Chapter 84: The home of the trout
28 AF
Robb
He looked upon the face of his daughter, and she seemed almost as relieved to see him as he was to see her. He guided his horse across the courtyard close to her, before jumping off. Forgetting all decorum, she skipped over to him and hugged him tightly.
"Father, it is so good to see you!" Sarra called out. He embraced her back on one side, careful not to hurt the baby she was holding on her other arm. "It is good to see you too, little girl." He whispered in her ear.
When she finally released him, she greeted her brother Jon and cousin Brynden in quick succession. Her direwolf seemed equally happy, as she danced around with her pack mates. He looked expectingly at her, before she realized that she hadn't yet introduced him to his grandchildren.
She laughed loudly at her stupidity, before softly handing her the baby in her arms. "This is my youngest, Dela." She told him, and he looked at the baby girl that had been thrust into his arms. She couldn't be more than five months old. Dela had the same blue-grey eyes of both her parents, and light brown hair she had gotten from her father. The little girl looked intently at him, but she didn't start to cry.
He subconsciously rocked her in his arms to the rhythm of an old Northern nursery rhyme that Alys had once taught him. "Where is your boy?" He asked her, without taking his eyes of the intently looking grey-blue eyes in his arms.
His daughter turned around and pointed at a three-year-old boy in indigo cloths, who tried to hide behind the leg of a knight wearing the same indigo colors on his tabard. "Robert, come here. Come to mama." She called out to him, but the boy seemed hesitant to comply and pulled himself even closer to the man next to him.
The young knight coughed loudly in response. "Princess Sarra, maybe we have broken enough protocol for today?" He remarked, before looking at Old Lord Jason Mallister. His former councilor smiled at the knight, before elaborately bowing towards him. The whole courtyard followed his lead.
"Seaguard is yours, Your Grace." The man voiced with a subtle smile on his lips that was aimed at his grandson's royal wife.
"I thank you, Lord Mallister. I have said it before, and I will say it again, you have a beautiful home." He responded regally.
The old Riverlord nodded approvingly. "Let me introduce you to my family, or those you haven't already met." He grinned, while looking at the Mallister baby he was holding in his hands.
He kept carrying the baby. He knew that it was not how a king was expected to behave in the South, but decorum be damned. This was his granddaughter, and he would keep holding her as long as she didn't cry.
He walked over to Lord Jason, flanked by his daughter. His son, nephew, Wolfsguard and most important lords trailing behind him.
"This little boy here is Robert Mallister. He is my only great-grandson, for now, and the proud future of my house. He was named after you, Your Grace. A Mallister with royal blood and the most piercing grey eyes I have seen since the Mad King ended the life of your Uncle Brandon prematurely."
He looked at his young grandson. He indeed had piercing grey eyes. He crouched down towards the boy and ruffled his head, being careful not to drop his sister in the process.
"I am your grandfather, Young Robert." He introduced himself.
"Momma told me that my otha grandfather is king. Are you a king?" The boy asked him, while still trying to duck behind the knight's leg.
He grinned, while throwing a look at his daughter. "Aye lad, I am the King."
The little boy seemed to accept this and loosened his grip on the leg that he had been holding, but still kept his distance. Lord Jason then introduced the knight to him. This is my second grandson Joseth. He is staying here to help me rule and protect the family, while his elder and younger brothers accompanied Patrek to Riverrun.
"Well met, Ser Joseth." He greeted the Young Mallister knight. "I hope that one day you and my son can have a bond as good as I have with your father and grandfather. House Mallister is one of the most important houses in the Riverlands, a thing House Stark will never forget."
The Riverlander nodded appreciatingly. "It would an honor to spend time with the prince, Your Grace."
He was then introduced to the Seaguard household, before joining Lord Jason in his solar. They talked about the greater aspects of the war, as well as the local situation around Seaguard.
It seemed that zealous groups in the area had waited until Patrek had led the forces of House Mallister to Riverrun before rising up against them. Lord Jason had excused himself for not joining the war effort himself, but he had waved it away. The Lord of Seaguard was seventy-three years old and had served him loyally for the last twenty-nine years. He didn't take offense of it in the slightest.
They talked about the damage those fanatics were inflicting and how best to deal with them. Less than two hours after entering the solar, he had dispatched four groups of light cavalry to take care of them.
The command of those were given to some of the young sons of his vassals. Each had command over a group of a hundred mounted men, while he prepared to march on to Raventree Hall with the bulk of his troops. The commands fell to Rickon Karstark, Byam Flint, Jeor Mormont and Ser Ellery Morass. It was a way to make them feel important and respected, while also looking to see who amongst the next generation had a gift for command that he could use later in the war.
(A few days later)
He studied the old mossy walls of Raventree Hall with approval. They were ancient, kept in good condition and lined with strong square towers. In front of them was a moat lined with stones for extra protection. Outside of it stood tents, betraying the presence of a force of many hundreds of men. At the same time, the walls looked packed with even more soldiers.
He was greeted kindly by some lower nobles sworn to House Blackwood, before Ser Edmund Blackwood rode towards them from the keep to greet him. The younger brother of Lords Brynden Blackwood and Lucas Goodwood led him inside the walls, after ordering the lower nobles to help his Northmen to set up camp in the rich Blackwood Vale.
The valley was much the same as it always had been, still no trees grew here. The Blackwoods had been one of the main importers of Northern wood because of this, and shipments were regularly delivered to Seaguard from Barrowton, Sea Dragon Point or Bear Island. Since the marriage of Lysara Karstark to Lord Brynden's heir Tytos, shipments coming from Karhold also traveled up the Red Fork from Maidenpool.
In turn, the Blackwoods traded grains, dried fruits and salted meats with their Northern trading partners, as well as honey. This arrangement was something which had been very beneficial for both parties.
The economic growth of the Blackwood lands had led to a population boom comparable to the North and the lands he had passed had seemed to be flourishing before the war.
However, now villages and towns were being walled, as lone farmsteads and unprotected hamlets were burned down by fanatics crossing their border from the rest of the Riverlands. They passed many of those ruins on their way south, often the decomposing bodies were still scattered across them. Wherever he could, he made sure that his men buried the poor sods.
