Chapter 38: The lion makes its move

300 AC

Jon

He smiled at the letter he had received from Arya. She was doing fine. It seemed she had completely healed from her wounds. Of course, she only mentioned this in passing, all she talked about were Nymeria's wounds. Her direwolf had also recovered well, however one big axe wound had left a scar at the underside of her belly. The scar was big enough that you could see it, as no hair grew back on the scar tissue.

From the description that Alys had given Robb in her letters, everyone had expected the direwolf to be lame for the rest of her life. The fact that she wasn't was nothing short of a miracle, but it was no surprise his little sister looked at it differently. She had always been defiant and expected others to be like this as well. That she had banked on Nymeria to defy the odds was to be expected.

He was happy his family was well. Most of the North seemed to have calmed down. Theon and his sister were in the captivity of the mountain clans and the ironborn had all been thrown back. Still reason for concern remained. Messages about the wildling attack kept coming in.

The fact that the Wall was so far away and that the messages all went through Winterfell or Riverrun first, made all reports they received already old. Still, dire news kept coming in. Messages first confirmed the march of a very large wildling army. After that, messages for help from the Night's Watch came in. Yesterday, a message had flown in that had originally come from Last Hearth. It mentioned large numbers of wildlings at our side of the Wall.

Ever since then, the lords of the North had been debating whether the Wall had already fallen or not. It was a mess. The only thing that had brought back order was the fact the clans had already been asked to march two weeks ago. That fact, combined with the orders to Last Hearth, Karhold and Skagos had calmed things down enough last night.

Still, the lords were on edge. Especially because Tywin seemed to be finally thinking about moving. If anyone asked him, the Old Lion better move quickly. A common enemy in front of them would do wonders to unite the army. However, his brother didn't share this idea. He was afraid Tywin was going to march south of the God's Eye. For weeks our scouts there had been clashing with the enemy outriders and we had been steadily losing terrain lately.

If they did so, the whole army could be surrounded between Tywin's force on one side and Tarly's force on the other. Robb had already prepared for this. His brother had ensured him that the army would be able to leave in less than a day, if need be. Defenses had been built in strategic sites around Riverrun as well.

He was disturbed in his thinking when he heard a knock on the door. He got up from his desk and opened the door. He had to look down to see his visitor, a small boy wearing the colors of House Darry. He vaguely remembered the Darry heir to be one of his brother's pages.

"Lord Snow, the king asks for your presence in his solar." The boy told him, clearly out of breath.

He nodded and went back inside his room. He picked up his sword belt and buckled it around his waist as he followed the page. As they were walking, he asked. "Did the king tell you why he has need of me?"

"No, my lord, he has not. However, I have seen a great many ravens come in this morning and messengers as well. If I'd had to guess it would have to do something with that." The boy answered.

"Thank you." He responded. Dark wings, dark words indeed.

When he entered the solar, the usual group was already present. However, this time it was augmented with Harrion Karstark. Robb's brother-in-law had returned to them a few days ago, as Tarly's probing attacks got too large and too vicious to his brother's taste.

His brother acknowledged his presence and immediately went down to business. "Good, now that we're all here we can start. We have had a lot of news today. First off, we had some good news from the Vale. Our allies have managed to win a big victory at the Bloody Gate. Houses Redfort, Templeton, Hunter and Waynwood have left a token force to keep the Eyrie under siege while their main strength has marched against the Egen and Arryn force."

"They managed to score a crushing victory. Ser Vardis Egen was killed in the fighting. Most of the force was either killed or captured. This effectively ends the threat they posed in the middle of the Vale. Now only three threats remain, the Lynderlys and Corbrays to the North, the Sunderlands and smaller islands who are about to be engaged by the Manderlys and the Graftons combined with Littlefinger's army in the south." Robb explained.

"Any word from the first or last front?" Ser Brynden asked.

"Not from the first, but we have had words from Lord Royce. His forces have had many small skirmishes with the force in Gulltown. Some went in his favor, some did not. All in all, the fighting is pretty indecisive. This is a good thing, considering how outnumbered the Royces are. With the enemy force in the center destroyed, Bronze Yohn is expecting reinforcements from the victorious houses as they don't need those amounts of troops to siege the Eyrie. Hopefully, that can tip the scales to their favor." His brother responded.

