bolton and Mormont. He knew that his brother-in-law was already trying to make formal alliances. He would need to find a wife soon and both Houses Umber and Mormont were viable candidates with eligible ladies. It was to be expected and would formally tighten the North more together, as Harry was already connected to Winterfell.
He let them do, but he made sure that he was informed on any ongoing talks. For now, only preliminary talks were being held with no real proposals yet. There were many eligible bachelors amongst the nobility of his generation. The Lords of Houses Bolton, Flint, Cerwyn and Karstark were unmarried, whilst the heirs to Houses Umber, Ryswell and Mormont were much the same. The future succession of the Tallharts, Dustins and Hornwoods was still unsure and he would need to help in that regard. On top of that, Jon would also need to find a wife.
On the other side, there were also a few eligible females. Chief amongst them were his sisters. Ever since arriving at Winterfell, both Umber sons had been circling Sansa. He had also received letters of the new Lord Flint asking him about "the health of his family". Similar letters had come from Roger Ryswell and his childhood friend Brandon Norrey the Younger. However, Sansa seemed to only have eyes for one of the men that showed interest in her.
Even this morning, he could see her breaking her fast with Domeric Bolton and his Ryswell cousin, her ever present companion Barbrey. When he looked over there, he saw her laugh loudly at a joke the young Lord of the Dreadfort had made. His mother saw him looking when she arrived to take her seat and they shared a look together. It was clear, they would have to talk about this later.
Arya, he and his mother had agreed, was still too young. She was only twelve years old. She would not be married or engaged for two more years at least. He had made this clear to his vassals and they had all begrudgingly stopped asking about her for the moment.
Besides his sisters, there were the Manderly sisters. The future heir, Wynafryd, was in White Harbor safely guarded by her grandfather from any possible suitors. However, her younger sister Wylla was here in Winterfell. She seemed to be seated with Lyanna Mormont now and he knew there was a lot of interest in her hand as well. An alliance with the Manderlys was a powerful one, whilst you would also be assured of a very sizeable dowry.
Then you had all the Mormont sisters, although Dacey would most likely need a matrilineal marriage. She was the heir of her family and would be expected to continue her line. He knew that she and Owen Norrey were sleeping together, but he didn't know how serious his friends were with their relationship. You had Eddara Tallhart, although getting her hand o, marriage was dubious as some considered her the heir to Torrhen's Sqare. Besides that, you had multiple cousins of minor branches, girls that were too young like Ser Donnel Locke's daughters or a merry bunch of clanswomen. Maybe Jonelle would be willing to remarry in time?
The next two years would be defining for the next century of the North, he and Alys had agreed. These upcoming marriages would define the relations between the houses for the next generations. There was also the issue of marriages with the Riverlands or their allies in the Vale, but both he and Alys had agreed that this generation of heirs would largely need to marry in the North. It wouldn't do to free themselves from Southern influence and then have it take over the North by marrying into the strongest houses.
After they had all finished, he, Jon, Harry, Torr and the Blackfish walked on towards his solar. They all sat together at the table and looked upon each other. "This situation in Karhold can't be allowed to continue, something needs to be done. It needs to be done quickly and cleanly, to ensure your fast transition of power." He said aloud to Harry. All men nodded in agreement.
"Your uncle Arnolf needs to be stripped of his title of castellan and the influence of his descendants in your lands needs to be curbed. I have thought off a possible plan to do so together with your sister. I want you to honestly tell me what you think of it." He said, before explaining his idea.
"So old Arnolf would be forced to retire in his own lands without punishment?" Torrhen asked.
"Aye, we have no proof that he was behind Hother's alliance with Ramsay Snow. Accusing him of that will greatly complicate your brother's ascendency to your father's lordship. This way we will get him out of the way peacefully. I expect him to die in the next five to ten years anyway. From that moment on, you would just have to deal with Cregan, who is more pliable than his father."
Both Karstark brothers seemed to agree with that. "Harry do you know how extensive the Arnolf's lands are?"
His brother-in-law combed through his full brown beard with his hand. "He got some very modest lands from my great-grandfather when he was young. Nothing more than a small forest patch and a few farms. For his work and support, my grandfather Beric doubled that for him. He also awarded him with sizeable coin for his efforts. My father also rewarded him, but he limited the amount of land that he was allowed to buy. All in all, he should be my fifth or sixth strongest bannerman. Nothing to scoff at, but nothing insurmountable. Their lands will expand a little more when Cregan ascends to it, as the dowry of his former wife included some small tracts of lands to the east of Arnolf's."
"After his banishment, you will be able to keep him in line? Even with his daughters married to the Lightfoots and Overtons?" He asked.
"Aye, besides their Lightfoot connection will end here. My cousin Lysara had only the one son and he died under Ramsey at the Wall. My sources tell me her husband has been openly mocking my rule in my lands and had supported his son's rebellion. Even his elder brother has written to me to distance himself of his words. Once I retake Karhold, he will be sent to the Wall." The head of House Karstark replied. He nodded in agreement.
