Chapter 43: The Vale
300 AC
Yohn Royce
He stood in his command tent, as he looked over the maps of the terrain. These were his lands. These lands had belonged to House Royce since before the coming of the Andals. He would not lose here. He would make sure of that.
Around him stood the other commanders of the gathered force. He looked at them, as he thought about the choices he had made for the upcoming battle.
Lord Horton Redfort would lead the right flank. The short, but veteran, lord would rather die than have his men break the line. The man had lost one of his sons, Ser Creighton, in the war. His thirst for revenge would fuel their troops in the upcoming battle.
Next to him stood ser Symond Templeton. The cold and calculated look in his eyes was exactly what they needed in this battle. He would do well commanding their left flank.
Lord Gilwood Hunter would command the vanguard. The son of his late friend Eon had learned much and more from his father. He would not fail them, he knew that. Yet, his eyes still lingered on him. His brothers accused him of killing Lord Eon, a most vile act. Even so, his sources told him this was most likely false. If anyone had, it would most likely have been one of his brothers. As such, he had ordered some of his men to keep an eye on them.
The reserves would be commanded by Ser Morton Waynwood. The heir to Ironoaks had distinguished himself in the battle of the Bloody Gate, even freeing his younger brother Ser Donnel after the battle. The latter had stayed with his mother to keep the Eyrie under siege with fifteen hundred men. Ser Morton's eldest son Ser Roland was the best friend and constant companion of Lord Harrold Arryn, formerly Hardyng. There were worse friends for the new Lord of the Vale to have than the future heir of House Waynwood.
Lord Harrold himself was also present. He would serve as his second-in-command in the center. Although showing much promise, the young lord was inexperienced. All men present here had agreed that it would be too dangerous for him to lead the army today. To placate their new liege, Lord Arryn was promised overall command after they had won the battle. That way, the man could still gather the glory he deserved after the battle in the, hopefully, easier fights that were to come after this.
This meant that Andar, his son and heir, couldn't be his righthand in the upcoming battle. He felt for his son, who had also proven himself in the previous engagements. Together with Lord Horton, he had soundly defeated House Waxley. After that, he had also fought in the battle of the Bloody Gate where he had personally managed to kill Ser Arnold Egon, Ser Vardis' cousin and second-in-command.
After much deliberation with his fellow lords, Andar had been given command of the surprise cavalry attack they would be implementing. He had had to give Ser Jon Redfort and Ser Gerold Templeton the most prestigious commands under his son, but that had been quickly accepted. If everything went as planned, songs would be sung of his son's charge for decades.
The only man that was notably absent was Lord Benedar. The head of House Belmore had been defeated by the combined strength of Houses Lynderly and Corbray up north. The messages they had received told of Benedar being wounded, while his nephew Ser Marwyn had been killed.
For a while, they had feared that the armies of the Lynderlys and Corbrays would come south to try and break the siege of the Eyrie, but at that time they had finally received help. Ned's young son had come true and had sent some of his vassals under the Manderlys to help them.
Their fleet had sunk the one of House Sunderland, after which the Vale's northern shores laid open to them. Not long after, they had captured Sisterton. They managed to kill or capture all of Lord Triston's seven sons in the process of those two battles, effectively knocking the Three Sisters out of the fight.
After regrouping there, the Northmen had captured the Paps and Pebble. These islands were the seats of Houses Elseham and Pryor, who had been menacing House Coldwater and effectively denying them the possibility to link up with House Belmore. His vassal, Lord Royce Coldwater, had been killed in one of their raids. The man had been his late wife's brother and one of his most trusted advisors. Revenge for his death had come as most welcome news.
The most significant accomplishment of those island houses had been the fact that they had managed to keep the other houses in the area neutral. House Donniger had shown sympathy for their cause yet hadn't joined them out of fear of being the target of some of these raids. With that threat dealt with, they might be more easily persuaded to join them.
From their bases on these islands the Manderlys had done much more than he had expected. They had started raiding the coast themselves, forcing the Lynderlys and Corbrays back to defend their lands. They didn't allow those houses to march on the Eyrie, which was the only reason this army had managed to gather here in his lands.