While travelling here from Seaguard, he had also seen dozens of the culprits hanging from trees with warnings placed next to their bodies, but the fanatics seemed to keep coming. Patrols of dozens of soldiers each toured the lands, as they tried to keep as much of their people safe. Those living on the outer borders had long fled to the Blackwood Vale, which was crowded with refugees. It was a horrible sight and one he wished to rectify soon.
Ser Edmund Blackwood brought him and his most important lords to the Great Hall, where he was greeted by more Blackwoods. Lord Brynden had taken his heir Tytos with him to Riverrun, but his two remaining sons remained in Raventree.
Ser Robert and his younger brother Ser Jammos greeted him with great hospitality, as he and all his companions were not only given bread and salt, but wine, cheeses and meats as well. For his nephew Bryn and his two Blackwood companions, Sers Benedict and Alyn, it was a joyful reunion with their kin.
He thanked the young knights for their hospitality, and they quickly told him more of the situation in the Riverlands.
"Father and Tytos left with twelve hundred men to aid Lord Hoster. We, together with Uncle Edmund, were tasked to remain here to the protect our lands." Lord Brynden's second son explained to him.
He frowned. "Only twelve hundred? House Blackwood should be able to raise three thousand men. No wonder Lord Tully could only raise eight thousand troops."
"We can raise even more than three thousand, especially since the population growth of the last twenty-five years. However, the dangers around us are too great to empty our lands. We cannot risk sending more." Ser Robert responded.
"Tell me more about what happened here." He asked the twenty-something year old knight.
"Dozens of incursions of zealot Seven believers have already happened onto our lands. Sometimes, they are organized. Led by a landed knight and a core of his soldiers with well-armed smallfolk to swell their numbers. Other times, it is two dozen peasants armed with clubs and shovels under the leadership of some fanatic septon." Blackwood started.
"On top of that, we need to keep an eye on House Bracken. Lord Jonos has gathered his forces at Stone Hedge, but he refuses to move. Father thinks he might be eying up our lands and is waiting for us to be vulnerable before he strikes." His much younger brother Ser Jammos added.
"The Brackens remain at Stone Hedge? We received conflicting reports about their loyalties in this war." His son Jon asked the Blackwoods.
"Understandably so, as they not united." Ser Robert scoffed. "Lord Jonos, his heir Ser Hendry and Henry's three eldest sons remain in Stone Hedge with the vast majority of their forces. However, Lord Jonos' youngest grandson Lucos Bracken has supposedly broken with his grandfather and rallied hundreds of Bracken men for Elmar's cause."
"Jonos and Hendry Bracken remain neutral, but the fourth son rallied men against their orders and joined Ser Elmar?" He asked, to which all three Blackwoods nodded.
"That is the story they tell us, at least." Ser Edmund added, as he stood side by side with his nephews.
"Young Lucos was always the closest with his cousin Elmar, whilst his elder brothers gravitated more to Oscar Tully. This resembled their age differences as well. House Bracken has joined the latter's faction. More than likely, they are hoping that the eldest and youngest Tully destroy each other. After that, they will strike." Ser Robert told them.
"Brackens are always problems." Jammos spat.
It seemed that not only the Tully family was split, but that many other families were divided as well with the younger sons joining the rebels if their fathers or grandfathers remained neutral. The Mallisters had told him of similar things happening in Houses Shawney and Grell.
"Aren't Elmar and the Brackens your cousins too?" He asked, curious to how the feud could have reappeared so strongly only twenty-five years after his marriage policy had tried to bury it once and for all.
Ser Robert shook his head. "Only mine, not Jammos' here. My, and my elder brother Tytos', mother was Catelyn Bracken. However, she and her baby girl died together in childbirth when I was three years old. Father remarried to the younger sister of Lord Bigglestone two years later, which resulted in Jammos and my two younger sisters." He explained, while pointing to his younger half-brother.
He nodded, remembering the news of Lady Blackwood's death now. "The Brackens and Tullys, as well as the Darrys and Lychesters are my maternal kin. However, this has never been clear during my upbringing. Lord Hoster and my elder brother Tytos value the connection and have always been close, but the Brackens have never cared for rapprochement with us. I am fairly close to my Darry cousins, but maybe that is only because their Bracken mother also died when they were young." The knight shrugged.
"I care much more for my paternal family." He shrugged, as he nodded towards Bryn and the Blackwoods who had accompanied the boy from the North. He smiled at the gesture, as it seemed clear that the boy's focus was on the North, a useful thing to have within what was probably the strongest house of the Riverlands now.
"How many men remain here? Have you had any substantial losses?" He asked them.
Ser Edmund Blackwood nodded. "In the beginning of the war, some of the vassals on our borders were overwhelmed. At least two hundred soldiers and ten thousand smallfolk were lost in this manner. Since then, another hundred fighting men were lost in clashes that occurred with our patrols, I myself fought in more than a few of them. Smallfolk casualties have dropped but they remain a constant occurrence. Nonetheless, over forty thousand refugees reside in Blackwood Vale now."
"What was the population of the Blackwood lands before the incursions?" He asked the elder Blackwood.
"Around four hundred thousand, give or take." Ser Edmund started."
"Our lands were spared the destruction most of the Riverlands faced thirty years ago. Since then, our population has grown considerably. Thousands of our subjects have left over the years to settle my brother's lands, those formerly belonging to House Goodbrook. Others have settled the rich farmlands of Rosby, Riverport or Hayford. Five hundred even followed my younger brother Alyn to his lands around Moat Cailin. Over the years, at least thirty thousand left our lands. This is one of the main reasons the septons call for our destruction. The vast majority of our subjects believe in the Olds Gods, and they feel that we are colonizing the rest of the Riverlands."
"Ha, wouldn't that be an idea!" Lord Ironsmith remarked from behind him. He shot him an angry look. Comments like that could only fuel the religious fires burning against them.
"How many people have you lost by now?" He asked.
