War council

Moat Cailin, The North

The looming presence of Moat Cailin with its twenty towers and a great basalt curtain wall as high as that of Winterfell's could be seen from a great distance. Three towers the Children's Tower, the Drunkard's Tower and the Gatehouse Tower looked prominent due to their relatively larger size and their distinct Children's Tower was tall and slender. Legend has it that the children of the forest called upon their gods here to send the hammer of the waters to smash theNeck. The Gatehouse Tower was squat and wide as well as the largest. The tower's hall was of dark stone and had a high, drafty ceiling. Within the hall is a massive carved table, also of stone. The Drunkard's Tower was so named due to its great lean. It was standing where the south and west walls were meeting.

"By the Old Gods, that thing is fucking huge." Smalljon swore besides him.

Aryan saw the same look reflected among the other Northerners. They were finally seeing the famed Moat Cailin which had protected the North from the Andal invasion in its full glory. The swamps which once surrounded the Moat were filled and converted into a large settlement with rice fields surrounding them. Already he could see the tents of Cerwyn, Hornwood, Dustins, Flints, Ryswells etc.

Due to the establishment of the boat system in White Knife supplies were sent ahead which had made the troop movement faster. They had reached a week ahead of schedule. Aryan felt this was a good thing because in future if need arises it would decrease the time for the Northern Army to assemble.

After sending the army to their settlement, Aryan followed by Smalljon galloped towards the castle. His uncle Eddard, aunt Catelyn and whole bunch of cousins were there at the gates of the Moat to welcome him. They were followed by William Dustin, Robin Flint and Medger Cerwyn as they were the first lords to arrive. He dropped from his horse and went near them. They all bowed to them with Eddard saying, "My lord, Moat Cailin is yours."

Aryan told his uncle, "Come on uncle, we are family. I told you several times not to bother with formalities between us." Then turning to the others he said, "Lady Stark and little Starks."

While Robb bowed to him, Catelyn and little Sansa curtseyed. Little Sansa was almost a perfect copy of her mother in manners but he could already see that Sansa would grow up into a very beautiful woman. Four year old Arya was at his legs pulling her breaches. He lifted her and placed her on his shoulders while she squealed happily. His uncle had told him once that she had been named Arya in his honour. So he felt a special bond to her. Bran was hiding behind Catelyn's skirts and baby Rickon was in her arms.

His uncle asked Smalljon, "Aren't you the Greatjon's son? What are you doing here?"

Smalljon replied, "When my father heard about Lord Stark going to battle, he said there was no reason I should behind at home. So here I am my lord."

While they were talking Aryan noticed something. The guards seemed to be very alert. While this was a good thing, with an army surrounding them he felt it was not necessary. Also Lady Catelyn seemed to be fearful and sometimes twitching. He decided to ask about that to his uncle in private. He then turned his attention to the other lords.

"Lord Dustin, Lord Flint, Lord Cerwyn. It is good to meet you again. I hope all is well at your home." He told them.

"We too my Lord. Everything is fine back home. It is because of you we are now prospering." They replied.

"When did you arrive?" he asked

Robin Flint replied, "Just two days ago my lord."

"How are Lady Barbery and your children Lord Dustin." Aryan asked.

"They are doing well my lord. Theon is seven years old while my daughter Lyra is four years old. Barbery is heavy with our third child." William Dustin replied. In another world William Dustin would have died at the Tower of Joy and his widow Barbery would have resented the Starks forever. Also the Dustin line would have ended with him. But in this world he survived and the Starks gained a powerful ally.

"Once we deal with this squids I am going to call for a meeting soon. I have many more plans which we will discuss in that meeting for the development of North." He told them.

His uncle interrupted them saying, "Come and take rest nephew. We will discuss this later."

So they all went inside.

Aryan was pacing in his Uncle's solar angrily. It was almost midnight. He had asked his uncle about the observations he had made earlier. When his uncle told him the reason his blood began to boil.

