A/N: Here is the aftermath of the war, which will soon be followed by a few interludes before the final arc.
Thanks to Wobb Nox, filipinosberman and Ascalon on SB for beta-ing.
Chapter LXII: Sunrise
30 AC
First Moon
Red Keep, King's Landing
Arin Rada
The aftermath of the War of Midnight [1] was a horrendously bitter and sombre affair that went far beyond anyone's expectations, and the consequences of this war would reverberate for many more years to come.
Not one, not two, not three, but five Free Cities had fallen to the Midnight Scourge's onslaught, their elites mercilessly slaughtered to the last and so many innocent people contributing to the pile of corpses that littered all Western Essos like the highest mountains in the Vale.
The number of civilian casualties far exceeded the number of combatant casualties by at least five fold, with Maesters estimating that at least one hundred thousand Westerosi troops died in the war altogether, the true numbers most likely being one-and-a-half times higher or more.
And with no functioning government, the City-States of Lys, Tyrosh, Myr, Pentos and Braavos ceased functioning as independent sovereign states, and the people - powerless and helpless - made a formal plea for assimilation to the Iron Throne.
Norvos wasted no time moving to seize more lands northwards, with Lorath attempting the same in an unprecedented opportunity to expand its reach and power. Reaching an agreement with Lorath, the Iron Throne sent aid to fight off Norvosi incursions, allowing Lorath to seize all lands north of Norvos. In return, Lorath would enter an alliance with the Iron Throne and agree to never molest its lands for as long as it endured.
Qohor still reeled from the aftermath of the War of Midnight, and precisely for this reason, it would focus on maintaining a purely defensive posture and refrain from any expansions, though tensions between it and Norvos were running high in a latest series of border disputes.
Daeria itself was making plans to expand eastwards, to claim unclaimed land and expand its control of its region of Essos. Latest rumors were that they planned to expand into the Dothraki Sea after several decades, and the Dothraki themselves were so badly massacred it would be at least two generations before they ever posed a threat to anyone again.
Lands would not be bequeathed to worthy lords yet, due to the extensive damage done and the sheer number of casualties to sort out, not to mention restoring order and stability by sending in fresh troops for peacekeeping purposes. The Essosi themselves were not enthused in submitting to a foreign conqueror, but they were in no mood to bite the hand that fed them or spurn their saviours.
Another reason was that the conquered Essosi lands were little better than a danger-ridden wasteland with too many drawbacks and too little benefits to effectively govern. Such was the answer given to overeager, inexperienced nobles who failed to see reason, backed fully by veteran lords and knights alike. As such, bequeathment of lands had to wait until things settled down and the lands secure enough to bring in settlers.
To top it all off, the conflicts with the Black Robes completely demolished the illusion of invulnerability of House Targaryen and their dragons. Aegon remained bedridden, too heavily wounded to continue ruling, and talks of succession became the next hot topic of debate. Many believed Maegor to be too tyrannical, too temperamental and argumentative to rule properly, and showed a greater preference for Aenys, Aegon's first son by Rhaenys, his weak and vacillating personality seen as far more preferable.
Another group of nobles saw the benefit in currying favour with Elaegelle, the Rising Star of House Targaryen and the Chosen of Balerion, but never would they truly support a woman ascending the Iron Throne. Not that it mattered, since Elaegelle officially showed no interest in claiming it for herself.
As for the various participating armies, the Andalic armies were most heavily hit in the initial months of the war, sustaining the greatest portion of casualties before they were forced to change tactics and adapt accordingly.
The Reachmen lost close to a quarter of their total 80,000 troops, but had advanced their standing the most, avenging their humiliating defeat at the hands of Dorne three decades prior.
The Westerlanders, owing to their much-diminished strength, lost only one thousand of their 20,000-strong army, the branch families of House Lannister amply proving their strength and leadership by selecting and grooming only the most sagacious, intrepid and innovative commanders among their nobility.