The Northmen had also managed somewhat of a moral victory. Word had come that Ser Rodrik Locke had burned down the lands of House Baelish. Their old tower, as well as the village nearby, had been burned to the ground leaving nothing of his holding intact.
While its military importance was negligible, it had been a huge moral boost for their soldiers. Not only had the Northmen come to help, they had burned down their enemy's ancestral home. Already, his men had started calling Baelish "Little", instead of "Littlefinger". When he had asked one of his captains why they did so, the man had grinned back at him. "Because he has lost his lands on the Fingers, My Lord. All that remains true of the name is the fact he is small, or little."
Morale was high and his battleplans clear. Now they had only to wait for the enemy. Baelish didn't disappoint him, less than half an hour later trumpets were heard in the distance and all of the commanders present walked out of their tents.
The enemy had come over the hill in the distance, just as he had anticipated. All the lords around him quickly went to their troops, as the army sprang into action.
He walked over to his son and hugged him fiercely. "You will do us proud my boy, I know it. Now be quick and take only a few retainers with you. Ride to the east side of the camp, where it meets the trees and ride around in a long circle to your men from there. We don't want you to be spotted."
His heir smirked at him, as he pulled away from the hug. "I know, father. I will do as you asked. Don't worry, this isn't my first battle. Besides, I have a wife and three daughters that expect me home safely. I will not disappoint them, nor you. Tonight, we feast on the final defeat of that bandit Baelish. We will not only restore the Vale to the Arryns tonight, we will also avenge Robar." His son said and it was clear he meant every word of it.
The mention of his late son steeled him, as cold anger crept upon him. For weeks they had asked themselves how he could have died, until it had finally become clear that the Lannisters still controlled the City Watch. Those lowly Goldcloaks had betrayed Ned and his son and there were only a few men who could have orchestrated that. The most likely culprit of it all was in front of him nominally leading the enemy army. Whatever the case, they would make sure their deaths weren't for nothing today.
He donned the bronze helmet of his forebearers and walked over to his horse. A few minutes later he rode towards the frontline that was establishing itself in the center. Lord Harrold followed him like a shadow, like he had been ordered to do. They needed the Vale to be stable in the next few decades. A bit of lessons in warfare would do the young lord a lot of good.
He rode up and down the line, as more and more soldiers formed up. He let them see their commander. He let them see that he was here with them and that he wasn't afraid. Lords Royce and Arryn would fight with them and they had to see this. From time to time, he shouted some encouraging word. Lifting the fighting spirit of his men up for the coming battle was an important part of leading them. More often than not, these battles were fought until one side started running away, not until it was beaten.
Every once in a while, he looked around him to make sure the army was forming up like he had envisioned. He also checked the advance of the enemy army that was slowly marching towards him.
His scouts had told him the total enemy force numbered around twelve thousand men. Five thousand Reachmen under Lord Ashford, four thousand sellswords from Essos and three thousand Valemen under Lords Grafton, Breakstone and Upcliff.
The latter ones had once had a lot more men, but they had lost hundreds in the constant skirmishes against him he remembered with pride.
The Reachmen would be the easiest to deal with, he though. Tyrell would never have sent his best men to the Vale, as was clear by the command of the previously unmemorable Lord Ashford.
The Sellsword would be tougher. They were veteran troops from many Essosi campaigns. Yet, they had one weakness. Like all sellswords, they fought for coin. Every man likes the idea of fighting for coin, yet few like dying for it. If the tide of the battle turned against them, the sellswords would surely flee.
The toughest to beat would be the Valemen, veterans of numerous skirmishes over the last year. All of them knew what defeat would bring them, the block or the Wall. It was the same for his men. Whoever won could decide the identity of the new Lord Arryn and punish the other side as traitors.
Approvingly, he looked upon his army which had completely formed up by now. Ten thousand men, a third of them of House Royce. He trusted these men with his life and the future of the Vale. They would not fail him. Of course, not all of them were here. Andar would by now have joined with the eight hundred elite mounted knights and lancers, who had hidden themselves in the woods to the east.
