Applying Pressure

A/N: Well, it pleases me to report that this story has officially entered a new Chyoa bracket now that it has reached a thread 50 chapters deep. Thank you all for reading and being interested enough in my branch to make this possible. Finally, please be aware that I edited the second part of the Interlude chapter by adding an additional scene near the end now that I have solidified some of my Skagosi plans some more. So, feel free to check it out if you want more content between now and the next chapter. Anyway, I hope you like this one.

A few hours after taking off on the wings of his Ice Dragon, Jon Stark was making quite a bit of progress in his campaign to liberate the Riverlands from the remaining forces of the Iron Throne. He had been flying at a slower pace and closer to the ground than to the clouds so as to better scout for Lannister-Frey loyalists due to their armor, banners, or sigils. And he did found a large group of soldiers making their way to the hill of High Heart. Frowning, Jon had his dragon let loose frost-flame upon them before they could reach the ancient hill of weirwood stumps; the place having been sacred to the Children of the Forest of old.

Afterward, he had headed towards the nearby castle known as Acorn Hall, the seat of House Smallwood. Another armed **** of Lannister soldiers that had headed in this direction was outside their walls with their weapons drawn in clearly threatening intent, probably trying to coerce the Smallwoods to open their gates to them. But Jon had been aware that they had been among the first to pledge their support if he decided to set out and protect them from above so when he saw the banners of House Stark raised atop their walls, the young king grinned fiercely but he wasn't surprised. The enemy soldiers sure were when he had blasted them apart with **** cold, however, and as he flew overhead the castle erupted in cheers he heard from the air.

When the new god had flown southwest in the direction of the Pinkmaiden, he found not one major concentration of soldiers in that direction but three scattered groups, the last one of which was full of knights and soldiers at horseback. By the time he made it to that mounted column, the Castle of House Piper was within sight, and the horses went frantic when he fired the next barrage of frost-flame, with half of them throwing back their rider and racing towards the castle without the extra weight. Those he did allow to go so that his new bannermen could get additional warhorses.

When he reached the walled town known as the Stoney sept, however, he discovered a Lannister Banner on the barracks and saw an awed-looking watchman from one of the towers pointing towards it, clearly trying to get his attention. Jon took the message to mean the bulk of the soldiers that had been oppressing the town were currently there and the raven exchange with Riverrun was conducted in secret. Pleased he would be able to minimize the damage to the town now that they had maneuvered most of his enemies to one place, Jon urged his mighty she-dragon to shatter the stone rooftop above their heads, spikes of ice descending upon the unfortunate soldiers like javelins.

By the time he had crossed the river to the east of the walled town, there were no more remnants of the large Lannister army in the surrounding area that he could spot from above. That said he was sure there would be more garrisons at Maidenpool, and Seagard to name a few places he had yet to travel to.

Which was why he had made a wish to become aware of the locations of more Lannister soldiers around the Riverlands before Sansa could communicate with him mentally. Shortly after he had oriented himself to their locations in a sort of mind map, he had started listening to his sister's current thoughts.

And he had informed her of what he was doing at the moment with his current campaign and of recent events.

Sansa listened to him mostly quiet, with only a few moments of expressed surprise echoing across the vast distance that separated them. When he finished catching her up, however, he practically felt her relief and pride.

"So, Robb legitimized you when he named you his heir," The redhead said, surely beaming with that mental tone of voice. "And now you are rallying the Riverlands to secure its independence from the Iron Throne. King Jon Stark," She said with a chuckle. "It suits you."

"That bit of legitimacy will certainly help us secure our rule over the North after the dark times of the past few years," Jon said in agreement. "Although I must say, it still feels a bit surreal."

Sansa snorted across their mental link. "More so than becoming a god?"

"Point taken," The young king admitted. "Regardless, it does feel good to officially gain the Stark name. I have been dreaming of that moment since I was a child."

"I can imagine," The Lady of Winterfell in exile responded. "And believe me, it's well earned so don't you dare second guess your worth now."

"Heh, very well, I won't," Jon replied with a smirk. "Although, you do know what this development means, right?"

"Enlighten me," The redhead urged him in amusement.

"It means that after we get married, then you would be my queen," The new god declared with affection in his tone. "What do you think of that?"

