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Chapter 60
General POV
Dorne
Dorne remains neutral and unmoved, uncaring of the chaos that seemingly engulfed the rest of the continent.
However, the Martell's had accepted Princess Myrcella Baratheon (Waters) into their midst, and after arriving alongside Ser Arys Oakhart of the Kingsguard, she was betrothed to Trystane Martell, the youngest son of Doran Martell.
Much outrage has been brought forth by many Dornish nobles, yet the princess seemingly gets on well with the Martells, befriending Princess Arianne and her betrothed quite easily, despite the blood feud shared between the two families.
Furthermore, Doran Martell held a tight grip on the reins of his kingdom, and as long as he deems it necessary to do so, Dorne shall not interfere in the wars of today.
The Stormlands
Following the pyrrhic victory of the Lannisters at Kingslanding, Stannis Baratheon has escaped back to his stronghold of Storm's End with his surviving 8 000 men, most of his ships has burned, taking away his greatest advantage of naval supremacy in the Narrow Sea.
However, while many of the houses of the narrow sea were forced to bend the knee to Joffrey Baratheon, many still were able to survive and remain loyal to Stannis, most prominently Lord Monford Velaryon.
This was mainly due to Tywin Lannister's lessened forces due to his losses, and the Reach's half-hearted support in terms of troops—trying to gain the maximum amount of leverage against the Lannisters.
This meant that even with their numerical and positional advantage, Stannis still managed to escape with enough forces to be uncontested in the Stormlands, and had ordered another fleet of ships to be built at the hands of Monford Velaryon, and charged Salladhor Saan with seizing ships of enemy fleets, adding their number to theirs.
Stannis also sent missive to all Stormlander Houses, the majority of which declared neutrality after Renly's death, that any who joined his cause would be awarded lands from those who didn't.
Many agreed to his demands, including the Buckwells, Grandisons, Mertyns, and Morrigen, with many more, mostly comprised of the smallest ambitious houses, joining his cause. After which his forces increased from 8 000 men to 12 000, which are to be used to pacify the rest of the Stormlands under his rule.
The Iron Islands
The death of Victarion Greyjoy— after he drowned himself from sorrow at the loss of his leg to Daven 'Lion's Mane' Lannister, and that of Theon Greyjoy at the preceding battle of Lannisport, left the iron Islands with the bulk of their fleet intact, yet high casualties in terms of manpower.
Subsequent to his losses, Balon Greyjoy had no choice but to name his daughter Asha Greyjoy as commander of the Iron Fleet. More importantly, due to his plan's utter failure, and the fact that his daughter was credited with both the conquest of Faircastle and the naval victory against the Lannister fleet, Asha Greyjoy had increasingly higher authority with the reavers of the islands.
Using said authority, she enforced her plan within the Iron Fleet, and sent back roughly half of the remaining ships back to Lordsport with skeleton crews, to recuperate and refill their numbers, while she separated the rest into smaller flotillas of five to ten ships, crewed by their best and toughest, and charged them with scattering through the Westerlands' shores, raiding alongside the coast and seizing all possible riches.
Her reavers were ordered to never besiege a castle, but to provoke the lords and garrisons within the enemy castles, and use ambush tactics to slowly sap them of their strength.
The goal is to create enough outrage to provoke enemy lords, as their largest force—currently occupying Lannisport, will not be able to send reinforcement due to the threat of the remaining fleet remaining in the Iron Islands.
The Westerlands
The victory against the Ironborn brought much revelry to the people of the kingdom, making Daven Lannister a household name within the region.
However, the recent changes brought forth by Asha Greyjoy were a problem that cannot simply be fought through their larger numbers, which proved to be quite a headache to Daven Lannister, who found that he could do nothing in face of the Ironborn reavers as he feared another attack by sea.
A solution quickly came, with news arriving of Joffrey Baratheon's (Waters) betrothal to Margaery Tyrell. Daven Lannister sent missives to the capital, requesting aid from the Reach, and most importantly, for the Redwyne fleet to offer their services in ferrying their men to the Iron Islands.
The idea was that if they attack the Iron Islands, then the Ironborn at their shores would have no choice but to sally back to defend their lands.
No response came back from Kingslanding though, so the Lannister forces are forced to garrison still at Lannisport with their hands tied.
The Reach
With 30 000 men sent to the Crownlands to relieve Kingslanding, the Reach is still left with a whopping capacity of 70 000 men to be raised, the majority of which is scattered across the kingdom, as the rest of the lords remaining went back to their castles alongside their men.
The Kingdom itself has known no war, and many of its lords chafing at the bit at the prospect of glory, with many raising their voices, wishing to wage war against any that would taste their steel.
Yet, with Lady Olenna wishing to dither until her granddaughter is queen, she has urged her son to send orders to desist to many of those lords.
In other news, the first consignment of support was seen leaving Highgarden through baggage train traversing the Roseroad, heading for Kingslanding.
The Crownlands
The people of Kingslanding are overjoyed at the prospect of their future queen, who personally manned soup kitchens throughout the city, and was credited with the end of their hunger.
The lords of the crownlands, such as Rosby and Stokeworth, secretly bemoan the decision, seeing the new union as a threat to the city's dependance on their supply of food.