The restless minute before the battle that commenced was the same as it had ever been. It been the same in all the battles he had fought in and by now those were many. He had fought many battles on the Stepstones during the War of the Ninepenny Kings under the lordship of his father and Lord Jon. He had been a young lad then, too young for knighthood even. During Robert's Rebellion he had been much older and commanding his house's troops himself for the first time, while the Greyjoy Rebellion felt like yesterday still.
That one restless minute before the arrows flew and the trumpets glared was always the same. Be it on Bloodstone, the Trident or Pyke, all you heard was horses neighing, men breathing and banners flying in the wind. It was the same here and the sounds came to him as if he was an old friend of them.
When he felt things would commence, he closed his visor. Barely a few seconds later the trumpets sounded, followed by arrows flying through the air from both sides. He raised his shield, but none fell near him for now.
After a few volleys were exchanged, the enemy started moving. He had purposely given them the initiative. They needed to think they had them on the ropes. They had to commit everything, only then would his plan work.
Soon the lines were joined. He started shouting his orders across the line, his booming voice not disappointing with age. Lord Harold had taken his place with his guard on the other side of the center, having received clear orders beforehand on what to do.
After a while, the lines broke down and a bloody melee ensued in the middle. This was the time for him to commit. He rallied the remainder of his center towards the fighting, after which he and his household knights charged in too.
The first men he killed had stood no chance. His lance hitting him below the clavicle, piercing the side of his lung. He left the lance with the body, as he knew it was no use trying to pull it back out.
He pulled out his sword and charged on, hitting an Ashford man-at-arms on his helmet. Whether the man had survived or perished from the blow, he knew not. Yet, he wouldn't fight any more today, that was sure.
Soon they had reached the center of the melee and he started swinging left and right at men too numerous to count. Slashing, parrying and counter-attacking many an enemy. After a while, a knight, wearing the colors of House Ashford, charged at him with a retinue. The knight was too young to be the lord, but that didn't stop him from trying to kill him.
The axe the knight used hacked away one of his footman, before it swung towards his head. Prepared for this, he ordered his horse to circle around and caught the swing on his shield. His counterstrike harmlessly slid from the knight's steel armor.
They started circling around each other, as both tried to find a weak spot. Many blows were exchanged, until suddenly he found what he was looking for. Every time the knight raised his shield to block an overhead slash, he let his sword arm hang. This greatly exposed the elbow and lower arm to a strike. After exchanging three more blows, he again went for an overhead slash. Yet, this time he changed direction at the last minute, hitting the knight just above the wrist.
The man's steel armor was the only thing that made sure his wrist didn't come off. Even so, the impact made him drop his axe fall to the ground. Cursing was heard from behind the enemy visor, as he rode passed him. He suddenly turned around in an exercised swing, hitting the wounded knight on the head.
The blow was enough to make sure he fell from his horse. He quickly ordered a soldier to go check on him and take him hostage if he was alive. The knight had seemed important after all and a good ransom wouldn't hurt anyone. He rode on, helping his household knights deal with the remainder of the enemy's retinue.
A while later, he looked around from the top of his horse as trumpets had been sounded. He saw how the enemy reserves were moving towards their right. They were trying to break the right flank and envelop the army. Lord Horton would hold for now, but he wouldn't be able to hold forever.
If Andar didn't arrive soon, the battle was lost. He again threw himself in the battle, splitting an enemy footman's skull right before the man could finish one of his own men-at-arms off. He searched for Lord Harold and guided his guard there. If Lord Harold were to die, their cause would be lost.
They linked up with the Arryn retinue and together they held off all possible attackers. After a few minutes another set of trumpets was heard above the sounds of the fighting. This time, they brought the signals that had been given to Andar. He grinned, as he knew his son had come through.
He couldn't think on it anymore, as another footman tried to pierce him through with his spear. He knocked the spear away with practiced ease and forced his horse to turn. The following slash cut through muscle and flesh, as the man's throat was opened. Blood spattered on the flank of his horse and on his leg, but he didn't care.
In the next minutes, the battle changed. The enemy right collapsed, followed by the encircling of the enemy center. Soon many of the Reachmen started surrendering, realizing the day was lost. Seeing this, the enemy's left flank and reserve started to retreat.