"You agree with Alaric receiving significant lands in the South?" He asked both brothers and they agreed. "What lands were you thinking?" Torr asked him.
"I would give him Rosby and a marriage to Roslin Frey. This way, we control the Frey alliances and force Alaric to blend into the Southern nobility more. He will have to take on the Rosby name and continue some of the Rosby family rituals, as I promised to the late lord Gyles. This will also endear me more to the Southern houses as they will see that I am putting in active effort to save some of their houses."
"That would place his lands next to Rodrick Umber's." Harry said pensively.
"Aye, it would make both of them less isolated." He agreed.
"That could work, although I must ask if there is a Godswood in Rosby? Alaric will never convert to the Seven, neither will be live in a place without worship."
"Nor would I ask him to do so. Concerning the Godswood, I was thinking of allowing him to expand Rosby to plant one. I would carry the costs."
"You plan to fund the planting of weirwood trees in the South?" Brynden Tully asked in shock.
"Aye, but not everywhere. Only in the places where Old Gods believers have been given lands. This will be the King's Landing area, Rosby, Hayford and Goodbrook and some of their vassals' land."
"It would be restricted to those lands?" His great-uncle asked. He nodded. "Well then you might get it past Edmure, but there will be some in the Riverlands who will be angry.
"I know, but it is a risk I am willing to take. If I don't do this, my men will not go South and the Blackwater area will not be safe." He replied.
"Alaric will probably agree to those terms, as would I. His father Cregan and Beron won't join, as they stand to inherit Arnolf's domains. His uncle Arthor is more difficult, as he is Arnolf's shadow. Arthor's son Bennard might be willing to go south with Alaric. This would rob Arthor of his eldest son and much of his influence."
He nodded to Harry. "Os has asked me if he can stay in Winterfell. I plan to give him lands and appoint him steward, but only if you would agree to it. It would make ensure Arthor loses most of his position with both of his sons leaving Karhold."
"I expected something like that. Os deserves it, let him be happy here. He has suffered enough. Although I would demand that he would also relinquish the Karstark name. I don't want my descendants to have to oversee minor Karstark branches in Stark lands. It would not go well." The reply came and he made a note of that on the paper in front of him.
"Wouldn't our family become too small then?" Torr asked his brother. "Not really," Harry replied. "I plan to marry and start a family soon. "If anything goes wrong on that front, I have your word and Robb's that you will be allowed to marry. In extremis you would still have Cregan and his son Beron, but I would rather die than have them inherit Karhold." Both brothers seemed to agree upon that.
"Why would you need permission of His Grace to marry?" The Blackfish asked his brother-in-law.
"Because I have chosen to serve in his Kingsguard. I will protect him, my sister and their children until the end of days."
He nodded to everyone to show this was true, before directing himself again to his great-uncle. "I have tasked him with finding more possible members, but I would like to extend an invitation to you personally uncle. Specifically, I would ask you to be my Lord Commander. I know you have never wanted to marry and never will. I also know that you wish to remain here with me and my siblings. This way you will see them every day and your position will ensure that I have your council at hand at all important meetings."
"You would also proclaim two family members from highly respected families as your first two Kingsguard, thereby ensuring the loyalty and prestige of the order. You would also endear yourself to the Riverlands by ensuring their representation on the council by appointing a Tully and war hero as Lord Commander." His granduncle responded with the part of his reasoning that he hadn't said aloud.
He grinned sheepishly at him. "King or not, I know you kid. You remind me far too much of my elder brother every day for me not to know you. Well, I accept you damned request. Better than marrying a Redwyne in my book."
"Before you accept, I must warn you I plan to restructure the Kingsguard. Its oaths and duties will remain the same, but I will allow non-knights to join. I will also expand it to ten members instead of seven. History has shown us that seven members might not always be enough."
"It also breaks with the Southern religious tradition." He once again continued his reasoning.
"Aye, there is also that." He relented.
"Well, I accept anyway. I look forward to bossing this shit around all day. You better hurry and find us some new brothers Karstark, or you'll be stuck with doing all my chores on your own every day." The Blackfish laughed and all others joined in, while Torr looked sheepishly around the room.
"Torrhen will be the Queen's sworn sword. I will feel much more relaxed knowing that she be will be safe." Uncle Brynden nodded at that, before his face split into a massive grin.
He looked questioningly upon the veteran knight and he explained himself. "I will order him to watch over her every night. Let's see how willing he is to be a Kingsguard after hearing his little sister scream halfway across to Karhold." He spit out his drank at the crude comment and so did Jon and Harry. Torrhen seemed to be knocked out by a hammer, as all cried from laughter. He turned to him to say something, but his brother-in-law interrupted him. "I swear to the Gods Robb, if you are going to make a comment about how loud Alys is at night, I will give up my position and join a sellsword company in Essos!"