Ser Robert answered. "Some twenty thousand in total, but more will be lost before this war ends. Soldiers will fall in the fighting, while incursions continue from all sides, especially from the Bracken lands."
"Well, incursions will lessen from the north. My men are taking care of the warbands scouring the Mallister lands, especially those along the Blue Fork in the lands which formerly belonged to House Frey. How can we help you here?" He brought up.
Ser Edmund scratched his beard. "Most of the small unorganized enemy groups are destroyed, whilst the larger better organized ones often flee to our neighbors' lands. I have pursued and destroyed two of them on the lands of House Paege recently. Others have been pursued to the north and southwest as well. They seem to realize this. Most attacks now seem to be coming from the mountains in the west or the Bracken lands. We don't dare to pursue them there, out of fear of provoking Lord Jonos into open conflict."
He nodded. "I understand. A letter will be sent to House Bracken. Northern riders will cross their borders to hunt down fanatics and bandits. Any hinderance will be seen as support for the rebellion and will result in an attack on Stone Hedge. Elmar is stuck in Stoney Sept and Lord Jonos lacks enough allies in the area to resist. He will either back down or face destruction."
This was met with smiles by the Blackwoods, who all proclaimed their support for him. "Six groups of cavalry will be dispatched to all corners of the Blackwood lands. All have permission to cross into the lands of other lords, as long as they remain in the Kingdom of the Riverlands." He proclaimed.
"One group will march north towards the northeast under the command of Ser Perwyn Frey." He voiced, as he looked at Olyvar's eldest son. "One will go east as far as Fairmarket under Donnel Slate. Two will go against the mountains in the west under Daryn Hornwood and Benjen Ryswell. I think both will do well in forested hills. They are used to it at home." Both of their fathers looked at him and nodded in agreement.
"The last two will go southeast under Benfred Tallhart and Medgar Cerwyn. They can pursue them as far as Stone Hedge. However, they cannot engage the Brackens in any way. If they are attacked, they pull back and regroup with the main force before we strike back in unison." He had chosen the boys with care. Medgar was Arya's son, and he knew him to be capable. Benfred Tallhart was a frequent visitor of Winterfell. He also seemed to show promise.
"All groups will consist of one hundred Northmen of their houses, complemented with some men and guides from House Blackwood." By now the Blackwoods were all grinning.
"However, in return I would ask some of the Blackwood levy to accompany us to Riverrun. Leaving two thousand men here with Riverrun under threat is asking for problems." The two younger knights shuffled awkwardly after hearing that. He understood, as the orders to remain here had come directly from their lordly father.
Luckily, after a few seconds Ser Edmund spoke up. "I will join you with six hundred of our men, Your Grace."
His nephews looked at him in shock. "You were appointed castellan, uncle." They confronted him.
Ser Edmund dismissed the concerns. "Jammos, you can help one of the Northern groups in the west. Robert, you can do the same or you can stay here. I would appoint you castellan, together with cousin Mathis. You are my brother's son, whilst Mathis holds the years and experience you yet lack. I only take six hundred men with me. The others remain here. You heard the King. If the Brackens strike, he will annihilate them anyway."
Both boys relented and Ser Edmund asked him for leave to prepare the men. He granted that, and the knight bowed before leaving the Great Hall with long confident strides.
House Blackwood remained as interesting as it had ever been. Lords Tytos and Brynden had built up quite a family. He hoped they would fight as well as they were large.
(Three days later)
He felt relieved when he saw the red sandstone walls of Riverrun looming up in the distance. Above it, the banner of House Tully waved proudly. Below it, a large army encampment could be seen sporting the banners of Houses Blackwood, Goodwood, Mallister, Paege, Deddings and Bigglestone, as well as scores of minor families sworn to them.
Three of the cavalry groups he had sent out around Seaguard had by now rejoined the main column, having adequately fulfilled their jobs and dispersed or destroyed the main rebel groups. On his orders, the bodies of the rebels they had killed or captured had been hung from trees like the Blackwoods had done. That should make others think twice before they took up arms against him.
His new Blackwood companion Ser Edmund had proven to be as pleasant company as his brothers these past two days, which was how he found himself next to him as they rode towards the Tully army encampment. The knight also served to keep Bryn in check, as Bran's son looked up to his maternal uncle.
Before reaching the entrance of the army encampment, they were greeted by a group of Riverlords. Ser Halmon Paege, Lord Brynden Blackwood and Ser Henry Deddings, and their retinues, came out to greet him. For the latter two, it was a kind but unexpected reunion with their family.
All three nobles bowed down to him, before greeting the other lords who had ridden with him at the head of the army. Ser Henry embraced his father Lord Damwell, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Lord Brynden greeted his nephew and namesake, while loudly shouting at his brother. "Edmund, what are you doing here? I left you to watch our home and protect it from bandits and Brackens!"
The knight from the Riverlands laughed loudly. "His Grace took care of most of those problems for us. As such, it looked opportune for me to gather another six hundred men and join you here at Riverrun. Thought you could use the reinforcements."
The Lord of Raventree Hall looked at him for confirmation and he nodded. "Only six hundred? No more? The lands are still safe?" He asked Ser Edmund.
"Yes, brother, they are. Since you arranged for me to marry, I also have a family there to care for. I wouldn't leave them undefended." Apparently, that was enough for the older Blackwood, who then embraced Edmund, before having a joyful reunion with his other brother Alyn and his second cousin Ser Benedict of the Wolfsguard.
After a few more greetings, Ser Halmon Paege spoke up. "Lord Tully will want to see you immediately, Your Grace. A battle has been fought here recently and nothing pleases us more than your arrival. Lord Hoster will feel the same."
"A battle? Here?" He asked, shocked by the news. "I thought the enemy was gathering at Stoney Stept?"
"Yes, Your Grace." The Knight of Fairmarket responded. "The enemy send their vanguard to push on to Riverrun under Lord Perryn. We speculate that this was done to tie us down here, while reinforcements keep pouring into Stoney Sept. Our forces clashed three days ago."
"What happened at the battle? Seeing that you all remain here, I expect that you won?"
