Pinkmaiden, the stronghold of House Piper, where the armies of the North and the Riverlands had been resting for over a week.
The castle was built on a hill, and in summer, the slopes were covered with various flowers and plants. A tributary of the Red Fork flowed east, gradually converging into a blue lake, reflecting the bright stars at night, with fish swimming within it.
Suddenly, a gleaming longsword plunged into the water, blood bloomed, and a trout weighing at least three pounds was impaled on the blade.
Eddard grabbed the fish by the gills, put away his weapon, cleaned the fish by the lake with a dagger, then turned back to the bonfire, skewered it on a stick, and began to roast it.
"You should let the servants do such things. Why do you need to do it yourself?"
Robb Stark, holding a glass of white wine, sat by the bonfire, a rare look of contentment on his face. Grey Wind squatted beside the King, panting with his tongue out, looking like a large wolfdog.
Since becoming King, he always went to bed the latest and woke up the earliest, busy from dawn till dusk.
He was either concerned about logistical issues or discussing battle plans with his vassals. Sometimes, he would even go out with Ser Brynden to scout the enemy.
Now that he had defeated Tywin, Robb Stark's reputation would surely be well-known throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Everyone who met the King was always cautious and obedient.
Even Roose Bolton, who had the most sinister mind, would lead his soldiers forward one after another at the King's command, without the slightest complaint.
He had also gathered nearly thirty thousand troops around him.
The excellent situation finally allowed Robb to relax his mind a little.
The hatred and responsibility weighing on his heart no longer felt as heavy as before.
"Robb, if possible, preparing your own food is also a good thing. It can calm me down and help me sort out thoughts from the tangled mess of events."
Eddard was far from as relaxed as Robb Stark. He kept flipping the roasted fish, watching the grease drip into the fire, and pondering the current situation.
After Tywin crossed the shallows, he galloped non-stop towards King's Landing. Robb sent Ser Brynden to pursue with light cavalry, but they failed to catch up and were instead ambushed, returning in disarray.
Do not pursue a desperate enemy, especially one who has prepared to flee.
Tywin successfully led half of his army out of the Riverlands, which greatly strengthened the defenses of the capital.
If Stannis wasn't foolish, then the Battle of Blackwater River probably wouldn't happen anytime soon.
Originally, he had twenty-five thousand against a few thousand, but now it was twenty-five thousand against over ten thousand, and the opponent also had the advantage of city walls, so it was probably unwinnable.
For Eddard, this was actually good news.
Meanwhile, at Golden Tooth, Davos Lannister had gathered about five thousand soldiers and began constructing siege engines, attempting to reclaim the gateway to the Westerlands and atone for his previous foolishness.
However, the opponent would find it difficult to succeed. Robb had stationed a thousand infantry and a thousand archers in the city, commanded by the Earl of Deepwood Motte, and could provide more support at any time.
They wouldn't be able to retake Golden Tooth.
The situation seemed to have stabilized, but this game of thrones would soon claim its first victim.
Renly Baratheon was dying, or perhaps already dead; the news was still on its way.
"Is that so? Then I'll give it a try too."
Robb rolled up his trousers and, after walking to the lake, also drew his longsword, trying to spear a lake fish like Eddard, but unfortunately, he caught nothing amidst the splashing water.
Grey Wind, however, leaped into the water and, with a few dog paddles, retrieved a huge trout.
Robb tried for a long time but could only give up.
By this time, the fish was roasted, and after sprinkling spices, it smelled delicious. Eddard gave half to the King, and Robb took it unceremoniously, taking a bite and mumbling, "Eddard, you've changed so much from before."
"Robb, after experiencing all this, who wouldn't change? You are completely different from before."
Eddard's single sentence made the atmosphere heavy. The two ate their fish in silence.
"Your Majesty!" "Lord Eddard!"
Mark Piper, the heir to Pinkmaiden, burst in, looking panicked. He held a piece of paper in his hand and shouted before even getting close, "Your Majesty, Renly is dead! Renly Baratheon was killed by Stannis at Storm's End!!"
He had even proposed an alliance with Renly Baratheon in Riverrun, never expecting him to die just like that!!
Robb Stark didn't even have time to wipe the grease from his mouth. He stood up and blurted out, "Is my mother alright?"
Lady Catelyn had gone to Bitterbridge in the Reach earlier to seek Renly as an ally, and now she was probably at Storm's End.
"She should be fine. This news was sent by raven, arranged by the Lady herself."
"That's good then."
Robb finally felt relieved.
At this moment, Eddard seemed to suddenly think of something. He rose and approached the King, asking in a low voice, "Your Majesty, if I were to now suggest that you break your engagement with House Frey and marry Margaery Tyrell of Highgarden in the Reach, would you be willing to accept?"
"Why would I do that?"
Robb Stark was first surprised, then showed a puzzled expression. However, Mark Piper, who stood by, began to ponder, then said eagerly, "Your Majesty, if you successfully marry Margaery, then the forces of the Reach will stand with us."
"With the support of the Riverlands, the North, and the Reach, even if you wish to sit on the Iron Throne, it would be possible!!"
Eddard nodded from the side and said, "Yes, Lady Lysa is your blood relative. Although she has not sent the Knights of the Vale to support us, she will certainly not raise arms against us."
"Martell remains neutral for now, having not publicly chosen to support any side."
"Stannis only has the Stormlands, and not even all of it. He killed his own kin, and it will likely take him a long time to cultivate the loyalty of his territorial vassals."
"And Tywin, he is already your defeated foe. If you marry Margaery, then this war can end immediately, and you will become the master of the Iron Throne."
Faced with a shortcut that could immediately end the war, Eddard couldn't help but launch into a lengthy discourse.
If there was no more war, he could return to Golden Tooth and slowly mine gold, then live the life of a lord, and find himself a beautiful wife from a prominent family.
The Hightower Family is quite good, he heard that Baelor Hightower, the heir of Oldtown, has a good daughter who is not yet betrothed.
And Oldtown is much richer than Highgarden; it even has its own Commander of the fleet.
After stabilizing, he could then use his golden touch to gather a strong and loyal group of subordinates, slowly devour the territory of the Westerlands, and kill Lannister. Isn't this better than inheriting that poor place, Karhold?
As for whether House Tyrell would choose the North, Eddard wasn't worried at all.
They just wanted to stand on the side of the victor and have Margaery become Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Now, Renly was dead, Tywin was trapped in King's Landing with ten thousand remnants, Stannis already had a wife, Robert Arryn hadn't been weaned yet, and the Martell family was not even considered.
By all accounts, Robb, the King of the North, was currently the most dazzling young man in the Seven Kingdoms: a good fighter, well-connected, powerful, very young, and a genuinely good person.
At the very least, he was several tiers better than Joffrey, and there was no need to worry about being poisoned by the old Rose.
Unfortunately, his mind wasn't quite right, and he was too stubborn.
"No! I will never break my engagement with House Frey simply to gain a powerful ally. This goes against my father's teachings and the principles I have always lived by."
Robb shook his head firmly, looking at Eddard and asking, "Can't my uncle do it?"
Eddard, with a helpless expression, said, "Although this might sound too hurtful, Edmure Tully is neither a King nor does he have an undefeated reputation. House Tyrell will never choose a Trout as a son-in-law!!"
In fact, Eddard had already guessed this outcome before making the suggestion.
A person of Robb Stark's character would inevitably choose what was truer to his heart rather than what was more beneficial when faced with a choice.
In the original timeline, he would abandon the entire House Frey for some insignificant woman, naively wanting to compensate for the insult.
So now, he would never abandon Frey for House Tyrell.
It was his nature, and no one could change it.
Robb Stark pondered for a while, then smiled and said confidently, "Since even you say no, then forget it. Didn't we defeat Lannister without allies? Tywin, that old lion, fled so miserably before us, and even left his own brother to us."
Eddard gave up trying to persuade him. He had already analyzed the situation clearly enough, and saying it once was enough; repeating it would be futile if the other party wouldn't listen.
He reminded him gently, "Alright, Your Majesty, but I must remind you that the soldiers of House Tyrell are there. They will most likely not choose Stannis, so they will inevitably be swayed by the Iron Throne. At that time, we will be thirty thousand against sixty thousand."
Robb Stark waved his hand dismissively and said fearlessly, "It doesn't matter, let them come then. I have the most loyal vassals in the Seven Kingdoms, and the most valiant warriors in the Seven Kingdoms!"
As he spoke, he looked at Eddard, "And I have you and Ser Brynden to assist me. Now, if we can defeat them once, then we can certainly defeat them a second time in the future!!"
You are truly confident, young man!!
Looking at the King of the North, who was suddenly filled with heroic spirit, Eddard raised an eyebrow, then relaxed, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, since the situation has changed, our plan to attack King's Landing will also have to change."
"Indeed."
Robb's eyes sharpened, and he said with certainty, "If House Tyrell, as you said, ultimately falls into Lannister's embrace, then we might be attacked from two sides when we assault King's Landing."
"Send my command, call a meeting."
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