This made Jon and uncle Brynden cry even more from laughter, whilst Harry tried his best to keep it together when talking about his little sister. He himself held up his hands, as he showed a cocky smile to his brother-in-law. "I won't say anything."
He turned back towards Harry. "You and Torrhen will leave together with the Karstark troops to retake Karhold in force. I would also ask you something. Domeric has asked me for military assistance to take back the Dreadfort from his bastard brother. I would ask that you and your men, together with five hundred Stark men that I will place under your command, join him and help him siege down the castle. Afterwards you and part of my soldiers can continue on to your own lands, thereby signaling my support for your rule."
The Karstark brothers looked at each other and agreed. "If the siege were to take months, would it be an option that I leave Torr and some of the men there whilst I myself take back Karhold? I don't want uncle Arnolf to mess up my lands in winter."
"If you and Domeric deem it possible to chip away so many troops from your force then yes." He relented. "After you have taken control of Karhold, food transports will be sent there to help your people survive the winter. Great amounts of coin will also be sent your way. House Stark appreciates the support from House Karstark and you will get a significant portion of the spoils of war.
"I thank you, Your Grace." Lord Harrion responded, as he bowed his head.
"Last night, I have sent a raven to Commander Mallister of the Night's Watch. I have officially asked him to buy the New Gift. I have offered him two hundred and fifty thousand golden dragons up front and another ten thousand every five years for the next fifty years. I expect he will accept."
The Blackfish whistled. "That is a very generous offer for lands ravaged by wildlings and without any real population or infrastructure to speak off."
"I know, but I would subsidize the Watch the next fifty years anyway. They will need a lot of coin to rebuild Castle Black and arm and train all their new recruits. This in turn will make sure that those lands won't be ravaged by anyone anymore in the future. From there on they will steadily be populated again."
"What do you plan to do with the lands?" Harrion asked him.
"I plan to give back their ancestral lands to the Umbers. The mountain part of the New Gift will also be divided among some of the nearby clans. The remaining part of the lowlands will be awarded to Roose Ryswell. His will become a masterly house directly sworn to Winterfell, on the condition that he marries a clanswoman to entice him to local allies. It will be his task from Winterfell, together with the Umbers, to ensure the stability of the Watch." He responded.
"Roose is capable, respected and from the North, a good choice. It will also be good to get him apart from his brother. Does he know yet?"
"No, I will tell him in a few weeks. I assume that this stays between us until then." He replied, as he looked around. All nodded in agreement.
"Now, Harry, Torr, there is something I need to discuss with my brother and uncle."
"As you wish, Your Grace." Harry said, as he bowed slightly and went to the door. Torr bowed too and winked at him in the process.
"Jon, it is time we start planning your lands together. Uncle Brynden, I would like your general expertise in the process. Besides, as my new Lord Commander I trust you with all the secrets of the realm."
"My lips will remain sealed, Your Grace." His granduncle responded.
He pulled up certain maps of the Wolfswood, the Rills, Stoney Shore, Sea Dragon Point and the general western coast. "I have looked upon the lands here. I plan to raise two new houses to protect the coast. One on Sea Dragon Point and one on the Stony Shore, keeps will be built on both sides."
"However, there are certain complications. The Ryswells have been exerting certain powers over the Stony Shore, whilst the Glovers have been governing parts of Sea Dragon Point in the absence of strong local rulers. Both houses did so illegally and unofficially, but not without the knowledge of Winterfell. We let them do so, as it helped us to keep tabs on the region."
"Both houses will need to stop doing so. You already heard how I will placate the Ryswells with lands for Roose and a new trade route, now I plan to name the Glovers a lordly house instead of a masterly one. I will also give them a large amount of coin to strengthen Deepwood Motte. The castle has proven itself barely able to resist the ironborn. I would like to see it strengthened anyway and this will also increase the Glover's power."
"However, some of these lands are controlled by very minor families. They would retain their lands and swear allegiance to these two new houses. The problem might be that their loyalties may lay elsewhere. Some have close ties to the Ryswells, others the Glovers and even some others the Tallharts. To counter this, you will quickly have to raise minor vassals yourself when you take power. Those will need to intermarry with the locals and you will need to reward those locals with positions in your household. If you don't do this, you will lack power in parts of your own lands and as an extension in the rest of the North."
Jon listened intently, as his uncle seemed to agree with his assessment. "The second problem is that those lands are largely unpopulated. In the case of the Stony Shore, parts of it aren't extremely fertile either. For this, I have thought of multiple solutions."
"I am listening." His brother replied.
"First and foremost, I will send some men from Winterfell with you permanently. Loyal and capable people that have known you for at least the whole campaign, sometimes since childhood. The most capable among those could be raised to the minor nobility and given control over small tracts of lands, the others will be given farmlands, fishing rights or forest patches in your domain."
