Strategy of Consolidation

The next day the newly crowned Jon Stark broke his fast with Lord Edmure and Blackfish. Maester Vyman was also with them in an advisory capacity should they ask for his input. When he finished his buttered bread, they finally picked up where they left off the previous night.

"Alright so, we are going to need to find a way to convince the other Lords of the North and the Riverlands that Robb's will was genuine," The young king said. "How many copies are there of the testament?"

"Here in Riverrun?" Asked Brynden Tully. "Just the one. It was delivered by Maege Mormont on her way to Greywater Watch."

The new god's eyes widened. "The She-bear of House Mormont is alive?! I thought she died at the Red Wedding! Her youngest daughter, Lyanna, certainly thinks so, given that she had to take over her family's seat."

"That was a bit of a misunderstanding from what we have been able to gather," Edmure responded. "It's true that Dacey Mormont and her middle sisters died at the Red Wedding but they also fought off part of the Frey betrayers before being brought down in a fire that erupted during the fighting. Their bodies ended up so burnt that they couldn't be certain if Maege Mormont was among them or not but after months of silence they assumed she was and gave her for dead."

Jon nodded slowly. "But we know better."

"Yes," Blackfish said simply. "Robb sent her to Greywater Watch in the Neck with many copies of his testament, which was in turn signed by several Northern and Riverlords at the time. The problem was, all of those other witnesses aside from my nephew Edmure and myself died at the Red Wedding. I imagine that once word reached Greywater Watch about the treachery at the Twins, they decided to lay low with the cause in shambles. But what exactly they have been up to since then, I am not certain. We hadn't had word from them in about a year."

"In that case, I need to fly to Greywater Watch, formally enlist the aid of House Reed and get the copies of the will so that no Northern Lord can claim ignorance as an excuse," The new king declared. "I don't intend to let Robb's legacy end because some Lords decided to remain neutral in my conflict with House Bolton when they could have made a difference."

"And you shouldn't," The Lord of Riverrun said in agreement. "However, if we may be so bold, my uncle and I spent some time discussing strategy last night and there were some recommendations we would like to offer that may very well strengthen your position."

Jon motioned for them to go on and the experienced veteran took over and showed him a map of the Riverlands on the table.

"Since the last few hours before dawn, we have received ravens from other besieged but consistently loyal Riverlords that wanted to know if it was true that an Ice Dragon and its rider joined our cause and crushed the Lannister siege by wiping out thousands of soldiers and scattering thousands more across the region," He explained. "I replied yes and took the liberty of mentioning that you were the rider, arriving from the North to avenge the Red Wedding. Ever since then, more and more ravens have arrived from all corners of the Riverlands with Lords from Seagard to Pinkmaiden to Maidenpool to Stoney Sept, all bowing to pledge their remaining banners and reorganize our forces at Riverrun if you take your mighty dragon on a flight across the Riverlands and reign down fury from the skies on the Lannister forces camped inside their respective territories."

Jon's eyes widened. "That would certainly turn the tide in our favor," He said slowly.

Then he paused, remembering there was a slight issue with the plan, based on the information that came to his mind when he used his powers to learn more about the abilities and limits of his dragon. "There is one thing you should know, however," He started. "From what I have gathered, Ice Dragons don't do that well in the weather of the Riverlands, even so close to winter. I noticed when I realized that the frost-flame she fired back in the Northern Wolfswood during the Siege of Ironrath was bigger than the streams she blasted away last night. I am convinced that I could go on a tour around the Riverlands scaring Lannisters men all the way to the Seven hells with some blasts of frost and by the mere sight of her alone but not for more than a couple of days if I want her to remain healthy, which I most definitely do," He said firmly. "Afterwards, I need to get her to rest a bit in the Northern weather. Hopefully on White Harbor, if all goes well so that I can get the support of House Manderly.

Blackfish and Edmure stared at each other for a long moment as they analyzed that piece of information, then turned back to their new king.

"Even with those limits, the Lannisters wouldn't know that, and we already inflicted a lot of panic on the bulk of their remaining army last night," The military commander insisted. "If we can press on the advantage across the Riverlands even for a couple of days, it would make a marked difference in taking back our territory from the Iron Throne. Most men will think twice before taking up arms against a faction that commands a dragon, after all. We must simply give them a little push."

Jon interlocked his fingers, considering. Taking this course of action will delay his return to the North for some time. Not just because he would be helping House Tully rally the Riverlands but because he had been planning to take off from White Harbor to Braavos so that he could pick up Arya, once he had enlisted the aid of House Manderly. All these moves could certainly strengthen his cause, but he didn't like the idea of being away from his main army or from Sansa for so long, especially with Ramsay probably getting news of the end of the Siege of Ironrath by now.

However, Robb named him his heir, and that meant the Riverlands were under his protection, so he had a duty to come to the aid of his vassals now that he had the means to. Once that was done they would be more eager to acknowledge the kingship he had inherited from his brother but after the disaster that was the Red Wedding, he needed to give the Riverlords and their bannermen hope again.

Still, if he did this, he needed to send Sansa some reinforcements soon, just in case. It was with that in mind that he made his decision.

"Very well, I will take flight through the Riverlands to liberate our towns and holdfasts from the Lannister-Frey forces," Jon said in agreement. "However, I still want to send some additional troops to join my army at Ironrath, in case Ramsay gets impatient and decides to send his army to attack them. So, here is what we are going to do: Blackfish, I want you to select half of your veteran soldiers and move them to Riverrun's Godswood after lunch today. Then, I will use my connection to the Weirdwood web to transport them to the Northern Wolfswood, within allied territory. Some food for my army would be good as well, especially considering that you had enough supplies at Riverrun to last your 400 soldiers about 2 years and that was before you looted the enemy camp bare. But I won't ask too much on that front because even with cutting your army in half, you will eventually receive more bannermen at Riverrun, so you will need your own provisions too."

"After I have shattered every Lannister camp on my route," He went on, "I want you to organize your banners and focus on defending the Riverlands until we can finish off the Boltons, which will be much easier once I can get the aid of House Manderly. Then, after I have distributed the copies of Robb's testament I will get during my stay at Greywater Watch, it will be easier to publicly legitimize my kingship over the North and the Trident, at which point I can return south and help you defend the Riverlands. Are we in agreement?"

The two of them glance at one another for a moment, then nodded. "In that case," Blackfish said, "You should probably have Brianne of Tarth join the battalion that will regroup with the bulk of your army. I am sure your sister will appreciate having such a strong and tall woman guarding her again, if what I have heard from her service is true."

"Oh, she made it here then?" Jon asked with a raised eyebrow. "Good. And you are right, it would be best to send her to Ironrath with the others."

He paused for a moment, then turned to Maester Vyman, determination in his gaze. "Please, inform every Lord that offered to pledge their banners in exchange for my aid that I will answer their pleas. And be sure to tell them that the North Remembers. In every way."

Vyman nodded. "It shall be done, King Jon Stark."