The Riverlords looked at each other. "The result of the battle was undecisive, Your Grace." Ser Robb Paege, Ser Halmon's heir and his cousin Minisa Tully's husband, answered.
Lord Blackwood nodded in agreement. "Lord Perryn approached us with five thousand men. They consisted of Riverlander troops and Westerlander mercenaries, no zealous rabble. The banners of Houses Grell, Vance of Wayfarer's Rest and Bracken were found among them, although it clearly didn't consist of all of their troops."
"So, the Brackens, Grells and Vances all had breakaway factions that joined the rebels?" He asked his vassals from the Riverlands.
"Yes, Your Grace." Ser Henry Deddings replied. "The lords of those houses remain neutral and have kept most of their strength home. However, younger sons, bothers and cousin have apparently managed to persuade some of their vassals to join the rebels anyway. The two younger brothers of Lord Grell were seen with Lord Perryn, similarly the youngest son of Lady Vance and the youngest grandson of Lord Jonos Bracken were there as well."
He thought that over. "That is good. It means we don't have to fight their full strength right now. We can deal with them after we have defeated the rebels. They have refused a summons from their liege lord and their king. This will have consequences." The Brackens could raise over well-over twenty-five hundred men. House Grell and Vance of Wayfarer's Rest together could raise another fifteen hundred. If less than a quarter of them were in the field, he would see that as a victory.
All Riverlords nodded in agreement. "What were the losses on both sides during the engagement?" He asked them.
Ser Halmon Paege spoke up. "They had around six hundred losses, whilst ours numbered around a thousand. However, we managed to get them to leave the field. Two days ago, they were reinforced with a detachment of troops from Stoney Sept and they restarted their advance here yesterday."
"What stopped them this time?"
All Riverlords grinned. "You did, Your Grace." The Paege heir told him. "The news of your arrival has spread far and wide by your ravens and riders and their outriders must have seen your marching column. As they didn't have the numbers to engage you now, they packed up their camp in the middle of the night and have marched straight south towards Stoney Sept."
His mind immediately sprang into action. "Can we catch them?"
"Possibly, Your Grace, but only if you let the infantry here. However, I would advise against it. Too many houses in the area between here and Stoney Sept remain neutral. Any one of those could charge you in the back, if you manage to force Lord Perryn to do battle. New reinforcements could also come from the Golden Tooth as well. It is too dangerous and if you were slain or captured, many of those still neutral houses will join against us. The Riverlands would be doomed." Brynden Blackwood told him.
He let that sink in. "Very well. We will remain here. We will set up camp together next to your men." He then looked at the Knight of Fairmarket. "Ser Halmon, could you see to it that my men are shown the area where they need to set up camp?"
Ser Halmon Paege reacted immediately. "Certainly, Your Grace." He turned his horse, waiting to guide most of his commanders towards the area.
He looked at some of his companions and turned to those with experience. He told Harmond Umber, Lord Timothy Flint and Lady Dacey Mormont to divide up the camp and secure the outer perimeter. He especially looked towards his brother Jon.
"Set up camp for your men and those sworn to Winterfell. Afterwards, check the outer perimeter and make sure that it is secure. The enemy is near, I want no surprises. Afterwards, come to the castle. Rooms will be ready for you and your sons."
"It will be done, Robb. However, I know that Edrick will want to stay with the men. He feels obligated to do so." His brother replied.
Jon's eldest son was only eighteen years old and took his duties as heir very seriously. During their march, he had asked him why he did that. The boy had responded that he was the first ever heir of House Whitefyre and that he had to show the people and soldiers from Sea Dragon Point that he was one of theirs and cared for them.
"Very well, it is a commendable attitude. Give Edrick command of your men in the camp, while you and Benjen come up to stay in the keep." Jon nodded in response, before turning his horse and trotting off together with both knights of House Paege and almost the entire Northern entourage.
He himself rode on with Lord Blackwood, Lord Deddings, his son and nephew and his Wolfsguard. Once inside the castle, he was quickly greeted by his cousin Hoster.
"It is very good to see you, Your Grace! Riverrun is yours, as always." The Lord Paramount of the Riverlands called out with a bow, as a genuine smile crept up on his face.
"I can say the same, cousin. I will always appreciate the reflection of Riverrun's red sandstone walls in the Red Fork." He responded heartily.
Hoster laughed cheekily. "That is your mother's blood welcoming you home, Your Grace."
He smiled. "Aye, it might be." He then looked behind Uncle Edmure's oldest son. He saw two little girls with auburn hair there, who held on to the skirts of a pregnant woman. The woman itself he knew, but it still surprised him how much she looked like her father, Patrek Mallister.
He walked over to her, and after she curtseyed, he kissed her hand in the Southern courtly manner. "It is good to see you in such good health, Lady Tully."
"Thank you, Your Grace. May I present our family to you?" She asked him, after making eye contact with her husband.
"Certainly, I have longed to meet the future of my mother's house." He smiled back, which pleased both her and Hoster.
"This is our oldest daughter, Lady Jane Tully. She was named after my own mother." After that, she turned towards her husband, who picked up their youngest daughter with a knowing smile.
Hoster Tully took place next to his wive and picked up his second daughter. "This is Catelyn, although we mostly call her Cat. She was named after your own mother. The name has multiple reasons. First and foremost, in recognition of what she did to make me feel at home during my time in Winterfell. Secondly, to credit all she did for my own father when he was young, and thirdly to honor House Tully's connection to House Stark."
He looked at the young girl, who showed some superficial likeness to his mother with her Tully blue eyes and auburn hair. The girl seemed interested in him as well. "Gran daddy?" She asked.
Her father smiled sadly at his daughter. "No, he is our king and cousin. Although he looks a lot like your late grandfather."
The two-year-old girl looked at him once more. "Coufin?" She asked and it made him laugh. "Aye, I am your cousin. It is good to finally meet you. You look very pretty, Lady Catelyn." This made the girl smile, before she disappeared around the neck of her father.
"May I reacquaint you with the rest of our kin?" He asked Hoster, who of course nodded.