"Yes, but only if the Belmores and Coldwaters can keep the Lynderlys and Corbrays away from the Eyrie. I hope the Manderlys act soon, those two houses won't be able to withstand the forces of the Sunderlands as well." The Blackfish warned.

He had to agree with that assessment. It was good they had decided to send the order two weeks ago. It might lift the Vale knights' morale as well, knowing they would finally receive aid.

"The Vale might be getting other problems soon. News has come in that the Redwyne fleet has left their harbors. They will be marching around to Dragonstone, to take care of the Baratheon problem for the Lannisters. If they succeed in doing so, the Lannisters and Tyrells could ferry whoever they want to the Vale."

He looked around the room and everybody looked grim. He decided to speak up. "That will be many months from now. It will take the Redwyne fleet a long time to make the trip around the continent, maybe we get lucky and they get sucked into a storm under Storm's End. Even if that doesn't happen, they will have difficulty taking Dragonstone. Besides every soldier they send over there is a soldier we don't have to fight here in the Riverlands."

This message seemed to help. The Tyrells had manpower to spare, however they had taken losses. They could afford to send smaller armies, like the one under Lord Ashford in the Vale, away for now but they couldn't keep doing that without lowering their advantage against them. He doubted Tarly, Rowan or Tywin Lannister himself would allow another force to split off without winning a battle against them first.

"Jon's right. Is there any other news? Is there news about Tywin's army?" Lord Rickard asked.

"Sadly, yes. However, before we get into that I have another letter to discuss with you. It seems Euron Greyjoy has been crowned king in the Iron Isles. The ironborn have chosen to pass over Balon's children and grant his crown to his brother instead. This newly crowned iron king has also deemed to send us an answer to our former message, or that's what I expect to read. I haven't opened the letter yet." Robb told them.

"Well, no use in talking about it. Let's see that letter." The Blackfish almost ordered. He had a serious expression on his face. Of all those in attendance, he remembered Euron Greyjoy the best. He had fought in the Greyjoy Rebellion and years of small raids on the Riverlands by the Greyjoy had done much as well. It also helped that the Riverlands were far closer to the Iron Isles than they were. Many more rumors found its way to their shores that way.

From the stories he had been told about the man, who was nothing short of a pirate, he hoped that would stay like that. He didn't want to ever have to cross a man like that in his life. Sadly, he knew that life very seldom gave him what he wanted.

Robb gave his uncle the letter and the man started reading aloud.

"To Robb Stark

I thank you for capturing my annoying nephew and willful niece. I decline your offer for peace in return for their safety. True ironborn take what they want, if that would be the North so be it. If I would want the North, you will now it from the ravens send to you that I took it.

Regarding my brother's annoying spawn, they have failed in the simple tasks my brother gave them. As such, you can do with them whatever you wish. I have no need for them anymore.

Euron Greyjoy

King of the Iron Isles"

He looked around at the others to make sure he had heard that right. Judging by his brother's shocked expression, he had.

"He … he doesn't want them back?" Robb exclaimed in shock.

"That's how it looks like, yes." The Blackfish responded. "It's not that surprising if you think about it."

"Not surprising? They are his blood!" His brother almost shouted in disbelief.

"Yes, but not every man loves his family. Euron was banished by Balon for raping their brother Victarion's wife. It's no small wonder he doesn't like to see the children of the brother that banished him. Besides that, they are claimants to his newly acquired throne. The son Theon has a lot more rights to sit there than his uncle Euron. He probably hopes that we'll get rid of his nephew for him, so he doesn't have to become a kinslayer to hold his crown." The Tully knight explained.

That actually sounded quite plausible. Still, it was a cruel way of thinking. If a man didn't even care for his own blood, what did he care for in the end?

"What do we do about this?" Harry asked the question everyone had been thinking.

After a few seconds of silence, the Blackfish spoke up. "Not much, I think. He doesn't say that he actually wants the North, neither does he say the opposite. I think we should just protect and strengthen our borders like we have planned. If they come, we'll know. If that time comes, we'll act accordingly."

"Aye, Ser Brynden has the right of it." Lord Karstark agreed. "Not much we can do about it now anyway. The ironborn will get their due, but we have to defeat the lions and their pretty flowers first."

"What about the Northern defense? With the clans on their way to the Wall, doesn't that expose the North?" He asked.

