The Northern Situation

Sitting back against the tree, Jon pushed the stone down the length of his blade, sharpening its edge to a fine point. The magically forged weapon was sharp, even after constant battle, cutting through steel, flesh and bone, not a chip had formed nor had an edge become blunt.

Yet, even so, Jon found comfort in the act of running his whetstone down the length of the beautiful blade. It allowed him to clear his mind and think clearly about things to come.

The war was reaching its end, but despite that, Jon did not feel any closer to gaining victory. Only one obstacle stood in the way of their victory and yet, it would prove to be the most dangerous to overcome.

Since the conflicts between his forces, the Boltons and the Ironborn had come to ahead, Stannis had capitalised upon it. He had secured his position upon the Wall, occupying Castle Black, Shadow Tower and Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. From reports, he had also been building up Westwatch-by-the-Bridge, cutting off access to the Land Beyond the Walls to the North through the Gorge and the Bridge of Skulls.

He had also been rebuilding Icemark, which lay between Castle Black and Shadow Tower, securing his grip upon the western part of the wall. Also doing the same to Rimegate, securing his grip upon the east.

From what Sam had told him, progress upon Icemark and Rimegate was slow, Stannis having focused most of his resources upon rebuilding Westwatch-by-the-Bridge. But since it had been finished, he had split his manpower between Icemark and Rimegate. Neither had been fully finished, but they were at a level of fortification that would allow them to beat back defenders.

However, in most cases, Jon would not be worried about that, but the Wall wasn't like every other fortification in the world. Each of the forts lining the Wall had been designed to allow a few hundred defenders to beat back tens of thousands of attackers. Even if many of the defences were designed to combat those north of the Wall, the forts were still the best in Westeros, able to combat forces coming from the south with great efficiency. Even in the crumbled ruins, the foundation was still there that when built upon could still beat back forces numbering in the thousands.

But he had also taken the entirety of the Northern Mountains, a naturally defensible location with narrow and unsteady passageways which allowed a small number few at a time. But had also taken Last Hearth, they were sparsely defended from what he knew, nothing more than outposts that would let him no the movements of enemies, but he had formed a border that cut his main base of operations from the rest of Westeros.

Above all else, Stannis despite having much of his accomplishments based in naval warfare, beating the most accomplished and dangerous seafarers, the Ironborn in their own home, he had also proven himself as a capable defensive commander.

Even with the garrison of Storms End only numbering a few hundred, he managed to beat back a Reach host of tens of thousands that had besieged Storm's End. Even when they ran out of food, when every other Commander would have lost the loyalty of his men, he kept them fighting. They ate every animal in the castle, stories of cannibalism still spoke of to this day. Yet, Stannis kept his men fighting and beat back every attempt to take the city.

Stannis was one of the most capable defensive commanders and in control of the most well-defended and designed forts in Westeros. That was a dangerous combination, but even that didn't encapsulate the true scope of the problems they faced.

All this time, his men had been eating food, training hard turning the once farmers, carpenters and other conscripts into an elite fighting force. All the while, converting them to his strange religion, they turning into an army of fanatical warriors ready to die for their messiah and saviour.

Even if Jon was to push the Boltons and Ironborn out of the North, he would be matched man-to-man by Stannis' forces. Yet the quality of their soldiers would be disproportionate.

That was why Jon was waiting for Robb to come North to deal with Stannis, recognising that the only way to beat Stannis would be through numbers and experienced soldiers. Robb's men had been fighting down south, that experience would prove invaluable and may be the advantage they need to overcome Stannis' fanatical army.

Stannis' army had been spending the course of this war training and working on rebuilding the fortifications of the Wall. But they had no experience in actual combat, something Robb's army had in droves.

Either way, Jon was determined to ensure that the North was free of the Boltons and Ironborn by the time Robb came North, leaving only Stannis left.

"Jon!" Owen Norrey called, rushing towards him and through the small, makeshift camp they had made. "Ships are coming down the river. Three of them, two longships and a galley."

"That means there will only be a few hundred men left to defend Torrhen's Square," Jon noted, rising to his feet as the camp began to move. "That's sooner than expected."

"The Ironborn are cutting their losses." Owen pointed out.

Jon nodded his head in agreement but thought upon it further. "Send a few riders south, I want a report on the movements in the Saltspear, Barrowtown and Goldgrass sent to me." As he said that though, another thought came to him. "And another to Robb."

If the Ironborn were truly cutting their losses in the North, then Victarion and the majority of the Ironborn forces stationed further south would be leaving through the Saltspear and back to the Iron Islands. Getting to them after securing Torrhen's Square would be impossible. Lord Bracken was already marching from Castle Cerwyn to take Winterfell and Ser Marlon Manderly, cousin of Lord Wyman Manderly would be marching north to take the Dreadfort.

All their forces were being mobilised for this final offensive against the Ironborn and Boltons. They'd wipe them out, but in turn, allow Victarion and those forces in the Saltspear to escape. The only one that could stop that was Robb, though it irked his pride to not be able to do it himself.

He felt like all this time, he had been relying on Robb when Robb had relied upon him. Yet whereas his brother always came through for him, he had failed Robb time and time again.

"Got it," Owen said, moving to fulfil the order he had been given while Jon sheathed his sword, picking up the bow handed to him by Ryon.

"With this boys, we ensure that a few hundred more Ironborn don't live to see another day!" His proclamation earned cheers as every man and woman gathered rose to their feet, bows in hand and quivers at their hips.