"Secondly, I plan to go ask around amongst the people of the Wolfswood to join and be given lands in your woodlands, farmers from Stark and Cerwyn lands to settle and cultivate the flatlands and fishermen from the Bite and White Knife areas to settle your coastline. The latter will have to be Old Gods believers, as I wouldn't want any religious problems to spring up in your lands."
"Thirdly, I was thinking of settling some of the orphans there in time. They could help as a source of skilled tradesmen for your lands after the winter."
"Fourthly, I was contemplating settling parts of the women and children from the Iron Islands in your lands after winter, around a thousand or so. These people are flooding into Barrowton and Wintertown for now and even though we are once again expanding the city, we can't hold them all. At first, I had thought that most would simply return to their families. In hindsight, most seem to have lost a lot of their families in violent clashes with the Ironborn. Others feel they would be ostracized when they would return with the half-Ironborn children that were forced upon them. I would settle a sizeable portion of them upon your lands, others in the lands of the other house. The rest can be taken up by Wintertown or Barrowton, as I plan to increase their permanent populations a bit anyway."
"I accept Robb, I would gladly help those women and children find a new home after what happened to them. However, economically keeping a thousand women and children to feed without any men to produce anything would be foolish." Jon retorted.
"Aye, I agree. Although I have to say that we do not know how long the winter will last. If it last for four more years, the eldest of the children will be close to coming of age before they enter your lands. Still, lastly, I planned to offer these women in marriage to some of the men from the Mountain Clans. Third and fourth sons, widowers and others would rejoice at the possibility of gaining lands and family. Most will have served with their kin at the Wall against the Wildlings. They will be able to fight and have proven themselves loyal. Raising some of those to the minor nobility and offering others places in your guard or village and town watches would be a boon to your lands. You can also claim kinship with them, as our great-grandmother Arya Flint hailed from the mountains."
"That is a good idea. It will also help stop any possible quarrel in the mountains, by taking away many desperate mouths to feed." Jon thought aloud.
"Aye, I thought so too. Men from the Mountain and Wolfswood Clans will be asked to join both lands of the Stoney Shore and Sea Dragon Point."
"Which lands would be mine?" His brother asked.
"I was thinking of Sea Dragon Point." He responded, as he picked up the map of the region in question. He put it on the table in front of his brother as he walked around him. He took a seat next to him and explained why. "I would give you the lands of the point itself, as well as some lands south of it. From the eastern edge of the point directly south and from the western coastline until this first large bay. Then your southern border would be stretched somewhere between there. However, this will need to be looked upon in detail with the Glovers and Ryswells."
"Your lands would stretch at max some two hundred miles in length and a hundred and forty in width. Although due to the waving coastline, it is less wide in many places. The local population now is almost none existent. After the Ironborn's raiding, I believe there to only be around forty to forty-five thousand people."
His brother looked up surprised. "Is it that bad?"
"Aye, sadly it is. The Stony Shore is even worse off after the recent raiding."
"If you take father's one percent rule, it means the lord of that area can only raise some four hundred to four hundred and fifty men …" His brother thought aloud.
"Aye, that's why I want your population raised as soon as possible. All these measures could raise your population to close to sixty thousand, I think. After that, I want you to start the construction of a port town. In time, I would want it to be a town of a few thousand people and some galleys to patrol the western coast against lonely raiding ships. Most Ironborn raids consist of one or at most a handful of ships. A navy of five to ten ships could help avoid three quarters of all raids on the lands there."
"I agree, but a town let alone a port town … I think it is clear that there is no population to sustain such a thing. It would be a massive economic investment which in the short terp would yield no profits. I don't have that amount of coin Robb, nor will these lands give it to me." Jon responded worriedly.
"Of course, you don't. House Stark would subsidize you with food and coin for years. I would also force traders from the Iron Isles and from Barrowton and the Rills to make stops in your lands. That way the development of the town will quickly take up speed. It will attract young people from across the North. Especially from the lands of the White Knife and the Rills, who already know how to sail and fish. In a few decades your lands could easily carry close to a hundred thousand people and a port town of some four to five thousand people. This would generate enough coin for your house to let it organically grow in size. Your lands would be an important stop for traders on a trade route from Oldtown and Lannisport towards the Wall. Traders from the Reach, Westerlands, Iron Islands and especially Seaguard, Flint's Finger, the Barrowlands, the Rills, Stoney Shore, Deepwood Motte and Bear Island will pass through your port."
"You really see it that big Robb?" His brother questioned.