"Not really, no." Lord Rickard replied. "The Ryswells and Dustins have been strengthening their defenses for weeks. Lord Halys is still taking care of Moat Cailin and the clans have left a strong guard at Deepwood Motte. If the ironborn attack now, we won't have a response force near, that's true, but they'll still find most of the North better prepared than the first time. All they'll be able to do undisturbed is raid the Stony Shore again, but there won't be anything to raid as they already burned almost the whole area to the ground."

All of them had to begrudgingly agree with that. They decided to keep a close eye on this Euron Greyjoy, as they couldn't do much more for now.

"Now then, the really bad news. The real reason I all called you here so suddenly. An hour ago, a message came to me that Tywin Lannister, Mace Tyrell and Matthis Rowan have been spotted at the head of an army forty-five thousand men strong. They seem to be marching along the Blackwater and have made quite some progress without being detected. Their most likely target if they continue like that is the Stony Sept, however I don't believe any of that." Robb started talking about the Lannister army.

"Most likely, they'll deviate from their course in a day or two and march up towards us. Another possibility is that they follow the Blackwater's tributary to the Rushing Falls and move on to Lychester from there. That way, they could cut us off from our supplies and a possible retreat. If we allow them to do so, we will be betting everything on a battle in which we are surrounded and outnumbered, not something I'm willing to do." His brother finished his assessment of the situation.

"Where exactly was the army spotted?" Brynden Tully asked.

"Along the Blackwater Rush, some sixty miles west of the God's Eye River." Came the response.

"That's almost ten days marching from King's Landing. How the hell did they conceal that?" The Blackfish responded in shock.

"Aye, there have been signs. Scouts disappearing mostly. That's why I ordered you to send new and bigger groups that way. Well, my instinct was right. The whole army is there, the capital has emptied." Robb replied.

"What can we do now?" Lord Karstark interrupted them, always practical.

"There are signs that Tarly is preparing to march. I think that the safest bet for us is to retreat to Lychester. The army could start moving by tomorrow if we wanted them to. I have already fortified the area. From there we can better fight the enemies. We can even retreat all the way to Riverrun if we have to." The plan was explained.

Most were in agreement. He himself, however, still had doubts. "Wouldn't we give the Lannister army the possibility to reunite with Tarlys force then?"

"Yes, but they'll never be able to sustain that large an army in the Riverlands. This isn't the Reach, Jon. They'll learn that soon enough. Besides, the region has been raided already and our army will already have moved through those parts. No way they can sustain sixty-five to seventy thousand men together. Those forty-five thousand might already be a stretch, although I believe they are organizing food transports with barges up the Blackwater and across from the Reach. At least, that's what I would do. The further they march into our lands, the harder that'll be to sustain. Might be fun to raid those supply lines actually, now that I think about it." The famous Tully knight countered.

He had to agree. The only reason why their own supply chain went reasonably smoothly was the amount of cattle they had raided from the west. They moved parts of those herds to Harrenhall at a steady pace to augment their rations. The enemy wouldn't be able to do that so easily at such a long distance in enemy territory.

He nodded, while Robb looked lost in thought with his gaze all across the maps of the Southern Riverlands. After a while he spoke his thought. "Uncle, would you be willing to do as you proposed? To raid the Lannister force, just like you did a year ago before we arrived."

"You mean for me to go out there and raid their supply lines?" Ser Brynden asked.

"Yes, but not only those. You could attack their supply lines, garrisons, rearguards, parts of their camp at night, … just do whatever you can to harass them. You might be able to coerce them into splitting their forces. Even if that doesn't work the delay will allow us to better prepare for their arrival when the battle comes. You are by far the best man alive to accomplish such an endeavor" His brother explained his idea.

"I could do something like that, yes. However, it depends on how many men I'll be able to field. If I have too few, I won't be able to do significant damage. If I have to many, I might be too slow to escape their counterattacks. They should all have horses and be lightly packed as well." The older knight mused.

"How many do you want?" Robb responded with a gesture of his hand.

"Just like that?" The Blackfish asked.

"Aye, just like that. You are by far my most experienced commander and you know best in this situation. Ask whatever you want, you shall have it." His brother said without a doubt in his voice. It was clear that he meant every word of it.

"I must say, grand-nephews are a lot easier to deal with than nephews." Ser Brynden grinned.

He looked over the maps for a while and counted up the numbers in his head. "Eight hundred men should do it. All light cavalry and outriders, oh and those mounted archers from the North that the Bolton fella boasts so much about. All should have fresh horses when they depart and enough food, hay and water to sustain themselves for two weeks. The rest I'll get them to forage or raid."