Not willing to allow them to retreat to Gulltown safely, he gathered all horsemen he could find and charged at them. As he went behind the lines for the first time, he saw his son had had the same idea. HIs elite cavalry unit charging was barreling towards the retreating enemy archer line, so he himself set course for the retreating sellsword companies.
He barreled into their rear with around a hundred cavalrymen, inflicting many losses. Eventually they had to pull out or risk losing too many of his own troops in the fighting. They rode over to his son's force and regrouped together. After a quick conversation, they decided to immediately take the enemy camp with their combined strength. They couldn't risk the enemy funds and provisions getting back to Gulltown safely. Knowing Littlefinger, he would just hire another army in Essos with it.
Their hundreds of cavalry men rode towards the camp. As they neared it, they saw dozens of men starting to flee in the distance. Some clearly had valuables with them, while others only sported the clothes on their backs. It didn't matter. They had to secure the camp first and deter the retreating enemy to camp back for it before thinking of running any of them down.
They rode through the opening in the palisade and met nearly no resistance. A few suicidal soldiers charged at them, but most of the few stragglers they encountered simply surrendered. He tasked Andar with securing the camp, while he and his guard raced for the command tent.
When they arrived there, they found a few chests with gold and precious materials. Yet, no trace of Littlefinger could be found. It was clear he had fled early, as some chests were obviously missing. As they looked more around the central tents, it daunted on him he might not have taken any valuables. Barely any plans were found here and all sellsword contracts also seemed to be missing. What was that cockroach planning?
Still, the valuables they found were nothing to laugh at. Even if he split it equally, with Houses Redfort, Waynwood, Hunter and Templeton, a small fortune still awaited his house. Today was a good day, for House Royce and for the Vale.
(Two weeks later)
They had finally surrounded at Gulltown, after many months of fighting. His men hadn't hesitated and eagerly encircled the city for the past week. For the second time in less than two decades, his troops would take the ancestral castle of his family's rivals. The first time had been with Jon Arryn and Robert Baratheon, the second time would have to be with Jon's grandnephew Harold.
The city itself was tightly packed with soldiers. Around four thousand of the enemy force had made it back to the city safely. Most of them had been sellswords or had been in the reserves. Another two thousand men were scattered, while six thousand of them had been killed or captured.
Notable casualties had fallen on both sides. They had sadly lost Ser Gerold Templeton, Ser Symond's younger brother, as well as Ser Eustace Hunter and young Ser Wallace Waynwood. The latter had died protecting his liege and cousin Lord Harold and would be remembered for his bravery and sacrifice.
On the other side, Ser Edmund Breakstone, the heir to the castle of the same name, had died during the fighting. The Ashford knight, he himself had killed, had apparently been Lord Ashford's son and heir. Lord Ashford himself, together with his brother and second son had been captured. Other captives from the Reach included landed knights Ser Luthor Rodden and Ser Eden Risle. Ser Jasper Upcliff, heir to his house, had been captured while his younger brother Ser Benedict Upcliff succumbed to his wounds after the battle. Besides that, one of the three mercenary captains had also been killed. His company scattering across the countryside in response.
All in all, it had been a very successful battle. He had sent Lord Horton Redfort with his sons and troops to hunt for the scattered enemy troops with the final objective of capturing Breakstone. Horten had already sent word that he had rounded up over four hundred of them and would be at Breakstone in a week.
If you discounted the dead and the wounded, who they had sent back to one of his own border towns, they had some seven thousand men left. Not enough to assault the castle, but more than enough to start sieging it.
The Redforts would return in a few weeks, after they had finished their task. Mostly he counted on neutral houses joining him. By now, it should be clear to all in the Vale who was winning this conflict. Houses Arryn, Egen, Breakstone, Waxley and Grafton had lost the majority of their troops, while the Houses Sunderland, Elesham and Pryor had even lost their keeps. With both the Eyrie and Gulltown under siege, other houses would start joining. They would either be scared of the consequences if they didn't join or simply be out for easy rewards and glory.