The ironborn had attacked the castle a week ago. It seemed that the ironborn had captured a Pentosi merchant vessel and gained access to the canal. After reaching the Moat they in disguise of merchants infiltrated the castle. They were led by Rodrick Greyjoy. They tried to capture the castle first by silently killing of the guards but they were discovered. A bloody struggle ensured resulting in ten Stark guards and fifty three iron men. While escaping they tried to kidnap Lady Catelyn but they failed. Rodrick Greyjoy as well the as rest of the ironborn escaped.

'Well' he thought 'the Moat can stop even the largest armies but it is still susceptible to infiltration. I must do something about this soon.'

"Did you find where they went? Did you have follow them?" Aryan asked.

"We followed them till the Twins. Most of the ironmen almost a hundred were killed as they were crossing the marshes by the crannogmen. The rest escaped into the Riverlands. I feel that they are going to Seaguard as it is nearer to Iron Islands. Perhaps we could have catched them but my men were blocked by the Freys and he was demanding toll for them to cross." Eddard finished in a bit of anger.

Aryan scowled, "Fucking Freys. They are proving quite troublesome uncle. We need to make some alternative arrangements to access Riverlands in future. Well right now order the guards at the gates of canal to thoroughly check the men and ships from next time. We must not we caught unaware again Uncle."

Then turning to Lady Catelyn he told her, "You have my word Lady Catelyn that Rodrick Greyjoy would be wishing for death soon."

He then returned to his room and started to think. The Freys needed to be dealt with soon. Controlling the North's access to Riverrun along with their close relation with the Lannisters was a threat to them. Also he must erect wards here at the Moat Cailin too, to avoid any surprises. But the ironmen should be made an example of to show rest of the Westeros what will happen if somebody harmed a Stark. With these thoughts in mind, he fell asleep.

Two weeks had passed. In these two weeks he had drawn runes at all the entrances to the castle with intent based wards which could stun any person who came here with an intention of harming the occupants of the castle, he will be doing the same after the war for his uncle Benjen's castle and the rest of his truly loyal lords. By now almost all the lords have arrived with their armies which was roughly more than twenty-five thousand. His uncle had asked him about reason for bringing only a third of the army. He had told him the same reason he had given to Ser Rodrick Cassel. Howland Reed came to visit him with his family who would be staying at the Moat while his uncle went away. The man profusedly thanked Aryan for giving them rice due to which the crannogmen were now able to get better food. He met with his childern Meera and Jojen. He felt a magic in Jojen similar to what he felt in Bran. They needed to be observed carefully. He also needed to discuss with Howland Reed about the possible wargs in the North and make them integrate Jaqen spy ring, he could also train them.

Right now the lords were holding the War Council at the open balconies of the fortress. Aryan could see the great canal from a distance.

"So uncle, what news do we have about the ironborn." began Aryan

"From the reports we received they are concentrating on the South. As we were able to repel their attacks all of them are currently attacking the South. Balon Grejoy has declared himself the King of Iron Islands. The attacks on North were led by Balon's heir Rodrick Greyjoy. Balon's younger brother Euron Greyjoy is reaving the Reach and has already captured the Shield Islands. It was Victarion Greyjoy who burnt and sacked Lannisport and the Lannister fleet. He is currently attacking Fair Island. Balon's second son is attacking Seaguard. The King has called us to assemble at Lannisport." his uncle replied.

William Dustin asked, "How many men and ships do the ironborn have?"

"About twenty thousand men and 500 longships. They also have five or six galleys." said his uncle Benjen who had arrived just two days ago.

Following the orders of Aryan the castles of Western Coast were now militarised and alert. Due to new found prosperity along with generous loans from Winterfell all castles were now renovated and fortified. Earlier wooden castles of Deepwood Motte, Torhen's Square and Bear Islands were most suspectible to ironborn attacks. But this time they were easily repelled along with the ironborn suffering heavy losses. Other than Jorah Mormont, no one came from the Bear Islands. They were instead garrisoned at through the West Coast. The other houses had also sent additional men to support the defence of the Western Coast.

Roose Bolton quietly said, "With the Lannister fleet burnt and the Redwyne fleet engaged by Euron Grejoy, that leaves only our fleet and the Royal fleet. It will take more than a moon for the Royal fleet to come around Dorne and the Reach. Then they will have to engage Euron Greyjoy in the Reach and maybe after that Victarion in the Westerlands. So we cannot depend on them for any support. Also it is possible that once the ironborn are done with the south they will concentrate on the North where till now they did not gain any success. Rodrick Greyjoy is inexperienced so he lost to us. Suppose if they sent Victarion to us then the battle would become very difficult as Victarion is very experienced. What is our naval power my lord?"