Robb didn't even blink, he just agreed to it. "Good, I want you gone by noon tomorrow. Now Lord Rickard, I'll have you lead the rearguard of the army. Chances are that you'll only be able to leave the day after tomorrow. I expect you to make sure that nothing in Harrenhal will be useful to Tarly. We don't give hand-outs to our enemies."

The old lord simply nodded. "I'll have the marching order ready by the evening. It'll just be the same as the one we used to come here. The Riverlords that only joined us here will be placed in between at my will."

None had a problem with that. "With my uncle gone, Lord Galbart will have command of the outriders. I'll give the vanguard to Lord Blackwood. The main column I will lead myself. Lastly, the baggage train will be organized by Lord Mallister. I expect you to give the orders to the men to start packing immediately. I'll gather the lords tonight and explain them everything. Any more questions?" His brother fired off. In the blink of an eye, he had gone into his role of a war leader.

In that moment you could see why he had won all his battles until now. Robb had been hovering over maps for weeks on end. He had looked at suitable terrain to do battle on, had organized and reorganized supply routes and had crunched troop numbers in his head. Now that it was time to decide, he could do so in the blink of an eye. Everybody that would look closely at those decisions would tell you they were sound. That's why they all followed him.

All of the commanders agreed and stormed out to do their orders. He knew without the command that he was in charge of readying the personal levy of House Stark. As such, he left the meeting and marched for their barracks immediately. The waiting was over, battle would soon be upon them.

(A week later)

Robb

The rearguard of the army had just arrived at the castle. Thirty-two thousand men under his command were now gathered in and around Lychester. The heir of the castle, the son of one of old Lord Lychester's cousins, had been with the army the whole time. Initially, he had planned to make his defensive stand here, although it soon became clear that the site wasn't as ideal as it looked on the maps.

The discussions with the members of House Lychester allowed him to send messengers early to pack up the prepared supplies and defenses. By the time they arrived, the unnecessary supplies were already on their way back to Riverrun. The only thing that remained was a well prepared and defensible camp.

He had chosen to remain here for a day to let his army rest. Most of his recent scout reports mentioned recent delays in the Lannister's march. No doubt his uncle had something to do with that.

The delays meant that he could rest his men and form a better defensive back-up plan. However, it also had its down sides. News had just come in this morning of the capture of Harrenhal by Randyll Tarly. They had evacuated all their men from there, so the capture in itself wasn't that decisive. The bigger problem was that lords from that area became very anxious about their own holdings.

Most notable among those were Lords Darry and Roote. They joined together with Houses Lychester, Smallwood, Vance and Piper in complaining about the campaign. He would much rather protect all their lands, but it just wasn't possible. The land had no natural defensive barriers. Besides that, the enemies' numbers were far too big for them to allow themselves to be pincered between their forces.

It had been a headache to convince those lords of his scorched earth policy. Almost every day they came to him with the same complains. Afterwards they left and just as he thought he had managed to convince them they came back the next day.

The only thing that had managed to lessen the complaints, had been his order for their families to evacuate towards Riverrun. A man could give up much of his gold and lands, if he knew his children were safe it seemed.

Another benefit of resting here was that he could receive and respond to messages. A rider from Riverrun had come with very important messages from the North. It seemed the rumors were true. The wildlings had broken through the Wall at Castle Black. The Night's Watch had been completely destroyed in the area.

However, disagreements between the different clans had let to only half of the force making it to the other side, before his force showed up. The mountain clans had joined up together with the Umbers and delivered a lightning quick attack on the unsuspecting enemy.

The letter he had received came from the Greatjon's uncles. A great battle had ensued at Mole's Town. Big parts of the enemy army had been ambushed there. Their disorganized foe had been no match for the Northern cavalry charges, followed up by disciplined Northern footmen.

Hother Umber estimated the enemy casualties to be around three thousand death. On top of that, a few hundred had been taken captive. More significantly, half the wildling force had been scattered. The Northern cavalry had chased the largest parts back to Castle Black. There, they fled back north of the Wall by the thousands.

The letter mentioned some two thousand wildlings still scattered around the Gift in three different groups. However, in the same message the men asked for help. They still had some thirty thousand wildling warriors right outside of the Wall. That army would attack again, once they had reformed. Their leader Mance Rayder had managed to survive the battle and was in the process of reuniting his force.