The Riverlanders, the Valemen, the Northmen (excluding House Blodfeld) and the Ironborn lost fully half their armies; they lacked the advanced tactics and professional officers the other armies did, and so when they faced an enemy with overwhelming might and relentless adaptation as their primary strengths, they floundered badly. Their armies' strength were 50,000, 45,000, 50,000 and 30,000-strong respectively at the start of the war.
The Men of Gosmerch fielded 10,000 men, and they lost only a thousand, owing to their highly superior training, equipment and tactics and the Druids who acted as frontline support units and medical healers, saving many wounded from certain death. Eckard Blodfeld would become a household name for generations to come, and his son Eddard a worthy successor to his legacy.
The Crownlanders survived largely intact, but suffered 2,500 casualties of their 20,000-strong army, though casualties would have been worse without the aid of their dragons and their sorcerers, commanding powers that evened the odds. The Stormlanders lost only 5,000 of their 40,000-strong army likewise, owing to the heroism and bravery of the Stormlander lords and the wise leadership of Orys Baratheon.
Dorne lost close to 10,000 of their 80,000 strong army, and their fame and prestige reached new heights after the war, for not only did they display the strength of the new Dorne time and again, they even held credit for educating Elaegelle into one of the finest generals the world had ever seen, and both she and Arin would each slay one of the of the three winged demonic servants of the Lion of Night.
Daeria and the Summer Islands fielded armies of 200,000 and 50,000-strong respectively, and would receive great amounts of treasure, political influence and economic leeway with the Iron Throne for their aid, though no land would be given, for they entered the war late and thus did not contribute or suffer as much as the Westerosi did.
The political status quo had been completely upheaved beyond repair, and now it was the Iron Throne's turn to order it as it wished.
A full month passed since their victory at Braavos, and once things had mostly settled down, the Queens Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen called for an awards ceremony to be done in the Red Keep, where they sat and patiently awaited the coming of the various recipients deemed worthy.
"Hard to believe we're so famous now, ever since those years I first met you," Belandra whispered into his ear, a smirk on her lips, "What was the term you'd use? Celebrity?"
"That's the one," Arin smirked, looking far more relaxed than he'd ever been in the past year, "I can already see some people gnashing their teeth."
The prouder yet inept nobles who could not ever hope to match the talents and achievements of the victors looked on with envy and jealousy, unable to reconcile their lack of talent with their overeager ambitions. Meanwhile, the victorious Dornish generals, noble and smallfolk alike, eagerly mingled among each other and nobles of other lands, carousing and sharing war stories of their time in the field.
The Men of Gosmerch were in a highly celebratory mood compared to their cousins, the men of Houses Stark and Bolton sharing a rare moment of camaraderie in silent shame, their heads lowered and their voices subdued, for many of the Gosmerchi were to be nominated for awards of hefty treasury and even some prospective brides from Paletillia, the latter more due to camaraderie between them and Crownlander nobles and opportunistic merchants looking to breach new markets.
Then they all heard a loud thump as the Kingsguard hit their hilted swords on the ground.
"Silence! Their Majesties wish to speak with us all!" The Lord Commander bellowed.
At once the throne room fell silent, and both queens stood up from the Iron Throne to give their announcements.
"Lords and Ladies of Westeros, the War of Midnight was by far the bloodiest war we've ever fought in recent history," Visenya began, her voice calm yet tinged with sorrow and fatigue, "When we first faced the Midnight Scourge, we were woefully unprepared for the foul magics they faced, the horrific experiments at their command and their depraved zealotry which far surpassed the Faith Militant of old. And among the first casualties… was our husband and brother, His Grace Aegon Targaryen the Conqueror, and his beloved dragon Balerion the Black Dread."
Many Crownlander Lords bowed their heads in genuine, solemn respect, along with some Dornish Lords and Orys Baratheon. The rest simply did so to go with the flow.
"And yet, through our grit and determination, faith in our comrades, the talent and steadfastness of our generals and divine intervention, we prevailed over the Midnight Scourge, and now they are nothing more than ashes on the wind," Rhaenys continued, "We have lost countless brave men, countless nobles who volunteered to fight in this immeasurably costly war. Even now, countless minor houses face extinction, and there is the matter of settling the governance of our newly gained lands in Essos. Even then, in this time of peace, we would be remiss to not reward our brave generals for their loyal service and achievements."