"Aye, I want the western coast to have three port towns capable of defending itself. The lands don't allow for major cities like White Harbor, but I would want Seaguard, Barrowton and a future port on Sea Dragon Point to be able to sustain and protect itself. It will ensure the defense and prosperity of our western flank. Hopefully wealth will also trickle down to the region, like White Harbor gives opportunities for the Flints, Lockes and others. Maybe a new port could help the Glovers, Tallharts and Mormonts grow. Together those three ports could also field a minor fleet and enough ships to patrol the coast from Bear Island to Ironman's Bay."
"This will cost a fortune." The Blackfish whistled, saying what everyone was thinking.
"Aye, but it will bring in much more wealth than it costs in only a few decades. Besides we are swimming in coin right now." He laughed.
"I had a feeling. You are awarding everybody with coin it seems." Ser Brynden Tully retorted. "Do the finances still look the same as they did a few months ago?"
"Similarly yes, actually they are even a little better now. Look, my father had a vision of improving the infrastructure of the North and by doing so spreading wealth and trade across the North. This would serve to feed more people and raise the native population of the North. It was a great vision and I plan to see it through. I inherited many plans worked out between him and Maester Luwin. Some have already been implemented, most haven't. I already spoke to the Maester and Os about the finances. We made millions of our campaigns in the South. We also have the extra taxes from the extended Riverlands coming in and on top of that we have tons of war reparations flowing in our coffers the next few years. We won't be able to do everything I want, but we can do a lot. A few plans at a time and I promised Jon his lands, so I pushed this project up."
"Exactly how much money is there? I wasn't there when you discussed this a few months ago." Jon asked.
He laughed loudly and walked to his desk. He pulled up a letter from inside it. He sat back down on his chair and read it aloud. "The earlier funds of House Stark are at its lowest point in over a century after the road projects of father, the campaign, building of the Manderly fleet, all measures for winter, the orphanages and the expansion of Wintertown. The treasury was near on empty. However, we also gained A LOT." He smiled.
"After subtracting the shares of our vassals and paying for our promises made in the Riverlands, we keep: one million golden dragons from the first campaign in the Westerlands, five hundred thousand golden dragons from the campaigns in the Reach and another one hundred thousand for the second campaign in the Westerlands." He turned to his brother. "Thank you for that by the way Jon. I have you to partly thank for that." He laughed.
"One million three hundred thousand dragons confiscated from the traitorous Riverland houses combined. It seems the Freys were not only sitting on a lot of swords, but also pots of gold. We got another half a million from looting King's Landing and the Crownlands. Loot from the Stormlands campaign was given away to our vassals and allies for Jon to have the dragonbones. Then we looted another half a million in the Iron Isles."
"In the next ten to twenty years we are expecting in indemnities: two hundred thousand dragons from the Crownlands, a million and fifty thousand from the Westerlands, sixty-six thousand from Dorne and two hundred thousand from all the combined houses of the Ironborn. I am still expecting to get war indemnities from the Reach too once peace is signed."
Jon's mouth fell open as he continued listing off more and more numbers. "Are you serious?" He asked in complete shock.
"Yes, but you have to take into account that we will also gain extra coin from the trade deals with Braavos, the Vale, the Westerlands, the Stormlands and the Ironborn and I plan to make similar agreements with Myr, Lys and Lorath." He replied very proudly.
"Wow, that I didn't know.", the Blackfish mouthed. "How would all of that be in total?
"Well, I'll leave the extra trade out of it for now because that can't really be calculated yet as trade still needs to pick after the war. The moment I know more both of you will be informed." He started, before looking back at the paper.
"In total that is three million nine hundred thousand golden coins now already in the treasury. Although parts of it still needs to arrive here from Seaguard and the Twins. In total we are expecting one million five hundred and sixteen thousand dragons from indemnities, although parts of that are already here due to Jon's insistence of getting the first share of the Westerlands home with him." He grinned at his brother.
"So now you tell me, Jon , can I afford what I am doing?" He taunted.
"What you are doing? Yes, of course, but knowing you not even all that money can pay for what you are planning." He laughed.
"Known expenses are a quarter of a million dragons to the Night's Watch and another hundred thousand in indemnities the next fifty years. Around one hundred and fifty thousand more to fund everything for the expeditions against the Dreadfort and Karhold, as well as the future expedition the Wall. Another two hundred thousand to cover the debts our vassals encountered whilst fighting the Ironborn and Wildlings. Having supply lines go that far north in winter has put a serious strain on their coin."
"Six hundred thousand and another one hundred thousand spread over fifty years, that's it for now?" Ser Brynden asked.
"Aye, that's it. I want to leave at least half a million in the treasury for emergencies, but that still leaves me with three million to play with and another thirteen hundred thousand in the next ten to twenty years plus all the trade money. It will take a few years for some plans to really get off the ground and all money to go through the window. By then I will have received enough indemnities that I will be well over the five hundred thousand anyway. " He replied.
"So, what are all your plans?" His uncle sighed.