Pincered between this enormous force just outside of the Wall and two thousand of them on the other side, the force was hard pressed for manpower. They couldn't effectively man the Wall, especially after the gate's defenses were destroyed, and deal with the roaming bands.

He was thankful that some of the other messages brought good news from that front. Alaric Karstark had left Karhold with three hundred men, mostly green boys, to reinforce the Wall. Although that would surely help, it wouldn't be enough.

All of the Northern nobles, himself included, were anxiously awaiting the reply from the Skagosi. He knew it was far too early for them to have replied to his letter, let alone act on it, and raise their men. However, he sill he hoped for their confirmation of his orders anyway, as their thousands of men could make the difference in holding the Wall.

For now, there wasn't much he could do on that front. All the northern most houses were already alerted and in the fight. The other houses couldn't send troops, as their reserves were all busy. The stupidest thing he could do was rush his forces north, only for them to leave the western coast undefended for the ironborn to return and take them. The Manderly, Flint and Locke host was also needed to turn the tide in the Vale.

The only other possibility was for him to order Robett Glover and his two thousand men north. Still, this march would take weeks and it would cost him his reinforcements here. He knew he would need all the troops he could get for the upcoming battles. Either to fight in the clash against the Lannisters or to reinforce his army between that fight and the one with Tarly afterwards.

That was what he was most scared of. He knew he could defeat Tywin Lannister, even with his numerical advantage. What bothered him was if he could do it and have enough strength left to face Randyll Tarly's force. It would do him no good to defeat Tywin and Mace Tyrell only for his army to be destroyed after that. He needed to win all of those battles or more specifically, he couldn't lose any. An undecisive battle resulting in retreat could be very bad, but if his army was destroyed it would be devastating.

While his troops rested and his commanders went over the marching orders, troop discipline and supply lines, he was bent over maps for the whole day. He looked at the possible movements the Lannisters could take and possible battlefields for them to hold them off on. Riverrun would be his main base of operations, but the lands around it weren't well suited for his army to fight upon. The Kingslayer had more than proven that when he had smashed uncle Edmure's force outside of it.

For the moment, he favored the lands around Atranta for a decisive clash. Not only would its little creeks help hinder the enemies' heavy cavalry, its slight hills could give his archers the edge they needed. It wasn't too far away from Riverrun either, maybe two or three days marching at most.

Luring the enemy there shouldn't be a problem, although it would mean giving up on the Stoney Sept, Pinkmaiden, Wayfarer's Rest, Acorn Hall and Lychester and a dozen more smaller keeps. The lords of these castles would give him another headache to be sure, but it has to be done.

He still looked at other sites for the coming battle but found none that would protect his eastern flank enough to be able to hold Tarly off from attacking him in the side.

He sighed and sat down in the lord's chair. He closed his eyes and tried to pull on the feeling at the back of his mind, just as Jon had explained to him. For a moment, nothing happened. Suddenly, his eyes were open. He was in the middle of a forested area. By habit, he raised his snout and sniffed. Wait, he sniffed? He had no time to think more about that, as he picked up the smell of a deer not far to the east.

His legs moved on its own, as he raised after the smell. Less than a minute later, he saw a clearing up ahead. A herd of deer was there, drinking water from a small creek. He charged out into the clearing and onto the herd. It immediately scattered and he soon found the weak link of the group. A young deer, clearly slower than the rest was fleeing up north and he chased after it.

He snapped at its hind legs twice, before finally bringing it down a while later with a bite that rapped around its right limb. Both of them rolled around in the dirt, but he soon jumped up again. The wounded deer tried to escape, but it was no use. He ran over towards it and tore out its throat. As his prey was now dead, he looked around to see if he had any competitors for the meat.

The only ones he would ever share his food with were his packmates and only his silent brother was close to him. However, he hadn't joined on the hunt, he had chosen to stay with his two-legger today. After making sure that he was alone, he slowly walked over to his dead prey.

He opened his maw and tore out a big piece of its belly. The taste of fresh flesh and warm blood filled his throat and he reveled in it. Wait what? What was he doing? He didn't enjoy drinking blood. Where was he?

Suddenly he stopped eating, as he realized he was inside Grey Wind. For a moment, it seemed they battled for control until his direwolf bowed down to his will. He was in the mind of his companion and had full control. This was what Jon had tried to teach him all this time.