At this, many of the accomplished generals had brighter eyes with stars of hope glittering in their pupils, eagerly looking forward to their rewards. The non-accomplished generals grumbled under their breaths and looked away in shame.
"First, Crown Prince Maegor Targaryen, step forward!"
The Crown Prince knelt before the throne, his face half-smiling, half-bitter and grimacing sourly.
"For your deeds in ending a servant of the Lion of Night, you have demonstrated your martial prestige and that of House Targaryen to the world, and helped to avenge the death of Balerion the Black Dread at the hands of the Midnight Scourge!" Visenya declared, a single tear streaming down her cheeks as she slowly smiled, "Your father would be proud, my dear son."
Maegor smiled despite himself, a flash of genuine pride that made him feel it was all worth it.
"Thank you, Mother," He muttered softly.
"And for your deeds, we hereby grant you five thousand units of Essosi loot, and the sword Blackfyre!" Visenya added, presenting a very familiar sword to the kneeling Maegor, "We also name you Lord Paramount of Braavos, Pentos and Andalos, for you to rule as you please!"
The lands of Andalos, the birthplace of the Faith and Andal civilisation, was likewise ravaged by the Midnight Scourge, and its various chieftains were hapless babes - lambs to the slaughter. They quickly submitted to the Iron Throne in exchange for protection.
Maegor took the offered sword with all due reverence, profusely thanking Visenya, before stepping back and taking his place among the audience.
"He's received Braavos, Pentos and Andalos, very rich and wealthy lands," Huang Xue noted, "And here I thought they'd give it to someone else."
"It's likely a response to mollify him, or maybe to expand the lands directly under House Targaryen's control, I can't say for sure," Elanzo suggested, "Probably both."
"And here I wondered where you were, Elanzo," Arin noted, "Exactly what were you up to?"
"Oh, you know me. Scouting the enemy and making notes of who to ally with, who to manipulate for House Rada's benefit," Elanzo shrugged nonchalantly, "Plenty of bruised egos makes this so much easier, it's like a child's playground."
Arin rolled his eyes.
Orys Baratheon along with all the Crownlander and Stormlander lords would also receive similar rewards, some second sons of Lords and hedge knights elevated to lordly status and suborned as Maegor's vassal lords.
The Men of Gosmerch received much loot as well, the top-most achievers receiving rare Valyrian Steel swords for their service. While they received no lands, they received preferential treatment when it came to selection of freed slaves and migrants to their lands, along with complete tariff exemptions and other favourable trade terms with the other lords of Westeros.
"Eckard Blodfeld of Gosmerch, step forward!"
The Unlikely Hero of the Neck, as he was widely called by friend and foe alike in all lands, took a knee before the Iron Throne.
"Lord Blodfeld, it has scarcely been a generation since you were first ennobled and raised to lordly status, and in that time since you have created a model army of leal, loyal Northmen who know no equal in the North," Visenya proudly described, "Where others failed, you rose to the occasion, and proved to the world that the Crannogmen of Gosmerch have as much grit and steel as the sons and daughters of winter, and just as capable of matching the martial prestige of their southern neighbours!"
Many Northmen knew that when they returned home in shame, the first thing they would do was break out casks of mead and get themselves stupidly drunk.
"Therefore, I shall grant you three thousand units of Essosi loot, a ceremonial blade and a boon of your choice," Visenya finished, "What would you ask of me?"
"The right to claim Skagos as my vassal fiefdom," Eckard answered without missing a heartbeat, "And full protection from any interference by House Stark."
The court went eerily silent, and the Northern contingent stared at Eckard like he sprouted three wolf heads on his shoulders. House Stark gnashed their teeth in silent fury, while others like House Bolton held calculating snake-like glints in their eyes, eager to see what moves Eckard would make next.
"Interesting," Visenya said, "May I ask your reasons why?"
"Of course, Your Grace," Eckard said, "Traditionally, the Skagosi have always been forbidden from engaging in much more than limited trade with the mainland, and from building a fleet of their own for any reason. This has led to the festering of centuries of resentment that left them with no good feelings for the North in general."