"You know my son Jon." He told them, as his youngest son stepped forward. He greeted the Tullys kindly and they replied just as warmly.
"And of course my nephew, Brynden Stark. Bran's son was named after the most illustrious knight and one of the best Riverlanders that I ever met." He introduced Bryn. The Tully couple smiled fondly, as they greeted him as one of theirs. Hoster had been taught for years by the Blackfish and it was clear that the name meant a lot to him. They also remembered his nephew well; from the years the boy had fostered in the Riverlands.
They talked a little more, as he, Jon and Bryn acquainted themselves with the new Tully household. He conversed with Patrek Mallister, who had been in the castle to advice Hoster, about the health of his father and grandchildren in Seaguard. After a while, he motioned to Lord Hoster that they should talk. A thing to which he quickly agreed.
In the meantime, Lady Desmera would show Jon and Bryn their rooms and introduce them to the sons of the present Riverlander houses. He quickly followed Hoster to the Tully solar. Once inside of it, he stood still for a moment. He looked around and soaked in all the memories the place held for him.
Lord Hoster saw the look on his face and smiled sadly. "I suppose it holds bittersweet memories for you too?"
He nodded. "Aye, many meetings with your father and Uncle Brynden. The earliest memories of this castle even include our grandfather, who was near death's door at the time. Still, he was a very interesting man. He was very grateful that we smashed the Kingslayer's army under his walls and indulged me with anything I asked for."
The head of House Tully smiled. "Aye, your famous battle of the Camps." He nodded, deep in thought.
"Another battle was fought here, three days ago …" Lord Tully commenced, but he waved it away. "I already know, Paege and Blackwood filled me in on all the important details."
"That's good." Hoster smiled. "With that business out of the way, I only have good news to tell you." He cucked his eyebrow, curious to what his Riverlander cousin would tell him.
"I received a letter yesterday evening from Ser Harry Mossbridge, my mother's half-brother." Hoster started. He remembered Ser Harry Rivers, a baseborn son of Lord Jonos Bracken. He had been a companion of the Blackfish during the early war and had become a man of some renown in later campaigns. Afterwards, he had been awarded with lands where the Goldroad crossed over the Blackwater Rush.
His lands were fertile, and a bustling town just shy of ten thousand people, recolated from King's Landing, lay under the sturdy stone keep that he had erected on the hill above. His new house had been named after the old stone bridge that brought the Goldroad over the Blackwater Rush. The town had aptly been named Blackwater's Crossing. Ser Harry's side of the bridge had been fortified, and he had visited his lands twice over the years to inspect the border with the Reach.
The knight had done well with the lands. He had settled Crownlander refugees, spread Riverlander culture along the Blackwater Rush, fortified the area and built out a bustling town on the river that had facilitated trade from the Southern and Central Riverlands to Riverport and Blackwater Bay.
However, that had all been heavily subsidized by royal funding throughout the years. His neutral stance during the conflict had angered him greatly, as well-over two hundred thousand golden wolves had been poured into his lands through subsidies and loans over the last twenty-five years. Nevertheless, he had followed his father Lord Bracken in not picking sides between his Tully kin.
"Please, tell me what Ser Harry has to tell." He spat, grinding his teeth. The anger about the betrayal once again rising up inside him.
Hoster silently handed him a scroll. He rolled it open and read the words written in black ink.
To Lord Hoster Tully,
Hundreds of zealous Reachmen tried to cross the Blackwater Rush today under the leadership of a Septon Osmund. Their group, mostly consisting of poorly armed peasants, stormed the bridge and crossed the river on boats. I defeated their forces, killing over half and pushing the rest back to the other side of the river. Septon Osmund's head now adorns the Mossbridge.
These zealots are dangerous and out of control. Your younger brother created a problem, which he cannot come back from by inciting and legitimizing the carnage they try to inflict on innocent smallfolk. I cannot, and will not, stand for this.
I hereby confirm the oaths I swore to you, Lord Hoster Tully, as my liege lord and to His Grace King Robb of House Starks. I deeply apologize for my tardiness, but hope this letter finds you both well.
I will protect the crossing from the Reach, as well as the western side of Riverport from any danger from zealots or rebels alike until further notice. After securing the crossing, I can raise another three hundred men that I can march anywhere upon your orders.
Your loyal vassal,
Ser Harry Mossbridge, Knight of Mossy Crossing.
He looked to Lord Tully and scoffed. "At last, he comes around."
His cousins cocked his eyebrow. "I thought you would be pleased? Except for the fact where he says he can only bring three hundred men. That seems awfully low to me."
He shook his head. "That is actually fairly believable."
"Really? His town has almost ten thousand people? He should be able to rally much more!" His Warden of the Riverlands countered.
"It is true that the town of Blackwater Crossing has almost ten thousand people, but his other lands hardly have four times that amount of people and not the usual twelve times. He imports most of the food needed to sustain the town from the Southern and Central Riverlands, and with river barges even from Essos by way of Riverport. He doesn't have the rural population we mostly associate with such settlements." He replied.
"Nevertheless, three hundred men?"
"The golden rule my father always told me is that a lord can usually rally around one percent of his people. For Mossbridge that should be five hundred men. However, the town and the fact that many of his people consist of veterans from the former war, and their families, changes things. He can probably raise seven or eight hundred men, but a hundred of those will be the Town Guard. He will need to keep another three hundred men home to protect the bridge and the keep and will have incurred some losses during the skirmish."
Lord Hoster listened intently, before eventually nodding. "Very well, the three hundred seems fair. However, I thought that you would be happy with the news? Ser Harry is a son of Lord Bracken. It was expected that they would all side with my brothers."
He scratched his beard. "Aye, that's true. However, the Crown has spent hundreds of thousands of golden coins to subsidize his rise to power. I had expected him to join us at the start just for that. Nonetheless, it is indeed good news, I guess. I will answer his letter personally and order him to join Lord Sumber in Riverport with his men. Lord Sumber can use the reinforcements to help protect his lands from the fanatics in his area."