He tested his theory and forced the direwolf to walk back a few steps from its prey. He felt Grey's instincts fight back, as he wanted to enjoy the fresh meat. He could also feel the direwolf's stomach, he was clearly hungry. Still he forced his companion's mind back. He let him do circles and had him jump in the air, all of it worked although he got resistance from time to time.

He was overtaken with joy, so much so that he hadn't noticed the flock of birds flying above him. Surprised at their presence, he lost control and Grey Wind immediately ran back to the corpse. The moment he tore off another piece of flesh, the smell and taste of the deer's blood was enough to send him back to his own body.

He didn't mind, Grey deserved the reward for his hunt. Still, he had been in total control for a moment there. He tapped his fingers on the wood of the desk, as a growing smile crept on his face. He still tasted the iron of the deer's blood on his tongue. He could remember how the forest looked and where the clearing was. The thought that this memory was clearer than if he would have been there in human form, even crossed his mind.

Only now, he realized the full range of possibilities this gave him. He had to keep working on his control to do anything useful with it for a prolonged time, but that didn't matter. If needed, he could have Jon do the tasks for him. His brother had built up far better control of Ghost than he had with Grey.

He looked out of the window and grinned. Visions of night attacks, ambushes and even assassinations in the middle of battle rushed into his head. He might just have found a way to make Tywin's life far more miserable and he absolutely loved it.

That's it for this chapter!

Euron Greyjoy first shows his unpredictability and news comes that the Redwyne fleet is coming up to Dragonstone. The war in the Vale gets to another stage as well.

The main Lannister/Tyrell army finally moves from King's Landing and forces Robb to retreat or be surrounded. Robb lets the Blackfish loose on them as he prepares for the upcoming battles. His tactics make many of the Riverlanders unsure about their holdings and they start complaining while Harrenhal falls to Tarly.

In the North the wildlings get ambushed and retreat, but they are far from entirely defeated. Still, 30k of them remain in an organized force.

Thank you for the support, especially on last chapter's choice.

Fannic

Reviews:

- Warberserk: Gendry is still alive and in Dragonstone with Shireen, probably first working in the forges to help Stannis' war effort and now to rearm Shireen's garrison. Ser Barristan's story is canon, he's in Mereen by now. Bronn is somewhere in the Riverlands. He probably joined one army or the other as a sellsword, but he won't get a more prominent role. Podrick died next to Tyrion in the battle of the Blackwater.

- George Christian810 & Freakdogsflare: On the wildling settling questions:

1. After the initial clashes, diplomacy is maybe possible. Now, there would be no reason too. Northmen and wildlings are sworn enemies. The wildlings are not running from the Others, which makes them more confident and less desperate. The 'Free Folk' will refuse to kneel, the Northmen will hate their guts.

2. You can't populate an area with 30-40k warriors. 90% of those are men. if you would give them the western coast, first thing they would do is steal thousands of Northern women from all around the neighboring areas. Making them swear oaths will not change that. Young men will want women and they will go look for them far and wide. Even if he were to split the tribes (send some to the Stony Shore, some to the New Gift, etc.), the same problems on a smaller scale would arise everywhere AND the Northerners all around would start hating Robb. He also can't just give them the New Gift and keep them there, 60-70% of it is promised to the Umbers and clans.

3. Why would you accept an ancient enemy like that? He can't go up North to deal with them personally like Jon did and can't trust them. It would take ages for them to reach the frontlines in the south and they would desert on mass to raid the North and Riverlands on their way, as Wildlings have never seen such rich lands and settlements before. If trained and armed properly yes, but why would you do that? It would take years to do and cost a fortune to arm and train them. All without a benefit in the current war.

4. If he does this, he will face rebellions and assassination attempts left and right and Robb knows this. Jon was killed in canon for letting the wildlings pass the Wall, while it were mostly women and children. Even with an existential threat to humanity he was murdered for this, how do you think the North will react if he lets 30-40k warriors inside their kingdom for no reason except some plans for the Western coast?

Robb would lose support of the clans, Umbers and maybe even estrange the Karstarks, as well as all the houses neighboring the west (Ryswell, Tallhart, Glover, Mormont). He would be dead within the year and Bran would be raised as king on the condition that the lords can slaughter the wildlings to the last man. At least, that's what I would do if I were Lord Ryswell, Lady Dustin or even the Greatjon. Similar things have happened many times in our medieval past.