Many had remained neutral. The most notable among the houses that had remained silent had been Houses Dutton, Donniger, Lipps, Melcolm and Ruthermont. Yet, now they would be forced to choose a side. Already letters had come in from Houses Donniger and Lipps, pledging their allegiance to Lord Harold. The others would soon follow. Once the troops of the Lipps, Melcolms and Ruthermonts got here, Gulltown was finished. Until then, they just had to sit tight and hunt for the scattered survivors. In the meantime, they had already begun discussions about what to do with the survivors.
Any captured Essosi sellswords would be executed, they had already hanged two hundred of them after the battle. Hopefully that would teach them to think twice about interfering in Westeros ever again.
Captured Westerosi sellswords would be send to the Wall. The Starks had been quite adamant on the need for new recruits. Besides, these mercenaries had been raiding all through the Riverlands with Tywin Lannister, before coming here to loot the Vale. Better to send them away than to let them live and come back another day.
Thoughts of the Wall made his mind go to his youngest son Ser Waymar. Word had come two years ago about his disappearance and nothing had changed. It was all but sure that he had lost his son to a Wildling attack. He had beaten himself up many times over the idea that sending Waymar to the Wall may not have been the right decision. Alas, nothing he could do about it now.
The Reachlords would be kept for ransoms and maybe to help the Starks treat with the Tyrells. it was the least they could do for their help.
The Vale lords had been the cause of much discussion. Many had taken to the example of Jon Arryn, who had allowed Lyn Corbray to bend the knee after the battle of Gulltown. After that the knight had distinguished himself on the Trident. Yet, he had pointed out to them that Ser Lyn was yet again fighting them today. This had managed to convince many, among them Lord Harold.
The traitors and their houses would be punished, yet not too severely had been agreed. The heads of all the houses that fought against them would be send to the Wall, yet their heirs would be allowed to retain most of their families' lands. All houses on the mainland would lose a small portion of their territory, nothing more than a few villages to teach them a lesson. All of those would be divided amongst loyal houses nearby. The island houses would have to suffer the consequences of their Northern occupation until the end of the war, which was likely to consist of looting everything of value.
The only four exceptions would be Houses Corbray, Grafton, the Royce of the Gates of the Moon and Baelish. It had been agreed that House Corbray would have to hand over a quarter of their lands to House Belmore. House Grafton would also have to hand over fifteen percent of their lands to House Royce and suffer an extra tax on their shipping for the next fifty years.
The cadet branch of his own house had also been discussed. His cousin Nestor would be sent to the Wall, together with his son Andar, thereby extinguishing the branch in the male line. All lands and titles belonging to the branch would revert to House Arryn, while all their valuables and coin would return to the main line of House Royce. Myranda Royce, Nestor's daughter, would be married off to one his own vassals on the condition he would provide a good dowry for her.
Lastly House Baelish had been named. With the future execution of Lord Petyr, the house would go extinct. All lands and valuables belonging to them in the Vale would revert to House Arryn. This included debts owed by merchants or noble houses. All debts belonging to nobles of the loyal houses, their vassals or allied merchant families would be written off immediately. All properties inside of their territories would be handed over to the loyal lords or vassals in question. The remainder would be handed over to House Arryn.
By doing this they hoped to replenish some of House Arryn's strength after the losses they took during the war. The money would go to rebuilding the areas surrounding the Bloody Gate and the Eyrie, both partly ravaged by war. They also wanted to reward some of their own vassals and it was known that Baelish owned many ins, taverns and whorehouses across the Vale.
The lords present had also felt secure enough to finally start discussing other rewards than lands. He had managed to get the big price he had always wanted, his daughter Ysilla would marry young Lord Harold. The dowry would nominally be the lands and titles belonging to his cousin Nestor. The Vale would forever be ruled by his descendants here after. In addition, he had managed to gain the third son of Lord Upcliff as a ward. This would allow him to further influence Witch Isle in the future.