Sansa was quiet for a long moment after that, clearly thinking of the implications. Then she poured as much love as she could visualize in their mental link and let him feel it, making him gasp a bit at the sensations.

"Does that answer your question, my beloved brother?" The unseen asked of him.

Jon took a deep breath and nodded. "It really does, my wonderful sister."

They stayed silent for a moment there, just feeling each other's presence and thinking about the future. Before long, however, Jon asked how things were going on her end.

"Very well, actually," She assured him. "The 200 veterans from Riverrun already started patrolling the area around Ironrath, on the lookout for Ramsay's scouts or some other danger. Also, House Glenmore finally managed to join the fray and their own banners to House Forrester's seat about an hour ago, coming to support Rodrick and his wife, Elaena Glenmore, who had been trapped by the siege for most of the year. They simply lacked the manpower to break it by themselves and they also feared House Bolton's retribution if they interfered too much in the private conflict between the Forresters and the Whitehills. "

"But," The Lady of Winterfell in Exile went on,_ _"after news reached them of our victory and alliance, Lord Glenmore rushed to reinforce us and bring as much food and supplies as he could, which was much appreciated by the people of Ironrath that had been rationing for months. At this rate, I believe it's just a matter of time before Lord Glover arrives from the Deepwood Motte and discuss terms with us. We have become a **** to be reckoned with inside his own region and he can't ignore that through neutrality for much longer."

"Sounds excellent," Jon replied mentally._ _"That said, I am going to need you to do something to improve our odds even further."

"I am listening," Sansa thought out.

"Well, here is the thing," He began, "becoming King of not just the North but the Trident is going to extend my stay here in the Riverlands for at least a couple more days as I rid the territory from the Lannister troops that aren't fleeing to the Westerlands or King's Landing and then meet up with the regroup Riverlords under the command of Blackfish and Lord Edmure in order for them to formally pledge their banners and organize our military plans. "

"After that, however," He continued, "I am flying to the Neck so that I can enlist the aid of House Reed and also gather the other signed copies of Robb's will to secure my claim as his heir. But even then I am not returning to your army immediately because there are two more necessary stops on my way: White Harbor so that I can secure the aid of House Manderly and then a quick flight across the Narrow Sea so that I can pick up Arya at Braavos now that I will be close by from the northern port city."

"I see," Sansa said slowly. "All these plans make sense. And it will be good to reunite with Arya again. I will miss you in my bed in the coming days though," She pouted.

Jon sighed, understanding the feeling. "Me too. But needs must. Regardless, I am worried about being away from the army for too long now that we are starting to make Ramsay's forces bleed while growing in numbers. He may be **** to rally his loyalists and attack you at the Northern Wolfswood before I can return astride my dragon. So, I think now would be a good time to call on Littlefinger and make good on his promise to gather the Knights of the Vale for our cause. That would even the score until I return."

"Hmm, alright but I hope you understand Petyr Baelish's aid will not come for free," Sansa warned.

"You let me worry about that," Jon said reassuringly.

He suddenly felt her amusement and figured she just grinned. "As you command, King Jon."

The new god laughed at that so hard that his mighty she-dragon twisted her head in midair to take a better look at him. He petted her neck to calm her down and then focused on their mental link.

"That's going to take some getting used to, especially coming from you," He chuckled. "Anyway, I am approaching Maidenpool so I better pay attention to the location of the Lannister garrison. I love you, Sansa. Talk to you soon."

"I love you too, Jon. I hope you can return to me before long."

"I will try my best. Stay safe," He added, the cut off the link.

With that, he focused on the mental map from his wish, knowing exactly where the Lannister soldiers were. He sighed for a moment. he knew this was the easiest, fastest way to pacify his new kingdom south of the Neck but even after everything the Lannisters had put the Riverlands through, it still made him a bit uneasy to just blast them apart with frost-flame. It was hardly a fair fight, after all. But now he had a duty to protect his subjects and he couldn't do that easily with an enemy army scattered around their land.

"Still, I hope that my rule can eventually turn to a peaceful and prosperous one," He said to himself in a wistful tone.

And with that thought, he urged his dragon ahead, as she opened her maw yet again.

A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, feel free to leave a comment. And like I said above, there is an important edit in the second part of the Interlude chapter so you might want to check it out. Until next time guys and happy chapter 50! XD