Robb will have a very difficult time uniting the Riverlands and North into one kingdom. His realm is culturally, religiously and geographically divided. Splintering your power base by allowing an outside force to settle in it is the dumbest thing he could ever do.

5. Robb has been partially raised by Rickard Karstark. He has been actively raised to hate wildlings. That alone is reason enough to never do it.

- Force Smuggler: Yes, it's kind of crazy! The development will play a big role, especially at the end of the story but also in pieces throughout it. The Starks have been able to hold it due to careful diplomacy and a good marriage policy (until Rickard). Tommen is jackpot for Olenna/Margaery/maybe Willas?

- TheNiemand: Thank you! They will be explored more in the fic, especially towards the end of it. You mean Joffrey's Purple Wedding? No that's entirely canon on the first day of the new century (300 AC).

- Essarg: Yes decades, or even a century for that matter. They waited 8k years, time isn't of the essence. Not really, there have been a dozen Kings Beyond the Wall before that united many tribes and attacked the Wall/North when it was far stronger than it is now. He just united them and smelled blood because the Nightswatch is weak and the North's armies are mostly towards the south.

The fear for an extralong winter can definitely play a part, but it needn't be the compelling reason. I carefully said he had an army of 30-40k troops. Most of the women and children just stayed home while he tries to conquer the Wall. He plans to bring them south to the lands he conquered after, like many wildling chieftains have planned in the past (without success). Overpopulation after a long summer might also play a part. Too many people to sustain, that was one of the largest drives for the Vikings to come west, south and east for example.

- Kingmaneana: Thank you!

- Sammy-1000: Thank you! I hate JonxDany. It's so boring and writers don't even flesh it out properly anymore because it's "self-explanatory".

- Wolflord456: I could, yes. It's not a bad premise to be honest. However, wouldn't it look too much like this one, in a way? Especially the first chapters? I will think it over.

- Mike3455: Thank you for the support! Since GRRM made incest produce ungodly beautiful/healthy babies, I guess. Also, uncle/niece or cousin marriages weren't uncalled for with nobility. Just google Charles III of Spain's family tree, you will be disgusted I'm sure. JonxDany is the best match for the stability of the throne and the kindom, it just got so boring now. The show does it horrendously, I agree. The power plays are disgusting. If GRRM choses to go that path, he'll write it a million times better than D&D.

- Angeluszuko-z: Thank you, I agree.

- Anja Quickert9: :-)

- Greatazuredragon: You can see here, they obviously aren't. The wildlings broke through the wall, decimating the Night's Watch main fort at Castle Black. Thank you!

- Max20.7: Yeah, I hate that too. Especially when the holding suddenly has a flourishing population, well planned out infrastructure and towns and villages and accepts its new lords instantly. Like, why would they need a lord if that was the case. The area would have brought forth its own local nobles that would become strong enough to rule the area if so.

- Anindhitania238: Maybe, but then you'd just have a Dance of Dragons, two versus one while Drogon is much bigger. Same outcome as the fight but with a dead Jon and Rhaegal. Yes, (F)Aegon will be in the story. In canon he lands a few months from now. I won't spoil what happens.

- Poly19hum: Thank you!

- Jaimerey7000: They have just fled in the Riverlands everywhere. There is no way for them to be conscripted as they are everywhere on the road and in small villages, maybe only those that went to the cities could. Still, the people who fled are women, children, elderly, ... no way they could conscript that amount. Besides, they wouldn't want to. Those men are untrained, unarmed, have dubious loyalty, ... The Riverlands (pre-war) had a population of around 3.5 million. They only raised 1% of those. Why? You need to be able to arm, feed, sustain, supply... these forces and without a central government system, that doesn't exist in the medieval times, that is just not possible. Conscripting those refugees would probably be more of hinderance than anything else.

- Guest1: Yes, Dany would never allow the North's independence whatever D&D decide to write to be able to quickly start on Star Wars. So, it's either Robb bends the knee and saves the North from the Others, or he doesn't and it becomes all-out war and the White Walkers mob up the remainders. Not much room for creative writing at this point, you'd have to change other stuff much earlier and more drastic to be able to avoid that from happening.

- Guest2: Did the answer on 'Essarg' answer your question? If not, ask me again and I'll explain it in full under next chapter. Besides they do lack resources: they lack food and farmlands.