House Waynwood got their claimant on the throne. Apart from that and the gifts that would surely come of it down the line, they had received other rewards. Ser Donnel Waynwood would be confirmed as Knight of the Bloody Gate. Lord Harold was also to take Anya's youngest grandson Wyl Waynwood as a squire. The young heir of late Ser Vardis Egen would be a page and later a squire to Ser Morton Waynwood.
The Redforts also get their rewards. Ser Jon Redfort would be offered the position of captain of the guards at the Eyrie, while his cousin Ser Adrian was to get command pf one of the waycastles on the staircase to the Eyrie. He would also get the heir to House Waxley as his ward, ensuring his influence over his southern neighbors.
The Templetons would be raised to lordly status, instead of that of landed knights. They had long had the power for it, now they also received the title. Additionally, Ser Symond's bastard brother, who had distinguished himself in the campaign, would be knighted and receive some small lands close to House Arryn. He would from then on be directly sworn to the Eyrie. Many small landed knights had died in the service of Lady Lysa and her bastars, so it shouldn't be difficult to find some land that came available
House Hunter had been the most difficult to please. They were the only ones that didn't directly border any of the treacherous houses. As such they were the only ones that didn't gain lands. In addition, Lord Gilwood didn't have any children yet to promise or squire and he had a bad relation to his brother. As such, rewarding him wasn't a good course of action either. In the end it had been decided that Lord Gilwood's first born daughter would marry Lord Harold's future heir. He also received the young grandson of Lord Elesham as a squire and the promise of prestigious titles for any second or third son he may have in the future.
Some of the rewards had also been set aside for House Belmore. They would get the guardianship of the future heir to House Pryor, a five-year-old girl. Lord Benedar's youngest son will also be allowed to squire for Lord Harold when he comes of age. A matrilineal marriage between the two, to get the lordship, would be possible in the future, if none of the two remaining Lipps brothers were to get any sons.
On top of that, much coin would be distributed among themselves and their vassals. House Hunter would be given a little more than the others, as to balance out their lack of immediate rewards.
Lastly the Vale would be strengthened through the policy of intermarriage between loyal houses. Lord Gilwood Hunter agreed to start negotiations with Lord Belmore about the hand of his unwed daughter. Ser Jasper Redfort, Lord Horton's heir, agreed to marry Jessamyn Templeton, Lord Symond's younger sister. Lord Symond himself would marry Lady Anya's youngest daughter Marsella. His own youngest, twelve years old Rhea Royce, was to be engaged to Ser Roland Waynwood.
On top of that, they were encouraged to talk amongst each other, and together with Lord Benedar Belmore, about fosterings, squires and future betrothals. It had been decided that the core of the Vale nobility for the next two generations would be made up by the lords in that tent. A thing all of them gleefully agreed to.
The war in the Vale was soon to be over, yet they would have to join another war immediately after that. News from the Riverlands told them that Ned's boy was in trouble, although the news of the recent ironborn attacks may change that. Still, they would need to help him soon so they could finally deal with the incest Lannister bastards sitting on the Iron Throne.
Tyrion Lannister, Joffrey Waters and most of his false Kingsguard had already died. Yet, he would still have Cersei's head and that of all of the bannermen that had caused Robar's death. He would take each and every one of them down. He would show them that we Royces, We Remember.
This is it for this chapter!
It finally brings us to the Vale of Arryn. You get a big recap of what happened there in the last months with lots of new information. We also see the big battle between Yohn Royce and Littlefinger that has been building up for a while.
The scattered army fragments are being hunted by the victors and Gulltown is put under siege.
The neutral Vale lords are already beginning to turn and the Vale lords feel confident enough to start planning the future of the region together.
Still, Bronze Yohn hasn't forgotten about the blood debt the Lannisters owe him and he is preparing himself for the next war. After Gulltown and the Eyrie fall and the Corbrays and Lynderlys are defeated, we may see some of the knights of the Vale arriving to march on King's Landing.
Next up will be another new POV. That, in combination with the fact that I am really busy might mean that the chapter will take a few days longer. We'll see.
Thank you for all of your support!
Fannic
Reviews:
First of all, a lot of you seem to forget the possibility of an unreliable narrator.
