Invitation from the North

Edmure POV

The Westerlands have been through a lot. Losing war isn't pretty, so when the Lannisters lost, the people of the Westerlands suffered the most. Without its lord Paramount, the lands descended into small skirmishes. There wasn't a lord powerful enough in the Westerlands to control these lands. So, they quickly descended into petty conflicts.

Even the King couldn't do much damage control within the lands that joined the crownlands. The lords in the south of Gold Road answered to the Iron Throne directly, but from what I have heard, it was more complicated. When lords and their heirs die, the cousins and their families fight for the lordship. So, it becomes quite complicated when two or even more people swear their allegiance to the King in the same name.

It is hard to investigate who has a better claim to their lands. Some don't want to wait for the King to decide, so they take matters into their own hands. At least most of them don't have much power and can only summon a couple of knights to support them. At most, a hundred men join a skirmish between families. But when there are dozens of skirmishes, it becomes troublesome for everyone else.

The Lands North of Gold Road with Casterly Rock and Lannisport were officially declared as part of Riverlands. It was even more troublesome for me to deal with them. I was gone for too long, and skirmishes have become uncontrollable. If only it were cousins trying to take power over other cousins, it wouldn't be so bad.

But nothing was so simple. In a couple of cases, uncles took power from their nephews as they were still children, and nobody trusted them to rule their lands. Then, some people accused others of rebellious actions against the new king and took matters into their own hands to get rid of them. It was hard to tell who was right and who wasn't.

I would have left it be if the common folk didn't suffer as they were conscripted into these skirmishes and their food and valuables confiscated to support their fights. There was already a problem with bandit groups rising, and the actions of these houses only made it easier for the bandits to raid and wreak havoc.

"What is up with these reports?" I asked the commander of Lannisport's city watch. "Why do I have reports telling me that your men are accused of illegally throwing families out of the city and taking their homes?"

"My lord, those families were devout servants to the Lannisters," The commander said with a confident smile. "They were causing trouble and tried to gather people around them to oppose you. Before your arrival, my men and I worked day and night to ensure the city would be safe and those traitorous people couldn't scheme anything against you."

"Is that so?" I could tell that the man was lying, but he had too much power within the city for me to accuse him of anything. "I hope for your good that you aren't lying."

"I wouldn't dare," The man was too confident and sleazy to be trusted.

"You are free to go."

Before I could deal with the other houses in the Westerlands, I had to take control of Lannisport. The city of two hundred thousand and one of the major ports in the west was too vast. I didn't have my foothold set yet, so problems arose. If it isn't the city watch, which became uncontrollable, it would be the merchant guilds that have hired sellswords to defend themselves or the faith that takes people in to serve them in exchange for protection.

"The man is on the high horse," Sandor Clegane said. "He won't recognize anyone above him."

"Power corrupts people," I agreed. "But that man lives in the well and has never seen the sea. He will soon realize how small and insignificant he is."

I didn't have time or patience to deal with them. If I were a King, I might have looked at the situation more carefully and tried to be as just as I could be. But I wasn't, and I didn't care if a few innocent lives had to be sacrificed to get my property in order. Once my spies find everyone in power in Lannisport, I will eliminate them and reorganize their orders to my liking.

…

While my agents worked in the city and investigated the power figures, I spent time with my family in Casterly Rock. Before settling in the castle, I replaced all the servants, cooks, and guards with people I was comfortable with. I couldn't have anyone that had any ties with the Lannisters in my home. Even if I didn't plan to spend much time here, I could see myself getting bogged out with work taking over my new lands.

"Hah!"

"Ah!"

Yells came out of the courtyard as my new squires were sparring with me while my children observed us. I was still quite surprised at how much stamina these two had. Their vigor and strength were beyond anyone else their age. If not for their lack of skill, I would have thought they had trained for tens of years before I met them.

"What are you yelling about?" I asked them as I knocked them down to the ground. "All I want to hear from you in battle is your breathing and your weapons colliding with mine. Even if you are stabbed or cut, I don't want to hear you letting out a sound and telling your opponent that they got you. And if you have the strength to yell, you should swing your weapon."

"Yes, ser!" The boys yelled as they raised their blunt swords again.

It was delightful to see them grow so fast. They took my brutal training without a complaint. I could never be as tough with my children as with these boys. Miles and Henry were orphans who grew up in King's Landing gutter. They were used to roughness, and they liked toughness better than kindness. They would be suspicious of my intentions if I were soft on them.