"I do not mean to sound doubtful, but that is not a real reason for me to grant such a boon," Visenya pointed out.
"I am aware, Your Grace," Eckard replied, "Allow me to explain: As part of our drive to establish trade relations with other lords of the North, our merchants reached an agreement to trade with the Skagosi, and hoping to find some valuable deposits of ore to exploit, they received the permission of Lord Artos Magnar to prospect the mountains. What they found was a treasure trove of said ores and valuable gemstones."
When the Lords of Sonaria - of the North - learned of the vast shipments of gems and ores being sold from Skagos, they were green with envy and attempted to secure exclusive rights to the trade, only to be sternly rebuffed by both the stubborn Skagosi and the mighty Gosmerch fleets. This, of course, put the entire Neck at odds with the rest of the North, a fact that was never lost on anyone.
"The people of the North have never treated the Skagosi well, and now that they have this wealth, the Skagosi have been subject to even more political injustice by House Stark, even though we are all men of Sonaria," Eckard finished his explanation, "I hold no ill will towards House Stark, but it is sadly clear the Skagosi will never accept them as their suzerains ever again. For this reason, on their behalf, I request this boon."
Visenya looked at the Northmen contingent and saw the faces of the various factions, their looks of calculating scheming and buried grudges, and then back at Eckard, who while at first glance looked nonchalant and uncaring, hid a knowing gleam that made Visenya smirk slightly and nod in approval. Both she and Rhaenys shared nods of agreement, and then Visenya turned back to face Eckard.
"If I may ask, what treasure trove of resources has been unearthed in Skagos?" Questioned Visenya.
"Topazes, opals, along with emeralds and sapphires, maybe the occasional ruby," Eckard answered, "Along with ample deposits of iron, coal, gold and silver. In fact, it's been months since we last surveyed the tunnels and the prospectors say they still have not fully mapped the entirety of the mineral veins in the mountains."
"Then it is settled," Said Visenya, "I shall grant you your boon on one condition."
"Name it, Your Grace," Said Eckard.
"I would like preferential trade agreements on Skagosi gemstones, gold and silver," Visenya answered.
"Done," Eckard smiled.
"Then let this be the day Skagos shall enter a new era of prosperity," Visenya declared, much to the chagrin of the other Northerners.
"Let it be so, indeed," Eckard said as he bowed and took his leave.
Next came the household name of Dorne.
"Grand Duke Arin Rada, step forward!" Visenya called.
The Black Fox stepped forward and knelt before the Iron Throne, and Visenya presented a ceremonial dagger of Valyrian Steel to him.
"For your loyal service, you are gifted the island of Tyrosh to add to your domain of Idosaea," Visenya said, "Along with a hefty weregild of at least two thousand units of Essosi loot."
"My thanks, Your Graces," Arin bowed and then took his leave, his face betraying nothing save a slight hint of satisfaction.
On paper, it looked like a very miniscule reward considering Arin's huge contribution, and both he and his Dornish subjects would have every right to get angry at this apparent snubbing. However, Arin simply said that his prospective generals should get the greater share of the reward, considering he was 'old generation' and that the proven young blood were deserving of more. Such a show of generosity was taken well by the Dornish and served to strengthen their loyalty and negate any potential disputes that would arise from this.
And while that was half the truth, the other half was that he simply wasn't interested in conquering any more territory for himself, and the isle of Tyrosh was all he really needed.
Many others scoffed at this, some sickened by this exceedingly fake show (in their eyes), others simply believed him to be fortunate, being such a close ally of the Targaryens.
As the rest of the Dornish contingent received their gifts and promotions, then came the next person whose name would thunder throughout Westeros for generations to come.
"Elaegelle Targaryen, step forward!"
Maegor grit his teeth but stayed silent, a few like-minded siblings and nobles sharing his thoughts and feelings. Others swallowed nervously and kept a wide berth from the star alumni of East Point, bowing their heads in hurried deference. The Dornish and the Sand Dragon Army officers loudly cheered and clapped for her, almost obnoxiously so as their way of saying to naysayers: "I told you so."