Of course, the Rebellion wasn't built on a lie. Of course, there were decades building up to it and it was Aerys' treatment of the Starks + him asking for the heads of Robert and Ned that kicked off the Rebellion. Jon is scared and afraid of Robb's reaction and over exaggerating his parent's part in the Rebellion out of guilt and fear, that's it. He is wrong and you are right, but it is in character for him to do so. It's not the writer's vision, it's Jon's teenage emotions. (27mad97, Betmen123, Alfil94, Daviddoedah and Guest1)
- Kingmaneana: It is! We'll see what effects it has in the long turn.
- Wolflord456: That is a possibility. Here you can see where the Vale reinforcements would be at.
- LectorHistoria: No, but a good guess nonetheless!
- Alfil94: Thank you! You get another POV outside the North now too. No, Allyria Dayne is Ashara's niece. Her daughter (even if it was Ned's which isn't sure) died stillborn.
- Anindhitania: I have most of the pairings worked out. Although, I can't tell you yet as it would spoil the story.
- Betmen123: Quite simple to explain: Rhaegar only knew of it much later, or he did know and didn't tell Lyanna. Besides, Lyanna didn't die in the birthing bed, she died of complications after the birthing bed. She could have been sick for weeks and clinging onto life at that point, which is how I envision it and why I had her write the letter.
- Greatazuredragon: No, he won't! However, Kevan will actively try to keep him in check. Thank you!
- LordRhyolith: Thank you so much!
- The British Fox: Thank you for the suggestions! I have been planning out much already, but I can't spoil that yet.
- Snoperek: No, I'm not doing a Cersei POV. She is alive and we'll see what happens/happened with her soon, but not through her eyes. Thank you so much! I loved visiting P -rague a few years back, can't wait to go back.
- Farroljgk: Thank you so much! Well, I think they realized now that they found Jaime's body. You will see what happens at the Twins very soon, I won't spoil it.
Robb and Jon are closer than ever here, even though they were fostered out. An ironborn POV is interesting, I won't spoil if it happens or not. However, for now the ironborn invasion is pretty much canon so definitely not yet.
- Davidoedah: As I said, it's Jon's emotions not me talking. You are right. About the Northern lords, the same thing. Jon and Robb are having a moment and Robb is reassuring him. The truth is somewhere in the middle. They have come to greatly respect Jon, so they definitely wouldn't oust him, although it would definitely kick off some things because of the losses taken in the past.
- Demindp93: Thank you so much! Arya and Sansa are doing fine, they are doting over their little niece. For now, I don't have much to write about them. It would slow down the story too much, but we'll definitely see them in the future.
- Sozin's Flame: Thank you!
- Freakdogsflare: He did, thank you. PM'ed you over the castles.
- Kuman: Although it would be nice for Jon, strategically for Robb the Sunset Coast makes much more sense. The Manderlys are already loyal. Lord Wyman is very loyal, his two sons are loyal too. Marrying Jon to the granddaughter will only give him White Harbor in 30 years-time or so, while Robb could use him in a year to head a loyal house on the western coast. Besides, Robb would of course help him built a keep and populate the area somewhat. It won't just stay rocks. Oh, and he doesn't want to tell anyone, that includes Lord Wyman Manderly so no Targaryen marriage they will ever know off.
He was hurt and anxious about losing Robb and his life, nothing more.
- Mlcoolc86: Thank you so much! It is really nice to hear that you found it realistic.
- OneDocToHealThemAll: Thank you! Maybe later on yes, although I don't know if you would care at that point. Now I am really busy and just want the main story to continue.
- The Advocate7: Jon's significant other will depend on if he survives and if they win the war. If they do, it will most likely be a Northern girl. If they don't … well anything could happen. It won't be Daenerys, I promise! No offense taken, thank you for the review!
- Wolf's Pizza: I think it's becoming a habit of answering you in PM. Although I really like your long reviews so keep it up!
- Angeluszuko-z: Glad you liked it. Young Griff will soon be coming. Less than two months (in story time) from now in fact.
- Guest2: Thanks!
- Guest3: Thank you so much, glad you liked it. That is something I can't spoil yet.
- Guest4: Well, going up in flames is a good pun! ;-)