"I'll put a million aside for father's roadbuilding plans and a few of my own. Another million now and half a million in the future to build keeps. First Jon's and the four along the Blackwater. After that, the one on the Stoney Shore. Then in summer halve a million to give cheap loans to vassals to rebuild their lands or fortify their keeps. This will largely be for the Riverlands, in addition to the Flint's of Flint's Finger, Glovers, Tallharts, Mormonts and Dustins. Additional loans will be given in the coming decades once money is recuperated."
"That's two and a halve million now and a million in the future, of which you will get a half back in time. What about the rest?" Jon calculated quickly.
"I will buy massive amounts of food from Braavons and Pentos. I mean massive amounts. I have read the notes that father, grandfather, great-grandfather Edwyle and even great-great-grandfather William and his elder brother Donnor have written down. All tell the same story. Every winter, the North's population drops by ten to twenty percent. Part of that is elderly people dying to give the younger generations more food. These elders are still economically and especially culturally productive. Saving them would be a boon, but more importantly are the numbers of children that die of sicknesses caused by starvation. The amount of deaths of young women and babies in childbirth. This hits our population. Only after a fairly long spring and summer do our numbers replenish, only to drop again the next winter. It is especially important now, considering a wave of a few thousand colonists will leave the North for the Riverlands."
"I will try to partly break that cycle. I want the North's population to grow by twenty-five to fifty percent in the next fifty years and I want it to last. That can only happen if we start saving our people from starvation now. It can only last if our infrastructure is better. If we facilitate more trade, food transports, land cultivations and help to build more small towns and ports." He finished his explanation.
"Where would all those people live? There is a reason we don't have those kind of numbers now." His brother interjected.
"Everywhere, but especially in certain underdeveloped places. To start with, I am planning a population boom on the western coast. In the lands of the Stoney Shore and Sea Dragon Point are living only eighty thousand people at most. With the amount of lands open for cultivation, the forests on the point that can we used for lumber trade with the Iron Islands, the excellent location on the water for trade and fishing that population can easily be doubled in time. For it to do so, Ironborn raiding needs to cease."
"I will also repopulate the lands of the New Gift. Both will be carried by migration from other parts of the North. I want the population there to then grow back to at least its current size. Extra trade and infrastructure will grow Barrowton and Wintertown and to feed them more land will need to be cultivated for farmers in the Stark, Cerwyn, Ryswell, Tallhart and Dustin lands. In time, I also want to rebuild Moat Cailin and repopulate that area, but that will have to wait for a decade or so."
"Isn't that dangerous? The entire power balance in the North would shift. You would strengthen the center and south-west in contrast to other parts?" Ser Brynden asked.
"Not really, uncle. To meet the demands for trade with Essos, we will need to put more people to work in gathering lumber and hides. For that, I look to the Karstarks, Boltons and Hornwoods, maybe even the Umbers and Skagosi. To meet the ironborn demands, the western coast lords, Glovers and Mormonts will see growth, maybe in limited capacity also the Mountain Clans. The Umbers will see their power grow with the population growth in the lands they regained from the Gift. Other smaller houses will be stimulated to help meet domestic food demands, look for ores to mine on their lands or also export furs and wool."
"I will try to balance out economic growth everywhere with extra focusses on the Stark lands and the western coast. Since the Targaryen conquest, the south-east of the North has seen more relative growth. The Manderlys especially, but also the Lockes, Woolfields, Flints and a score of lesser houses. I will now balance the odds back a little, while still producing more trade through White Harbor for those houses."
"The plan sounds impressive Robb, but it hinges on a lot of things. Most notably, your plan stands and falls with overseas trade. Especially the trade with Essos and the Iron Islands, if I hear you correctly. What would you do if trade is cut off." His uncle countered.
"To make sure that doesn't happen, I will keep the Manderly fleet strong. It will rule over the Bite and ensure our trade lanes. In time, I want to make sure the Flints of Widowswatch, the Lockes, the Rykkers and the Mootons also have a handful of ships to protect trade. This will stop the Vale and Stormlands from having any funny ideas to tamper with our trade anywhere along our coasts. On the western coast, the same will go for the houses on Sea Dragon Point and the Stony Shore, the Mormonts, Dustins, the other Flints and the Mallisters. We will also keep a close eye on the Iron Islands. I will treat them as if they were a trade dependency. As long as our trade flows, they will be left alone. If our trade is threatened, we will make ourselves known. On top of that land trade via Moat Cailin will also be promoted. I will sit together with Olyvar and make him understand that trade there is the only way for his house to recover. This will accelerate growth there. I will also make a deal with Lord Reed. They deserve to make profits too and I will try to meet his demands for goods and food."
"Who will rule the Stony Shore?" Jon finally asked.
"I don't know yet, but I have been entertaining the idea of giving it to Alysane Mormont." He replied slowly.
"Really?" Both his brother and uncle asked.