Part of me felt sorry for them, but it was how the world worked. It wasn't fair, but nothing was. They only had to learn it sooner to survive. And they were luckier than most to meet me and for me to catch on their talent. Of course, I liked teaching them. It made me remember the days I taught Samwell. The Tarly boy was too soft, but he compensated with his hard work.

Too bad, Sam was in Oldtown, so I couldn't see him in King's Landing. Hopefully, he didn't neglect his training and didn't gain weight. Well, it wasn't my business what he was doing. Sam was a grown man, a knight. He can do anything he wants. I already had too many things to worry about. Every time I avert my eyes from something, they start falling apart.

"Are we done for today?" Henry asked, seeing that I was too absorbed in my thoughts.

"The sun is still high," I replied, motioning them to continue.

They were older than most kids who started learning swordplay. So, I didn't teach them sophisticated techniques that were only good at tourneys. I wanted to make them into household knights that would serve my children. Hopefully, they grow to be friends and foster loyalty to my house. I still remember Ser Alan, who betrayed me and almost killed me in the battle for King's Landing.

Trustworthy people were hard to come upon. So far, the only people I could trust to work were the ones I brought from nothing. The spies I made of the orphans were only loyal to me because they would be nothing without me. Knights were more fickle than spies. Honor meant little to most of them, and they would go to the highest bidder, especially knights from lesser houses.

As night came upon us, I let the boys have dinner and rest for the day. I returned to my solar. I would have to review the reports prepared for me while I ate my dinner. There was no break for me. And it didn't seem I would have time for anything until the winter hit us. At least I trusted the Night's Watch to be able to hold on their own and stop whatever would come with the Winter.

First came a report from King's Landing. Arianne informed me that most lords from the Stormlands agreed to lay down their weapons in Lady Shireen's presence. They would come to King's Landing to negotiate a peace treaty and pledge their loyalty to the King. It was good news, and finally, the war would officially be over, and we could start putting all our attention on preparing for the Winter.

Arianne also informed me that Oberyn would soon take his army to Essos. Once the investigation of Illyrio Mopatis and other prominent members of Pentos magisters is done, they will be ready to attack the city. Part of me wished to go with Oberyn, but I would be only wasting my time. Oberyn can handle it, especially with the Tattered Prince's help.

Still, I probably will need to visit Pentos once it is over and make a trade deal with it. I had too much work over here to make journeys across the sea pointless. And seeing the endless requests directed to me to help some houses to end their conflicts, I knew I would be busy. The only way I could think to end those power moves within families was to invest in one side and then destroy the other.

Making decisions on who has a better claim on the seat of lordship would take too much time. It was better to see who was more worthy of my investment and then help them to deal with their opposition. Not only will I gain their loyalty, but they will owe quite a favor to me. It was the easiest and fastest way to deal with these small fishes trying to eat each other.

But firstly, I had to reestablish order in Lannisport. It shouldn't take much time to round up the big shots that decided to take advantage of the situation and eliminate them. But the problem was that it would leave a power vacuum, and I needed to fill it before unsavory folk took advantage of it and tried to insert themselves. I needed men I could trust.

Faith was the most problematic. They had too much power over common folk, so I probably will have to replace the Septon in the city with one in the Riverrun. But I couldn't kill this Septon, I will need to send him somewhere else. I have to ask Uncle Brynden if he could help me with it. Vale was the most prominent location for the faith, so I might send all the problematic Septons where they will be isolated from the rest of the Kingdoms. Too bad the Mountain Clans were defeated and almost eradicated, otherwise I might use them to eliminate the Septons.

"What is this?"

I looked at the letter placed separately from the other reports. Looking at it, I discovered it was from Winterfell directed to me. I had almost forgotten that Robb was getting married. And the letter reminded me and invited me to Winterfell to celebrate the joining of the North and the Wildlings, ending the centuries-long war between them.

The letter was put quite nicely, clear work of Cat. My sister surely knew how to put words together nicely. The invitation was probably sent to more than just me as much as I wanted to decline it and focus on the work that already has piled up on my hands. I knew it was the perfect place to meet most lords from the North and other places. If I could get Shireen to attend it and meet Bran, I could set these two together beforehand.

The King probably also would want to attend it. Otherwise, Robb will have some harsh words with Jaehaerys. And politically it would show that Jaehaerys still values the North and wasn't consumed by the South. And with the King, many other lords will attend it. Creating a perfect place to meet with them and discuss the matters of the Winter.