Lord Tully nodded pensively. "That might be the best use for him. It should also help with the isolation that the Lords of Blackwater Bay are now feeling. I have received multiple ravens asking for help from them, especially now after their defeat at Sow's Horn, but there is nothing I can do for now."
Yes, … the defeat at Sow's Horn. When they had received the news at Raventree, it had sent shockwaves through his army. Sow's Horn had been gifted to Jon Slate after the wars, a beloved cousin of the new Lord Slate. Ser Jon Slate had become the North's voice in Hayford until Martyn Cassel came of age as Lord Hayford. Afterwards, he became his main advisor.
When word had come that his keep was being besieged by a large group of fanatics and lower nobles, Alaric and Martyn had marched on it with all the troops of Houses Rosby and Hayford. When they arrived, Lord Rollingford had sprung his trap.
Alaric, Martyn and their fifteen hundred soldiers had found themselves surrounded by three times their number, as apparently Lord Rollingford had gotten reinforcements from Stoney Sept.
The resulting battle had been a disaster. His wife's cousin had been killed together with much of his force. To make matters worse, he hadn't been the only important casualty. Alaric's heir had been slain, as well as most of the landholders of Northern descent in the Rosby and Hayford lands. This included two other cousins of his wife and some of their sons.
Martyn Cassel had narrowly escaped to Hayford together with Alaric's second son and some fifty riders. The rest of the army had been destroyed or scattered. The entire lower nobility was decimated.
To twist the knife in the wound, it hadn't stopped there. Afterwards, the enemy forces had stormed Sow's Horn. They had sacked the keep. In the process, they had killed Jon Slate and brutalized his family. His wife and daughters had been raped, before the whole family had been hung from their own walls. Seven of his eight children had found their end there with him. Only his third son had been saved through sheer luck, as he was serving Lady Hayford as a page and wasn't in his home.
Afterwards, the enemy army had attacked every village or farmhouse known to house Northerners or Old Gods believers in the area. Eight thousand people had been raped, murdered and tortured in the span of a few days. News still trickled in about the size of the slaughter.
Many knightly families of Northern descent were exterminated in the male line in that battle, whilst others were reduced to child rulers. On the Hayford lands one in three Northern families, peasant and noble alike, were ended, with both males and females butchered in the wake of the battle.
His army was furious, and it hungered for revenge. The massive killing of children was not something they ever condoned, and it had caused a moral shock among his forces. On top of that, there were also the personal aspects. Those Northern knightly families almost all descended from the great Northern families or their vassals. The Karstarks, Cerwyns, Slates, Dustins, Ryswells, Flints and Woolfields had lost family members. Two dozen lower Northern families had also lost kin.
After this, the mood among his men had changed. Suddenly, almost all his men had started calling this the war to ensure the existence of their religion and people south of the Neck. Not only his Northerners, but also the Blackwoods and all other native Old Gods believing Riverlanders, were saying this. Some were openly calling for him to march on Oldtown and destroy the Starry Sept to end the organized religion of the Seven.
He had been forced to stay in Raventree for another day to calm his men. Most of the troops here in Riverrun believed in the Seven. He could not have arrived there with his men shouting that they wanted to "drink the blood of every septon in the vicinity".
In the end, he had managed to calm them by promising them the heads of Lord Rollingford and all the other leaders of the enemy force at Sow's Horn, which were a mercenary leader and two of the Most Devout who had commanded contingents of the Faith Militant. He had also promised them that he would demand the head of the High Septon when the war was over.
Nevertheless, his commanders had forced him to call upon thousands of new soldiers from the North to strengthen their position. Ravens had flown and soon the North would once again begin to muster. He especially looked upon the most remote houses like the Umbers, Karstarks and Mormonts for these troops. Yet, all houses would be asked for additional forces. Even the Mountain Clans and the Skagosi were ordered to rally. In total, another eighteen to twenty thousand soldiers could be expected to arrive in three months' time.
That is why it fell so heavy for him to agree with Hoster's assessment that they couldn't send additional help to Blackwater Bay. He sighed.
"Aye, they are on their own for now. However, I have sent Rickard to deal with House Lolliston and my brother Rickon to help Lords Mooton and Darry to finish off House Terrick. That will help somewhat with the situation over there. From Raventree Hall, I have written to both of them to eradicate as many of the enemy bands in the area as they can. There is not much more that I can do for now."
"I thought something like that might be the case. How many men did you arrive with?" Lord Tully asked.
"Just over ten thousand. Rickon has two thousand with him and Rickard has four thousand. Lord Hornwood remains with another two thousand at the Twins." He replied.
"Is that smart? To divide your forces like that? If Elmar marches on Riverrun, he will outnumber us." Hoster countered.
"Aye, he would. However, a large part of his force consists of armed peasants, while the others are scattered groups of Westerlanders, Reachmen, Rivermen and mercenaries. He will have to spend a lot of time hammering it into a unified army, or risk total collapse in the moment of truth. Besides that, he seems to have sent at least fifteen hundred men to Lord Rollingford." He pointed out.
"Cooler heads like Lords Piper and Footly will rightly advise him to wait, train and regroup. If they don't and they march anyway, our scouts will see them and we either dig in here or we pull back to Fairmarket or Raventree and regroup there. We can easily push them back together from there."
"You would leave Riverrun to the enemy?" His cousin asked dismayed.
He waved the concern away. "Of course not, a very sizeable garrison would be installed that Elmar couldn't hope to storm. It would consist partly of Northern troops to make sure people don't turn their cloaks and surrender the keep. However, this is a last resort. It all depends on the scout reports and when my brother and son will return with their troops and the Eastern Riverlords."
This calmed his cousin down considerably. They talked some more about how the rebellion of Elmar had come to be. How all of them had focused on Oscar and forgotten about Elmar. They also talked about the Reach houses and their vindictiveness after losing much of their lands twenty-five years ago. It seemed that the next generation of the claimants had all gathered together in Highgarden and Tumbleton, waiting for their moment to strike. A moment that had now come because of Elmar's stupidity.