"Aye, she has proven herself a capable steward of Bear Island during the war. She has also proven herself capable of handling with small Ironborn raids. It would reward the Mormonts for their loyal service and ensure good management of the Stony Shore. Her being a woman might also endear her to the those saved from the Iron Islands." He replied.
"Hmmn, that is true." His brother hesistantly replied. "However," his uncle interjected. "she is also known as having two children out of wedlock and we know nothing of how she is. None of us has ever met her."
"I have heard a fair few things from her older sister Dacey. It seems that she is in a relationship with a lowborn guardsman at Mormont Keep. Both children are his. I have been thinking about raising him to noble status and marrying them, if she wants it so. Thereby legitimizing their children by royal decree. It would create a new noble house with ties to old nobility and ensure an heir for it immediately. However, you are right. I would have to meet her before I decide upon anything. I will talk to Lady Maege first and see what I do from there."
They ended their meeting there and he went to find his mother. Together they talked about what they had seen this morning and earlier this week with Sansa. "What do you think about him?" His mother finally asked.
"Domeric is my friend. Without him turning on his father, I would have died in the Riverlands and my kingdom with me. He is smart, capable, loyal and he genuinely likes Sansa. However, he is still a Bolton. Both in blood and name and sometimes in mindset. He can be hard, ruthless and cruel when the situation asks for it. He will treat her right and keep her safe no matter the cost, but it will not be the flowery existence in the South she once wished for."
"I dare say that time has long passed. Ever since coming back from King's Landing, she has been telling me she does not want to marry into a Southern house. She was the last of us to ever see your father and I'm sad to say it left an impression on her. It is sad, but I have accepted now that both my girls will marry in the North. Besides, she has been infatuated by the boy for years and he seems to be treating her well. You also speak very highly of him …" She replied.
"Mother, are you proposing we should accept an offer from Domeric Bolton for Sansa's hand?" He asked in shock.
"I, … I think so Robb. I want her to be happy and I am starting to think he may actually give her a happy life. They have been sending letters for years and I haven't seen her this happy since before she left to go to King's Landing with your father. I also think that he cares for her and respects her, not only her name which is a special thing for a girl of her station. However, the political implications of her marrying a Bolton and the son of a traitor may be to grand to ignore."
"Let me worry about the political implications, mother. Domeric has been nothing but loyal and has integrated well with others from our generation. His bonds with Houses Karstark, Umber, Cerwyn, Ryswell and Dustin are very good. Only the situation with the Hornwoods irks me. If he wants to marry Sansa, he will have to fix that. Otherwise it would be a good political match. After the Tullys, the Boltons are my strongest bannerman and thus it would make sense. It would also help getting the Boltons, Dustins and Ryswells into the fold and end what father started when fostering Sansa and promising Rickon. All I care about is what you think about it all and if you think that she will be happy?"
"That is very kind of you Robb. I know it is within your power as new head of the house to decide this without me." She smiled.
"You have raised me well and you love both me and my siblings. I will never forget that. No decision about their lives will be made without consulting you about every detail of it. I promise you that." He responded honestly.
"Thank you!" She replied from the bottom of her heart, whilst giving him a hug. "I agree with the betrothal, if he were to ask. Sansa will be happy with him and he is strong enough that he can take care of her. A Northern marriage also has its advantages. He could bring her with him every year at the Harvest Feast. I hadn't seen my uncle for fifteen years and missed my family dearly. If she marries Lord Bolton, that will never happen to her. "
"That is true." He agreed. "I will also inform Alys of our decision, but no one else. You have to make sure to not tell Sansa anything. It is of the greatest political importance that Domeric makes his intentions about Sansa known first. He will have to make certain concessions to the Hornwoods, if he wants to marry a Stark Princess. I can't do that if he already knows that I will accept. Sansa's future is paramount, but that does not mean I will not try to get the best for the North out of it as well."
"I understand Robb, I will do as you ask." She replied.
"Will you accompany me to lunch?" He asked her. "It's been too long since I've had lunch with my mother." He smiled and her whole face beamed back at him in response. Without saying a word, she extended her his arm in proper Southern fashion and he took it with a smirk. Some things would never change and he was glad for it.
This is it for this chapter!
Okay, so I made a small calculation error. It seems that the combination of more conversational writing instead of monologue and the extra amount of worldbuilding will result in larger chapters instead of smaller ones haha. I even needed to move some parts to the next chapter. I hope you enjoy.
We see Robb spending time with Alys. He also plans on what to do with Ramsey and Arnolf Karstark. Jon's future keep and lands are getting made and Robb discusses his monetary situation and his future plans for the North. He also has talks about Sansa's future with his mother.
Fannic
Reviews:
- George Cristian810: Thank you! There will be more than two chapters of world building. Robb here deals with the Karstarks and Domeric goes after Ramsay, but still the Tyrells remain. He will also have to deal with Theon/Asha and the Wall. Those will have to be dealt with and worldbuilding will be sprinkled heavily in between those.