The Lannisters too, seem almost grudging in their acceptance of the marriage. Queen Cersei Lannister was reportedly heard insulting her new son's betrothed, and rumors mysteriously started propagating about her spoiled purity at the hand of Renly, which ironically oppose equally pertinent ones about his queer relationship with Loras Tyrell, Margaery's brother.
On another note, Tyrion Lannister was named Master of Coin, despite his famed argument with his father, and has seemingly used Ser Bronn of the Blackwater's knowledge of the gold cloaks to renew connections previously held by one Petyr Baelish, who has since absconded to the Vale.
It is said that barely a week after getting into his new position, the Imp has—with the help of one Varys, uncovered a long string of corruption orchestrated by his predecessor, and while he had yet to conclude its depth, it certainly allowed him to seize any businesses owned by Petyr Baelish including his famed brothels, under management by the crown, and therefore himself.
Politics aside, the situation is tense, as many enemies of the crown remain, Stannis Baratheon, Balon Greyjoy, and most importantly, Robb Stark, hold great strength still, and still pose a significant threat to the Lannisters.
Yet the Tyrells seem to be taking their time, putting off the marriage as much as possible—much to the chagrin of Tywin Lannister, and aiming to secure as many concessions as possible beforehand.
Meanwhile, their enemies recuperate and grow stronger.
The Vale
Lord Wyman Manderly does not remain at Gulltown for long, yet his ships are seen visiting frequently in the city's ports, and his silver gathers more influence by the day.
Meanwhile, Lysa Tully has held Lord Yohn Royce at the sky cells following his criticism of her inaction through the war, and shortly after Lord Nestor Royce, the High Steward of the Vale at Jon Arryn's behest, becomes his cell mate due to suspicions of being complicit.
Ser Lyn Corbray is named High Steward in his stead.
News of Petyr Baelish's imminent arrival reach the Eyrie, much to Lysa Arryn's jubilation, who calls for wedding preparations.
Many of the lords of the Vale, previously suitors to the widowed regent, are outraged by her declaration. As Baelish is only seen as a copper counter, and a lord of the Vale only technically.
Yet many fear sharing the same fate as Yohn Royce or death at Lyn's blade, and no complaints are voiced outwardly. However, they certainly fester, and an unofficial alliance between the houses Royce, Corbray, Templeton, Redfort, Waynwood, Hunter, and Belmore is formed to oppose the ruling Arryns.
The Houses of Gulltown are pushed more toward neutrality as greed for northern trade pushes them away from Baelish's grasp.
The North
The North, despite technically being in active war, instead shows a transformation centered more toward trade. As gold and silver plundered by the lords at war reach back home, it is spent toward their lands by urging of Robb Stark.
Many carpenters and engineers are sent back to Winterfell to build lumber mills and hunting villages to increase their stock of lumber and furs, to be sent to White Harbor for trade.
The first surveyors finally finish their first look the mountains amidst the Wolfswood, and they have found considerable deposits of coal and iron, only for traces of silver to be sighted, urging another, deeper inspection.
Efforts to harvest the newly discovered deposits began under the supervision of Westernlander professionals, while the mountain clans, content with the pay for 'renting' their mountains, grew almost protective of the workers.
However, such endeavors are expected to take years if not decades, mainly due to the lack of investment and manpower.
The Riverlands
All men within leagues saw the pillar of light surging toward the sky, and many more heard the tremors as the ground itself moved to restore the most cursed fortress in the lands.
News of Robb Stark's fantastical feat, the re-emergence of the Green Men, and his crowning reached the ears of any man who could hear. In the midst of mass confusion, Robb Stark and his new retinue sought the sickbeds, and it is said that he had the powers of light, capable of healing the sick and injured with a touch.
Word of mouth quickly spread, and quickly enough, the septons with Eustace at their head, declared him champion of men, andal or other, as dictated by all the gods, old and new.
Public perception went to the roof, and Robb Stark, now King, held an almost mythical perception in the Riverlands, previously known as their savior, now he is a hero of legend, here to unite the realm.
Refugee count increased dramatically, and the previously named Harrentown was quickly overfilling to the seams. The initial number of 30 000 refugees, a mix of what survived off of Harrenhall and what came with the army, quickly grew to a whopping 60 000.
Stevron Frey, at Robb Stark's behest, established a communal resting space within the repaired castle for the women and children, since many ruined halls and rooms were now good for use, until accommodations are built for the bulk of the refugees outside their walls.
The men were to sleep in groups inside military tents, where they would work on the farm, find a trade, or build houses. Any who had even the slightest knowledge of reading or knew their sums were recruited by Ser Stevron Frey in his army of helpers, who made sure to organize the work as seamlessly as possible, and were notably overworked due to the sheer size of refugees.
To that end, Robb Stark granted Septon Eustace the local sept, and allowed him to recruit as many septons as possible, as long as they support the efforts of Stevron Frey.
Religious tensions were surprisingly low, as Robb made no mention of any inclination toward the old or new gods, and the seven-pointed star made of weirwood atop his throne room made for a pointed sign toward his thoughts about the matter.
It helped that many of the Green Men were worshipped the Seven, with many fashioning wooden pendants of the seven pointed star, which alongside the preaches of Septon Eustace managed and Robb Stark's healing exploits killed any mention of dark magic in its crib.
But a King needs his council, and before he chooses one, Robb Stark had decided to hold a court session to judge all the hostages at his hand, most prominently amongst them being Jaime Lannister….