He had also gotten some new information. Apparently, Elmar had married Lord Footly's eldest daughter Elinor in order to gather this support. The girl was calling herself the Queen of Rivers and Hills and was travelling with her father and brother in the army. The hand of Highgarden could clearly be seen in all of this, although they had schemed well-enough to be able to wash their hands off it later.
"Where is your mother in all of this? I had expected her to be in the courtyard when I arrived." He finally asked.
A hurt look passed over Hoster Tully's face. "She has confined herself to her rooms."
He raised both his eyebrows. "Even if it means refusing her king?"
Hoster nodded. "Yes, apparently so. She hates me for marrying Celia off to Lord Ryger's heir Edmyn. She would probably run to Elmar if she could. I don't know how she doesn't understand that I needed allies close to Riverrun. If my brothers were to try anything, I needed forces that could muster quickly. Lord Ryger was an ideal candidate and he proved himself loyal. However, both he and Edmyn have died under the walls of Stoney Sept."
His cousin sighed. "I tried to do everything right. I don't know what went wrong. I married into House Mallister to secure the Northern Riverlands and get an important, well-respected ally and a large dowry. To further secure the northern areas, my sister married into House Paege and I kept myself on friendly terms with Houses Frey and Blackwood."
His cousin sighed. "I secured further support around Riverrun and in the Central Riverlands through Celia's marriage to House Ryger and by keeping good relations with House Goodwood."
He started pacing around the room. "I gave modest boons to Maidenpool and Duskendale to keep the Rykkers and Mootons firmly in my camp, hoping to secure the eastern trade. All the while, you helped secure the Eastern Riverlands with the betrothals of Bran's daughters to Houses Darry and Mooton."
"I even held the Goldroad Houses in the palm of my hands. I tried to get the Vances of Atranta on my side, and apparently, I had some success as none of their troops joined my brother, but it still seems like I failed as lord. I tried so hard, yet I failed and now the Riverlands are set aflame by zealots and rebellious lords everywhere. My allies are dying all around me and I can't even win against my brother's vanguard when it marches against my home."
He silently listened to Uncle Edmure's eldest son. He understood where the young man was coming from and he had to admit that he had tried hard, with good pre-war results. He simply had too much going against him.
He put a hand on the shoulder of the, on paper, second most powerful man in his kingdom. "Look, you aren't entirely to blame. It was my order that had you focus on Oscar, and I failed to watch Elmar sufficiently. Besides, you managed to keep the majority of the Riverlands away from your brothers. The support Elmar received from noble houses in the Riverlands is but a fraction of his troops. His only big ally is House Piper, and that was because of a decision of your father and me which made him foster there."
"Without the support of the Starry Sept and the houses in the Reach and Westerlands, this would be an easy rebellion for you to quell even without my help. That vanguard included battle hardened Westerlander mercenaries and your efforts to muster your troops were disrupted by all the zealots. None of that is your fault."
Hoster looked up at him in thanks. Ever since he had fostered in Winterfell as a boy with his son, he had forced himself to have a good relationship with the eldest Tully. He knew that Hoster looked up to him and that he would be able to count on him. In turn, the young lord could always expect his aid in return. He looked him calmly into his deep blue Tully eyes.
"The only worldly figures that you need to be accountable to are the two men in this room. The only opinion that matters is your own and mine. To me, you have not failed. The Riverlands have always been fractured from within and you did a recommendable job to try and keep it together. You couldn't possibly fight against the influence of the Starry Sept, especially with the rebels finding foreign aid on your southern and western borders."
"That is where I come in, and I am here. Together we will rid the Riverlands of these religious fanatics and opportunistic rebels. This rebellion can even be a boon in the long term." He added.
"How so, Your Grace?" The Lord of Riverrun asked him.
"The infighting between Oscar and Elmar has split the rebellious factions. The Brackens, both Vances, the Lychesters, … even the troops from Harrenhal aren't committed against you. It could be that this rebellion fired prematurely, as they didn't sufficiently win over the support of those houses." He explained.
"We can use this rebellion to stamp out all organized resistance against either mine or your rule bit by bit. First, we tackle those who support Elmar and diminish the power the Starry Sept has over the Riverlands. Afterwards, the others fall in line, or they face the consequences. By the end of this parts of the Riverlands will have burned, yes, but the remainder will be loyal you can be assured of that." He continued determinately.
His young cousin seemed to be shocked by the harshness of his tone but seemed to agree either way. "How will you deal with those groups?"
"I am still thinking of a plan on how to deal with the Starry Sept. Its reach in the Riverlands is way too large. It called for a 'Holy War' against all Old Gods Believers, yet of the seventy thousand Seven believers in and around White Harbor only two dozen heeded its call. Their heads now simply adorn its gates like those of ordinary brigands." He explained.
"In the Riverlands, it is completely different. Their influence is far greater. Tens of thousands heeded its call. Around fifteen thousand men rose up themselves, but behind those are tens of thousands of others who support them. Women and elderly, farmers and traders, … all feed and cloth the fighters so they can continue this insane uprising. Those numbers don't even include those that joined the Stars and Swords or the zealous knights who joined Elmar with their retinues. The power of the Starry Sept needs to be reduced, if not broken, if Houses Tully or Stark ever want to keep a decent hold over the lands. Certainly in the Riverlands, maybe even in the surrounding countries."
Hoster listened attentively to him. "The others are easier to deal with. All rebel lordly houses will be reduced in size. They will lose most of their lands, titles, wealth and prestige. Their sons will serve as hostages among loyal vassals. This will serve as a warning to others and greatly diminish their strength to make sure they can't do anything like this again."
"Knightly houses will face the same fate or will even be completely uprooted. There are too many who joined Elmar against their lords' wishes. Too many knights sworn to the Rosbys, Hayfords, Goodwoods, Parrels and Mennings and others took up arms against their liege lords. Getting rid of them will strengthen our loyal vassals, lower the risk of this happening ever again and offer us opportunities to reward loyal subjects after the war. Younger members of loyal families and exceptional warriors could then be granted lands for their service."