As Elaegelle knelt before the Iron Throne, Rhaenys proudly declared, "You, who defied all expectations and proved the blessed champion of Balerion, Father of All Dragons himself! You, who slew one of the Lion of Night's three demonic servants! You, who helped break the enemy at Tyrosh and took a huge gamble at great risk to your own life! Elaegelle, we hereby name you Lord Paramount of the Verdant Heel! All the land and the island of Lys is now yours to rule! To supplement your coffers, you shall be granted five thousand units of Essosi loot!"
Maegor and his clique bit their tongues to keep their ill-feelings from leaking out, and the naysayers looked among themselves like naughty schoolchildren. The Andals muttered silent prayers and made signs of warding, as if to deny the truth that a Pagan Champion won greater acclaim than champions of the Seven. Others cradled their heads in their hands, feeling the need to get stupidly drunk and consult Maesters for medicinal remedies.
"Hail General Elaegelle Targaryen!"
"Hail, hail!"
Once again, the Dornish contingent loudly chanted their congratulations for the risen Champion of Balerion, and as she rose up to face the audience, she cut the dashing, imposing figure of a hero from the days of the Dawn Age - mythical, unfathomable, immortal.
Needless to say, the ramifications of the War of Midnight were far beyond all expectations.
IIOII
In the months that followed, Westeros and the conquered Essosi lands became a hotbed of activity.
Wasting no time, Lord Eckard Blodfeld immediately sent a copy of the Royal Edict to the isle of Skagos, the local lords mostly receiving it with good news save a few houses who were more envious of House Blodfeld and their partners than anything else, or who despised the rapid change being brought to the isle, and thus tried to be spiteful by declaring revolt. The leaders were slain and their houses attainted for good, to be given to new houses.
He immediately made arrangements to send workers and materials along with the best architects to redesign all of Skagos's towns and villages, to house walls and keeps of stone and stone piers to accommodate larger ships of modern design, and the isle of Skane was being recolonised as old ruins were rebuilt.
Ships soon thronged the isles, and with shipments of hardy Elian Coos [2] and hardy winter crops like barley, rye, broccoli and onions, farmers were able to grow massive amounts of food as compared to before, coupled with the new farming methods learned from Dorne. Whaling also took off as an industry, whale meat and oil becoming highly popular commodities.
As the economic prosperity of the two isles jumped by leaps and bounds, Lord Eckard Blodfeld requested permission from House Stark to rebuild the ancient port city of Hardhome.
No one could make heads and tails of Lord Eckard's request; Hardhome was abandoned due to logistical strain from the sheer distance, the danger of Wildling attacks and the harsh winters that were even harsher than those south of the Wall. Even then, Eckard was insistent, saying it would prove a vital forward outpost from which to subjugate rowdy, bloodthirsty bands of Wildlings.
And as of late, more and more Wildling raids had been conducted dangerously close to the Wall, some daring bands even going as far as to attack isolated Night's Watch patrols. While the Night's Watch in the past would be able to deal with them alone, recent years had seen several strongholds be abandoned and their numbers severely reduced, necessitating aid from House Stark.
And so, House Stark gave Eckard his permission, and Hardhome was quickly reclaimed and rebuilt. In return, House Blodfeld drew upon its deep pockets to fund the Night's Watch, sending several volunteers and workers to renovate their strongholds, and then requested their help with defeating the more violent Wildlings.
House Blodfeld's influence would only grow, and latest rumours were that Eckard was sending men to take control of the various clans, bringing them under his banner and expanding his control of the True North.
In the Reach, there was an ongoing divide between the established hierarchy of the Faith and the battle-hardened Septry returned from the war in Essos, jaded and scarred yet stronger in faith. Spearheaded by Lord Paramount Edmund Gardener III and Brandyll Tarly, the Hero of the Reach, they have formed an opposing faction towards the Faith and House Hightower, currently helmed by Lord Martyn Hightower after his father Manfred died in battle. Manfred Hightower as Lord of his house survived the War of Roses and Serpents, and was one of those ransomed with their heirloom blade, but neither he nor his son Morgan survived the War of Midnight, and over half their deployed knights and levies perished, leaving House Hightower significantly weakened.