- 27mad97: The story isn't over yet. The Reach and the Wall will be cleared out in the next few chapters.
- Cliff West: She got told of, but she is still well-respected. She will keep her rooms, prestige and keep being an important factor in the education of Sansa, Arya, Brandon and Rickon. However, she has effectively been demoted from Lady of the North to the Queen-Mother with no effective power. Robb will have to find something for her to do, otherwise she will be de facto demoted to a lady-in-waiting of Alys.
- KEZZ 1: Thank you very much!
- Force Smuggler: Thank you!
- Hank Jones: Even if the Bolton line died out, Jon would have never gotten the Dreadfort in full. Jon would become the most powerful vassal of the Starks and break the balance of power in the North. If Jon would receive the Dreadfort, half the lands would be cut up between the Hornwoods, Starks, Cerwyns, Flints and Umbers.
The Cerwyns and Hornwoods can raise over 1k troops and are of average strength in the North. It would promote Jon from being a landless bastard with no future in 298 AC to one of the 30 strongest men in Robb's kingdom and 15 strongest in the North IN HIS OWN RIGHT. Combine that with gold, valuables and positions he will get from Robb and it is a lot. It is far more than what Tywin Lannister gave to his nephews Lancel and Tyrek Lannister gave in canon.
The plan is to create a legitimate port on the western shore, yet it will never reach the strength White Harbor has. The western trade routes aren't as valuable as trade with the Vale AND the Free Cities. It will indeed take generations but will probably reach its limits at some 25k people I imagine with the population in the surrounding lands growing exponentially to sustain the town. This would be a huge boom to the North and make Jon's family one of the major ones on the Western Coast, but still not in the top 5 in the North.
In the rest of the kingdoms, you will have the expansions of (former) King's Landing, Duskendale, Maidenpool, Barrowton, Saltpans, Maidenpool and Seaguard. Wintertown has already been expanded by Alys and Robb will try to keep parts of that permanent. However, to do so he will need to first grow the peasantry around the town. This is all for the next spring.
- Supremus85: Haha! thank you! I love writing Eddara. You will see the growth of the Stark family in future chapters. Yes, that is true but never a Stark and if you look at the family tree you can see a lot of Starks that were passed by. Lady Dustin is no Dustin at all, she is ruling because of powerplay/usurping herself because there was no clear heir. Lady Mormont does not have a son, otherwise he would have ruled in her place. Stephen was a usurper, but nobles preferred that, it would be the same here. Eddara's son will always be preferred over her, same with Sansa and Arya. You are right about Lady Flint though, and a female heir is always better than no heir. She probably didn't have any children yet when her father/brother died.
- Spr2k19: Thank you! It took a little longer than expected haha!
- Rebfan90: Thank you!
- Shadowslayer2015: More on the Wall soon-ish. More on the direwolves a little later.
- GoMagiKarp: Thank you for all the reviews. I will reply to all the others in PM. For your latest: thank you for the name suggestions. You gave me a lot of food for thought.
- The Blue Amateur: Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy the ending and multi chapter epilogues after this just as much.
- Andy2800: Thank you so so much! It really means a lot. I thought about Jon and Arya, but I just couldn't fit it all in naturally. I mention it in the background that they talk a lot. I will sprinkle in more family moments (like Robb and Catelyn and Robb and Alys here) in future chapters. I will look if it is possible to show more of Jon's connection with his other siblings. Jon is Robb's most important general AND advisor. If Jon want it, he will be number 2 in the kingdoms until Robb's heir comes of age or Bran steps up massively in a few years. More bonding time is definitely incoming!
No, Jon won't completely ignore his heritage. However, it will be a clean start. I am thinking of sprinkling in some hints on both sides, but not sure on what just yet.
- Poly19hum Thank you very much!
- Guest1: wow
- Guest2: No, not in a century will they be that strong. The Umbers and Manderlys have 300k people living on their lands, his lands now have 40k. That does A LOT. Besides they have mines, century old trade routes, vassals loyal to the core for centuries, … Robb can't give land away that doesn't exist, neither can he give century old bonds. If land was prosperous and rich, it would already be claimed long ago.
Jon gets a full lordship. Not simply as a masterly house, but a lordly one. Robb will pour manpower and coin in his lands by the bucketload. I think you underestimate what this means. Jon is under no threat in the North, but he does need to integrate well. The grandson of Lord Slate is already squiring for him. He will need a good marriage too and so will his descendants. After that, he fits right in. His mother was a Stark, that means something. You will see the Stark family develop further in the fic. Soon the time jumps will start.
He's not OP. I've seen fics where he rules the Seven Kingdoms like what? How?! He almost died multiple times, see all the scars. He also lost a lot of people and is tired. He is very powerful, but his rule will still be challenged.