"No matter how big or small their noble family, all heads of the families that rose against me will be executed or sent to the Wall, without exceptions. Traitors can beg me for mercy for their families, but for themselves it is far too late." He ended resolutely. There would be no mercy for those that hunted believers of the Old Gods as a sport.
"That is very harsh." The head of House Tully remarked, although it didn't seem like he disagreed.
"They revolted against me to crown another king. They slaughtered tens of thousands of citizens under the pretext of their ancestry or religion on the orders of a foreign entity. This will not stand, and they will remember it for generations to come. You can be sure of that." He almost growled. The whole idea of it made him angry to his core.
"What will you do about those houses that remained neutral?" Uncle Edmure's oldest son asked him.
He sighed. "That is more difficult. I can't simply take away half their lands, as they are too many and too important for the region. It would destabilize the region for decades and brand me a tyrant in the eyes of much of the Riverlands. However, by refusing to heed my summons, they have committed treason, albeit to a lesser degree. They will have to face consequences for that."
Hoster seemed to agree with that. "Nevertheless, it could pose one big problem." He himself added.
"That being?" The Lord of Riverrun asked him.
"If the Tyrells or Lannisters rally against us, I will need the troops of those neutral houses even with the Northern reinforcements. Nevertheless, they will need to face some punishments. In any case, I would prepare for children to get fostered at Riverrun with your daughters. Many houses will need to send their sons and daughters to Riverrun, Winterfell and other loyal houses in the North and Riverlands. I will not suffer another rebellion like this."
In the end, Hoster easily agreed. His cousin even seemed to look forward to the moment when his rule would be unchallenged. He understood that. He looked forward to the moment when the Riverlands were calm and obedient as well.
This is all for this chapter!
Robb reaches Riverrun by way of Seaguard and Raventree, where he meets with those of their noble families left behind. Robb also meets some of his grandchildren and the new ruling Tully family for the first time.
Along the way he sees the destruction caused in the Riverlands and deals with scattered groups of zealots. He gets reinforced in Raventree, and takes decisive action to defend the Blackwoods, even if it could mean antagonizing the Brackens.
Robb has tried to come south as quickly as he could, but even then he comes only when the war is already underway. Two more battles are fought before he reaches Riverrun. One indecisive one beneath its walls which cost his side 1k men, another horrible disaster at Sow's Horn. (and an additional skirmish happened at Mossbridge)
Sow's Horn is turning into a psychological disaster for the Northmen and they all scream for vengeance. The anger and shock runs so deep that Robb will have difficulty keeping his men in line before they commit their own massacres …
The rest of the Northern armies will rally and in 3 months they will make it south as well. How will the other kingdoms react to such a buildup of forces on their border?
Thank you for your support.
Fannic
Reviews:
- Rebfan90: Thank you!
- George Cristian810: Robb's wrath for those that rose up in rebellion would indeed be great, as shown here. Robb will use this opportunity to cut down on those of dubious loyalty in all echelons of society. Those remaining neutral is more dubious. As you see here, one joins him through external pressures. Others might join him mid-conflict, or they could be important for the stability of a possible post-war scenario or against a possible Tyrell attack. Their fate will be shown later.
- OneDocToHealThemAll: Yes, the house is a mess. Robb will need to clean house here, although he is very lucky that Hoster turned out so loyal. (Or you could say it was progressive insight by fostering him with Rickard.)
- Force Smuggler: That is a good way to describe it haha!
- Scifiromance: Great! Yes, both Darry aan Mooton have their importance. It also allowed Bran some freedom to keep/make his own connections, instead of Robb just marrying his daughters off without his concern. That wouldn't be acceptable, I don't think.
I am really glad that you loved both of those. I very much enjoyed writing about them too. No matter the situation, I will always keep mentioning the small but exponential changes in the North.
You're welcome! Glad to have you on this journey.
- Supremus85: Nobody was expecting him. That is why he managed to pull this off. He might be very persuasive, … or his pockets might be lined with Tyrell gold. Oscar is in a very interesting position, but a very dangerous one as well. If he remains neutral, both brothers won't take it in kind when the war is over.
- Lady Frost: Thank you so much!
Interesting thought. However, the rebels expected Robb to gather the full might of the North with him. That's why the rebel vanguard tried to attack Riverrun. They wanted to defeat Hoster before Robb came south. They were wrong and retreated when Robb arrived. Their main force remains in Stoney Sept, which is way too far away from Riverrun to make that journey before Robb arrived in Riverrun from the Twins. Now, Robb has 18k troops around him in a dug in position and the rebels will gather more forces from around to confront them.
You see Robb's plans here. The actual execution you will have to wait and see. Although, I agree with your precipice that neutral houses should be punished, but much lighter to diminish resentment.
The names are pretty funny. Thank you for the suggestion. The Vale will be mentioned later. Thank you for the suggestions for the animal, as well! They are really interesting. I am still deliberating which way to go there. If you have an account, I would love to have a conversation about what path you would advise if you hear the options.
- Poly19hum: Thank you! You will get loads of action next chapter.
- Timdoe: Ik ben een Vlaming en mijn moedertaal is Nederlands. Bedankt, ik apprecieer de positieve feedback enorm! Ja, de regio is een groot probleem. Het valt nog te bezien of de regio rust krijgt met de Lannisters en Tyrells die aan het mobiliseren zijn ... Meer daarover later.
- GregtheGregor: Thank you so much! Yes, the war will be somewhat similar, but also very different. All daughters got dire wolves. In the begin of this chapter Sarra's direwolf is briefly mentioned to make that point clear.
Guest1: Yeah, but historically speaking that is quite realistic. As you can see the Riverlands are a complete mess. The Riverlands are chaotic and divided and many, many people are dying. The southwestern Riverlands have been sacked. In the Central Riverlands at least 100k people have died in raids and in Blackwater Bay it is much of the same.
- Guest2: Thank you! I won't spoil any deaths yet. Daryn Hornwood would be dark though, thanks for the idea! ;-) The Westerlands and Reach depend solely on how their kings and houses will react to possible losses etc. Jon did a lot for Robb. He is now one of his main lords but forever remains his brother.
You'll have to wait and see.