Even though he didn't want to, Aryan had to agree on thing. Roose Bolton was a sheer military genius. While his loyalty was dubious, the man was an excellent strategist. He would be a powerful alley or a dangerous foe. Already the other lords seemed alarmed at Roose Bolton's warnings.

"Thank you Lord Bolton. I did not even think about that. It seems that the battle would not be that easy." Then looking at Ser Wylis Manderly the heir to Lord Manderly he said, "My Lord if you would be king enough to answer Lord Bolton's question."

Wyllis Manderly stood up and replied, "Currently our house has sixty galleys and forty longships. And if we count the cogs and merchant vessels we have another fifty. While the new Stark fleet has thirty galleys and twenty longships with more being built."

Everyone nodded at that. Eddard asked, "So nephew how do you proceed from here?"

In a surprised voice Aryan asked, "What do you mean uncle. You are the commander of the Army. You tell us?"

His uncle replied, "I have known you for the past eight years Aryan. Your mind is never idle and you always have plans. It was your plans which changed the North. I am sure you have a plan for this also."

Aryan looked around and saw all the lords nodding their heads.

So Aryan began, "You are right uncle. Actually I do have a plan. Some of you might not like I will be taking eight thousand men on the Manderly fleet to the Iron Islands specifically the Blacktyde Island first then the Oakmont Island. From there we will go to the inside islands. This will ensure that we will not be surrounded. The Stark fleet as it is not yet complete will defend the west coast as well as provide supplies. I will take the Stark men, the Manderly men and Bolton men with me. You Uncle Ned will lead the rest to Lannisport. Once we establish a base in the Iron Islands we will start transporting the troops from Lannisport to the islands."

Greatjon asked, "And once the battle begins how are we to deal with the squids."

With a grim face, Aryan replied, "Kill them all to the last man without any mercy."

"You cannot kill them all like that Aryan. It is not honourable. You must spare them when they surrender." Eddard protested.

"Tell me Uncle, they attacked our family few weeks past. We cannot let that unanswered. Besides they will never change their ways. Their whole culture is rotten. They are taught to rape and reave from birth. Give them some time and they will kill more. Then who will be responsible for the death and sufferings of their victims." Aryan asked angrily.

The other lords started to support him. Even Benjen told Eddard, "Brother I know you have a sense of honour which you learnt from the Vale, but the North follows the strongest. The Starks became the Winter Kings not because of their honour but because of their ruthlessness and harsh nature. You are a Stark, not an Arryn."

Eddard finally seemed to reluctantly agree.

Aryan told everyone, "And my lords I have one more request to make. If possible try to capture as many ironborn ships instead of burning them or sinking them. I want those ships to our fleets. Also I will give be giving each of you lords one or two of them for easier trade."

They agreed to his proposal and decided to move out the next day. During the final discussions suddenly Greatjon shouted, "What the fuck is that?"

Everyone looked in the direction Greatjon was looking and all bore the same gobsmacked look, except Ser Wyllis Manderly who merely smiled at Aryan.

Sailing through the canal was a huge galley with three large masts with fifty oars on each side. Its bow had a howling wolf figurehead. The sails displayed the Stark sigil of a wolf.

Aryan smiled proudly and said, "That my lords is the Marauder, the flagship of the Starks."

A large crowd of people seemed to gather at the docks to see the galley. His uncle still in a awed voice told him, "Truly nephew she is very big. Even bigger than the largest of the Royal fleet. When Wyman told me about the Iron Banks offer I did not think they would be this generous."

"We have increased their trade. We have already paid back their loan. We are also providing security from pirates. I am considering this as more of a commission." he told Eddard.

After the final discussions they dispersed.

The next day the Navy and Army were ready to depart. His uncle Eddard and famly came to the docks to see him off. The men had already started to board the ships.

"Your swords are something I have never seen before Aryan. Are they new?" