Chapter 35

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***

Damian Blackheart.

It had been ten days since the Battle of Black Castle. Now the second in a row, only this one was on the south side of the Wall.

Four thousand men have been captured, the rest have either died or escaped. But after the battle there were a lot of people who wanted to wear black, and most of them were Dreadforts, they saw the death of Ramsay and "his boys" and thought they were next, so almost two hundred Dreadforts right outside the Wall were shouting about wanting to wear black. I wasn't thinking of cutting all the Dreadfortians or making them Blood Eagles, but if they wanted to do it, so be it, the rest of them decided to just be prisoners. And we didn't touch them. But besides the Dreadfort boys, nearly a hundred and fifty Highlanders, Karstark and Amber men, joined the Watch. We did not hinder them either. These men, having become brothers of the Night's Watch, would be no threat to us even if we stood side by side, for for the most part we have nothing to share, plus we are guests of the Night's Watch, and to kill, maim or threaten guests is mauvais by local standards.

We settled the captives in some fortresses of the Watch, their temporary camp, and the bulk of the nobles and some of the simpler captives in the Karstark abode - Karhold, which we took without resistance. There were few men there, and their only mistress (so far) was with us and urged us to open the gates, and they obeyed, only surrendering their weapons. There were only fifty warriors and a small militia of three dozen peasants left.

Thanks to Carhold, we had additional ships, on which we loaded all the civilians and even an additional five hundred men when the fleet from the south, which had returned from another voyage to relocate wildlings to the south, arrived.

Besides, even before Carhold was taken, I couldn't miss the Ambers' castle of Last Hearth. They were hornswoggled and wouldn't open the gates. Mors Amber told me to fuck off. I remember that in canon, Hoser Amber swore an oath to the Boltons, even though Robb and one of the Amber's was killed and another captured by the Freys. But here we also had a prisoner from among them, but still my bloody fame and having a living suzerain and head of house probably played a part.

There were three thousand men at the Last Hearth, led by Loras Tyrell. I had two and a half thousand men left in Carhold, with two more on the Wall. This hodgepodge of my men, mercenaries, other lords and wildlings was augmented only by four hundred unicorn riders, plus a hundred and fifty foot soldiers from the glorious Isle of Skagos, Lords Stein, Crowl and Magnar brought their men to swear oaths to me, and joined the general army. They gave me the idea, which had already been floating around in my mind since the second battle of Castle Black, of taking the Dreadfort.

After questioning Ramsay's captive underlings who survived the battle, they divulged that when they left the Dreadfort there were two hundred men left, and that they could roughly recruit three or four hundred more from the castle men and villages. So it is quite possible for me to take the Boltons' lands with my forces. Besides, Ruse Bolton is a very clever, charismatic and ambitious man. It is possible to negotiate with him, but this is "Northern Tywin", so I call him to myself, although I heard the same phrase from Gerda in his time and from John, only in the performance of Gerda was the prefix "fucking" ....

So I decided to work out a plan to take over Dreadfort and give these lands and the castle to Magnar and his vassals, they are much better than what they have. And they hinted at it, and I took the hint and told them that I could use some northerners there who were loyal to the crown. So these guys are 100% mine.

I waited for a while and sent out ravens across the North calling on them to swear an oath to Shireen (how many times I've done it from different parts of this country, I don't know), and also called on the captured northerners to do it. But there were no volunteers from among them yet. But I was in no hurry.

As time went on, I thought a lot, especially about what Robb Stark will do when he finds out I've defeated his vassals and taken Carhold and my men are not that far from Winterfell. The matter of taking the Last Hearth, you might say, is already settled, it just might be delayed for a while.

The new packet I got from Rex told me Tywin was busy with his lands and Robb Stark's rampage. He'd already taken a third of the West. Another fifth or so was controlled by the Ironborn, who were at war with both the North and the Riverlands. By the way, all part of the canon had passed through here as well. Talisa Maegyr is still listed in Robb's retinue as his "physician." That's what our spies report, and it also seems that he managed to pick a fight with the Freys and they led a four thousand man army back to the Riverlands. And there's speculation that there was a secret wedding between Robb and Talisa. So perhaps we can expect Bolton's betrayal soon. I warned my father several times, and even with the last convoy I gave him a message not to "break the old commandments of our ancestors" and generally ignore him as my suzerain, which he does with pleasure and great success, and also asked him to keep a close eye on the situation.

The Valley was quiet, with only a couple of dozen knights and squires arriving from there to Selisa and Shireen's court. Selisa without Mellisandra is a bit raging, but she manages to keep her more or less in check. So I decided to send Mellisandra to Dragonstone for additional control, because I've noticed that she's been hanging around our Azor Ahai a lot lately.

On the morning of the eleventh day after the second battle of Castle Black, I sat in the courtyard and watched Ygritte and a couple of my archers compete in archery, crossbow, and even knife throwing. John was here as well, only looking at it all with a smile and devouring the figure of the red-haired girl with his eyes more. He assured me that for him she had already become his favourite woman, but he would marry a noble maiden for the good of the state and for the support of some region. And there could be as many as four such options.

The first is of course Margaery, which is probably the most preferable option, because if he gets her in his bed and all the army and wealth of the Prostor on our side.

The second is Arianna. It's more difficult, but still possible. Thirty or so thousand Dorne warriors would be just as useful to us. And it is unlikely that after Arianna and Jon's marriage they will marry Quentin to Daenerys, who is supposedly infertile.

The third option is, oddly enough, Asha Greyjoy. If you get Theon out of her way, which is not difficult at all, he can remove himself, then Baelon, it is also feasible and Euron, the throne is hers. Victarion, though a man of stern nobility, is loyal to his blood and even seems to love his niece. Baelon sees her as his heir, and the fact that there have been no female queens among their people before is no big deal. Not all ironborn are obsessed with it, and certainly not all of them want the Old Laws back. It's in their DNA to rob, rape, and burn, but they have brains. And to make Asha Greyjoy a legitimate queen of the Seven Kingdoms, the wife of Targaryen, a hero, handsome and so on, then everything is very well according to their concepts. They bowed down to the Targaryens and to them they are still honourable people, not "lords from the green lands". The Targaryens also lived on the island, flew on dragons, and went through all the kingdoms with blood and flames and took the Iron Islands with "iron price". So things are shaping up pretty well here.

And the fourth could be the daughter of the Guardian of the East. Lysa Arryn and her little boy should definitely die and I'm already thinking about doing it, Rex is thinking about it too, he and I discussed it when we were in Mourningtown. The most likely candidate for Guardian is Bronze John Royce, and he's got three sons and a daughter who married Redforth and a couple of daughters to marry. So if he becomes a Guardian and his daughter marries King Jon Targaryen, or Aegon, whichever name he keeps, we'll have the Vale to ourselves.

I don't see the point in looking for brides for him in the West, Stormlands or Riverlands. The Stormlands are ours, the Westlands we'll have to break and put our man there, and the Riverlands will serve if my father Walder Frey is High Lord there, he's related to everyone through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on, has wits, riches and four thousand swords. There was a thought of putting the Brackens in there, because I was overly afraid of the Freys' strengthening and the other lords' discontent, but after some reasoning I decided this night to make Walder Frey High Lord, giving the Freys all the Tully lands in their possession. And in turn, the Blackwoods, who were mostly in Robb's army, will have to cease to exist and their lands will fall completely under the Brackens. Perhaps Lord Bracken will marry his daughter to Varyk after that, for he is Lord of Harrenhal and everything will be fine there.

Perhaps he should. I should write a message to my father and Varick to coordinate their actions and subjugate the Riverlands completely. Then we can move some of our troops there to raid the West and the Kingslands, forcing Tywin to send his troops back and forth until I arrive....

- Lord Hand! - A guard came running towards me. - A small group of riders appeared at the gate, carrying the banners of the Starks, Reeds, Servins, and Forresters.

- Is that so? - I smiled. - Who's leading them? Are there children among them? - Theon decided to visit the place where he grew up with his "loyal companions"? - How many people in total?

- Three dozen, among them only two teenage girls, the rest are men. - reported the guard. - And it was Lord Howland Reed who spoke to the commander.

That's funny.

- Right, I'll be right there. - my smile grew even wider.

About twenty minutes later I rode outside the castle walls accompanied by Jon, Gentry, Mendon Moore, Berrik, Asgen, Daren, Tormund, Vel and five other knights.

Jon and I did recognise the Starks in two of the girls, the black-haired girl Arya, and the red-haired, pale-skinned and blue-eyed, slightly older Sansa in places. By the looks of the girls, they are happy to see Jon.

- Lord Howland Reed, if I'm not mistaken? - I turned to a man with brown eyes and brown hair that only seemed to be touched with grey. - I didn't expect to see you so soon. Lady Sansa, Lady Arya, my respects.

Reed remained a silent observer for a moment, his attention focused on Jon's gaze, then sighed and spoke:

- You and I have not yet met in person Lord Blackheart. Though I have seen you before.

- Let me guess in your visions? - He nodded.

- You are not surprised.

- It's hard to surprise me with anything. And magic is not new to me, it exists, no matter what anyone says.

- I suppose your wanderings in different lands have given rise to these thoughts? - he asked.

- It did. Though I have not lived your term, I know something and I know how to do it.

- It is noticeable. You were once just another bastard of Walder Frey, but now you are a lord with your own lands, an army, power and influence as Queen Shiren's retainer, a Lord Hand, a successful commander and an excellent warrior. Have you taken the Last Hearth yet?

- We will any day now. - I answered honestly, there was no point in hiding it.

There was a brief silence.

- I see." He closed his eyes and passed the word to Sansa.

- Lord Blackheart. We are here to negotiate, and as the senior representative of House Stark here, I have the honour of leading this mission.

- Is that so? Negotiations are good. I just have one question. Where's Brandon Stark? He's in the North as the eldest of the family, if I'm not mistaken, why little Rickon isn't here, I understand, but it would be possible to make a saddle for Lord Brandon. - I remarked in "surprise."

- Our brothers are dead! - Arya said, frowning and clutching the reins. Then she pulled herself together and, probably more for Jon than for me, explained the situation. - Theon had brought "backup" and taken Winterfell under the guise of allied help. No one expected him to do that. Ser Rodrik had already left by then to fight you, and there weren't enough men left in the castle to quell the treachery. Sansa and I escaped thanks to the loyal servants of our house, except that Rickon and Brandon were shot by arrows while chasing us. Rickon died instantly, shot in the back of the head. Brandon was in agony for a long time, until he died on the Isthmus, where Lord Reed found us. We stayed in the South for a while until we learnt of the defeat of the northern army at Castle Black. How many survived the battle?

- Four thousand captured, a quarter of the army escaped, a few hundred more wore black, and the rest died. - replied John, who clearly wanted to hug his sisters and comfort them, but the situation didn't allow it yet.

- I am sorry for the death of innocent children and the loss of your home, but I will still ask the burning question - why are you here? We are sort of at war with you, I have taken one of the main castles in the North and we are about to take the second. And soon we'll take the rest of the North.

- Catelyn's Moat, Winterfell, Flintfinger, Darkwood, and Torhen's Ward have been taken by the ironborn. - Reid shared. - The Dustins and Riswells are fending off attacks from Theon Greyjoy's kin in their own lands, but they're out of reach, and they don't have many forces there now. There's no point in going to Manderly. And the only one who can help us now is you.

- That's funny. - I couldn't help smiling, and neither could my companions. - Need I remind you again that we are at war with you?

- There is another war coming, a much larger and more dangerous one for all of us. And you've already partially begun to fight it. - he glanced at John. And he knows that I know what only he and Ned know. - Besides, we have suggestions we can discuss. Provided you find them unworkable and let us all go quietly.

- You have my word. I'll forget Robb Stark's demarche and you'll be guests in our castle tonight.

As soon as we entered Carhold and announced them as guests, several of our riders from Castle Black rode in after them. They were led by Emmon Q, whom I had left in charge of those who were there.

- Why are you here, Emmon? - I asked the Guardsman, with whom I had long since switched to "You."

- An important message from the south. I stopped by the Last Hearth personally, to tell Loras not to rush the assault, and then to you. Here! - and held out to me a message from Riverrun, addressed to me personally at Castle Black.

I opened it and perused the lines. I realised why he'd come to Loras first and then to me.

The thing was, the Red Wedding had happened. But to my relief, the Freys weren't there. Robb married Talisa Maegyr, a rich and noble woman from Volantis, and somehow managed to dishonour two noblewomen at once, Alice Lefford herself, the daughter of Lord Lefford, master of the Golden Tooth, who is our prisoner, and his daughter is a prisoner of the Northmen!

It was the latter that impressed me. I underestimated his stupidity and lust. He was raised oddly and selectively by Ned Stark and Catelyn Tully. He's probably the dumbest Stark that ever lived. Only Sansa is dumber, but she's a wench who's never looked further than women's novels, that's all. And this one had wise teachers, and part of the world he'd seen, and good counsellors, and even became a great commander, not to mention his military achievements, and to be so stupid....

Rex also asked me why I dislike most Starks so much. They're dumb as corks...

Of the Stark family, I only like Arya and Jon, Sansa too, but purely for eye candy and cock, that's all. The only use of her is that she can, when necessary, spread her legs and give birth to a child after a favourable marriage, that's all.

But I digress. In addition to Lefford and her men, Ruse Bolton and his men took part in a new massacre that is no longer quite canon. Afterwards, "King Joffrey" gave him amnesty and even made him Guardian of the North. I doubt he has the strength to keep such a region under control. Although... I think I'm beginning to understand Ramsay's arrogance and overreaching. Perhaps Ruse has privy to some of his son's policies and treaties with the Lannisters and Bolton thought that at the time of his betrayal I would be defeated and Winterfell taken over by Ramsay. Both of Catelyn Stark's daughters would be in their hands and they would even have the opportunity to choose from Sansa and Arya the best candidate to marry Ramsay Bolton(Snow). Why? It all fits. I may be wrong on some points, but it explains a lot.....

In addition to Robb, according to the data I was sent, Catelyn Stark died there, as well as Catelyn Stark, the two Amber that were in Robb's retinue, Mage Mormont, Wendell Manderly, Rickard Karstark, Brinden Tully, Titus Blackwood and four of his sons, and a dozen smaller lords, not counting the nearly a thousand people killed. The rest, thanks to Daisy Mormont and Harrion Karstark, were able to escape to the Riverlands, moreover they gathered all the truly loyal Stark northerners and went to Sigard, took it from the ironborn and even captured part of their fleet, so we can expect them to visit the North soon.

As for Riverrun itself, it was captured by Varick, Lord Bracken and my old father's men, shortly before what happened at the Golden Tooth. Edmar Tully died in the assault, and now no one of House Tully is alive. So it looks like I can safely appoint my dad as High Lord of the Riverlands, and the Brackens can safely hand over the Blackwood lands. Give them another fortnight and they'll have the Riverlands fully subjugated, and the region will be ours.

Now I have to decide what to do about the Starks that have suddenly fallen on my head and what to do about the business that's been piling up here.

When Loras heard what had happened, he summoned Morse of Amber and told him. He took two days to think over the situation, and after that he will either surrender the fortress and swear an oath to Shireen, or continue the fight. Although I think he will surrender the fortress.

So far, the circumstances are still looking good for us. But it's bad enough that Robb's dead before his time and Tywin's upbeat. All he has to do is beat the ironborn out of the West, but he can leave his son Daven Lannister and his brother Kivan to do it. And he can go to the Riverlands with Marbranth, Crakehall and some other important warlords. He is unlikely to touch the Stormlands, there are many wise commanders and strong troops there, and the Riverlands are still in a bit of confusion and instability after the change of the High Lord and Robb's death.

I wonder what Varys and Littlefinger will do. As far as I know Joffrey is alive and yelling at the "traitors". The Vale is quiet, but I think it won't be for long.

- Thank you, Emmund, for that information. Get some rest from the road, you must be tired. We'll talk to the Northmen and then I'll go with you to deliver the message to Loras, and you and your men will probably have a few things to do.

- Understood. - Q nodded tiredly but gratefully and followed the servants.

I went to the donjon, where John was entertaining the Northmen with conversation. I gave them a couple of minutes for a warm conversation, and then I got my thoughts together, made a rough plan of negotiations, and only then went inside.

The servants who were carrying away the ritual bread and salt slipped in beside me. Now both we and they are protected from "maliciousness".

At the long "U-shaped" table sat not only the arriving northerners, but also the captive lords and knights who were with us, after all, it was lunchtime, and we were eating together with the noble prisoners. A gesture of goodwill and respect. On the left side were all the Northmen, on the right side were my men, and upstairs I sat with my inner circle, among whom John was also seated, though I think he would not mind sitting next to his sisters now.

Lunch was served and we began our gluttony. Still, I think we'd all be better off with a bit of refreshment before we start negotiating. And after I break the news of their brother and mother's death to them, I don't think the little ones will be able to eat a bite.

After a while we finished our meal, some of the lords and knights of the prisoners wanted to leave, because they knew that the negotiations would take place here, because there was more space here than in some office. But I stopped them:

- "Please don't go, sires and my lords. I think you should also be present at these negotiations, because in any case this conversation will be yours. And in a way, you will all be making a collective decision after all is said.

At that moment, a guard burst through the door:

- Lord Hand! There is a huge fleet on the horizon under our sails. Our men have identified some of the vessels as the Red Cat, the South Wind, and the Queen Reila's Tits. These are our ships that were stationed at Storm's Edge.

- What are they doing here? - Berrick asked. - They're supposed to be unloading people in the South right now. Was it really that much of a tailwind?

- I don't know. It's really weird, though. Well, let's ignore the oddity and get back to the negotiations.

- I dare speak for Lady Sansa and Lady Arya. - Reed has spoken. - As you realise, there is parity in our forces in the North. You have defeated a large army of Northerners, but they are not all Northerners who can hold arms and stand against you, and you have a limited number of swords. Besides, I'm sure word of Ser Rodrik's defeat has reached the South, and Robb Stark will leave command to a loyal and trusted commander, led by reinforcements from the Tullys and his guards.

- He will not. - I answered him and, observing the sceptical looks of the Northerners, relayed the message from Riverrun. - Sometimes men do foolish things out of love. Robb did. And paid for it.

- What is Lord Blackheart talking about, Lord Reed? - Sansa asked excitedly.

Reed finished reading the message and handed it to both Starks:

- 'Your brother is dead, as is your mother, uncle and great-uncle. The Northmen were betrayed at Robb Stark's wedding, by Roose Bolton. Robb married not Frey's daughter, but one Talisa Maegyr. In doing so he had dishonoured Alice Lefford shortly before and did not wish to marry her, she and her men were just as involved. Ruse was appointed Guardian of the North by Lannister decree. At that, Riverrun was taken by Frey forces and Lord Hand Blackheart's men, your uncle was killed. I think soon all of the Riverlands will be under the rule of Walder Frey and Lord Blackheart's men. In addition, many northern and river lords were killed: the Great and Little Johns of Ambera, Mage Mormont, Wendell Manderley, Rickard Karstark, Brinden Tully, Titos Blackwood and his four sons, and a dozen lesser lords, not counting the nearly a thousand killed. The rest, thanks to Daisy Mormont and Harrion Karstark, were able to escape to the Riverlands, rounding up all the truly loyal Northerners to the Starks, and departed for Sigard, beat it back from the ironborn and even captured some of their fleet, so they'll be back in the North soon.

- That's impossible! - Alice Karstark exclaimed in astonishment. - They have lost? All of them!

- As you can see lords, sires and ladies, you're on your own now. Robb Stark is dead! He won't come to your aid, and the forces that will return from the South won't even be enough to take back the West Bank from the ironborn, and with Catelyn's Moat and Winterfell just as occupied by the enemy, there's still us and the Lannisters out for your blood. As you can see you're in a rather... delicate situation. And yes Lady Sansa, Lady Arya, my condolences on the death of your loved ones. If you need time to recover before negotiating the future of the North, I'll give it to you.

The girls chewed snot and kept silent. Sansa did, and Arya clenched her fists and bit her lip.

Jon was just as stunned, by the way. Not because of the death of the Northmen or Lady Catelyn, but because of the death of his brother, because he loved Robb. But now he's dead.

Before anyone else could say another word, the last person I'd expected to be here, after Tywin Lannister, Daenerys Targaryen, and probably the Night King, flew into the hall. It was my brother Rex, only he was injured, his left arm hanging from a garter. He had a new scar across his left eye, like me, so you couldn't tell us apart from a distance, and he had a limp on his left leg.

- Rex, what happened and why--

- It's all gone to hell, Damian. - he interrupted me. - Shireen's dead! Littlefinger's probably behind it. - my heart skipped a beat. - Joffrey is also dead, and Tommen will be king. And a magpie on my tail brought me information that Myrcella is to be married to Robin Arryn, whose mother seems to be a Lannister sympathiser now. - that made it hard for me to breathe. - But that's not the worst of it! Princess Daenerys Targaryen's forces have landed in Sunspear, she has a small Khalasar, Lys and Volantis warriors on her side and she is marrying Quentin Martell. Dorne has entered the Game on the Targaryen side, with the Golden Swords landing on Angry Cape, I don't know what's up with Sorrowful City, no word from there. The lords of the Stormlands have begun to swear little by little to the so-called Aegon Targaryen, the surviving son of Rhaegar and Elia Martell. In doing so, some of the Golden Swords attacked and captured Dragonstone, which made me more scarred and less people.

- Fucking hell! - I shouted. How is that possible? Why didn't Intelligence report a fucking thing?! What have our relatives been doing all this time?!

- That's not the worst of it, brother. - Rex frowned and turned his gaze to John. - Jon Connington, who conducted the Dragonstone takeover, met with that bitch Millesandra and she told him that Jon is not really Ned Stark's bastard, but the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.....