Even worse, Manfred's son Martyn did not have the martial prestige and talent his father did, and thus he was forced to overly rely on more talented subordinates, giving them greater concessions in exchange for their support. Said subordinates now pressured him heavily to put greater control on the Most Devout and his lackeys in the Starry Sept.
Dependent on the support of the Faith, Martyn tried to mediate a balance, but made no progress whatsoever.
This schism would extend to many other houses who felt that Houses Gardener and Tarly were overreaching in their influence, thus joining the Faith in opposing this 'oppressive tyranny' as they so eloquently described it. Houses who were jealous of the victors' achievements also joined the Faith in their opposition, not least of all House Florent, who competed with House Gardener for the seat of Highgarden.
The Riverlander Lords went back to their bickering as always, with House Tully ever the overburdened mediator whose authority dangled on a knife's edge.
The Iron Islands enjoyed their plunder from Essos, even keeping countless thralls and saltwives from cowards and rich families who leached from others for their own benefit. Common criminals, rich magisters, beautiful women who sold out others for their own survival, all those people were those the Iron Throne willingly condemned and gave to the Ironborn, both to punish them and to (temporarily) pacify the Ironborn.
The Vale had suffered heavy casualties, and with reduced military strength on hand, House Arryn and the other Valelords were hard-pressed to maintain order and security against a renewed wave of Mountain Clansmen raids. Tensions between Ronnel and Jonos Arryn reached new heights as well, and some worried it could lead to worse things for the House and Vale.
The Westerlanders were also divided in two, the Lannister branch families uniting in opposition against House Reyne and cooking the poor Castan Reyne in a hot volcano ready to erupt. House Tarbeck also joined in the opposition, jealous of House Reyne's influence and eager to curry favour with the victors.
The Stormlands was rather peaceful in comparison to its other Andal neighbours, the Baratheons winning immense amounts of prestige and honour, not to mention treasure which they invested in countless reforms, infrastructural projects and economic endeavours. Dorne remained their primary rival to the south, and were most unwilling to be left in the lurch by their richer counter Reachmen and Dornish counterparts.
As for Elaegelle Targaryen and the Sand Dragons, they quickly used their connections with Dorne to establish bases in the Verdant Heel and claim it as their own. The Sand Dragons engaged in much charity and even engaged the locals' help in rebuilding their homes, earning them much goodwill and support. The Verdant Heel would come to be known as Kastiria (Verdant Land) in High Valyrian, a nod to its name as known among Essosi.
Maegor's subordinates would claim their own share of Essos, though the laws in place were extremely strict and harsh on wrongdoers - slavers especially - and the presence of his knights and troops firmly dissuaded any bandits and pirates from preying on their lands. Some expected the Essosi to chafe at such restrictions, and while in the past they would, they simply could not in the present.
Their part of Essos came to be known as Krystogharia [3] or Velvet Land in High Valyrian, named for the Velvet Hills between Pentos and Braavos.
The world was relentlessly moving forward, and as tensions rose within Westeros, the time would soon come for a most climatic resolution.
[1] War of Midnight - The one war that single-handedly broke the established order of western Essos for good, and one that heralded the return of magic and godly intervention. Despite the best efforts of the Faith in the Starry Sept and the Maesters of the Conclave, they are unable to convince otherwise that magic was a dead force, and that the Faith was the only religion necessary for Westeros.
In fact, motivated largely by the returning victors and the battle-scarred septons, the masses began to believe that the established doctrine was faulty and flawed, and the current hierarchy a corrupt and malevolent force out only for their own benefit. Thus, this war also served as grounds for a religious schism within the Faith itself.
[2] Elian Coos - A breed of hardy cow with a shaggy coat capable of surviving the harsh winters of the North and True North, the primary form of livestock in those lands and thus the primary source of meat and dairy products.
[3] Krystogharia is derived from (Kyrstor Ōghar -ia), 'Hairy Fabric Land' a.k.a. 'Velvet Land'.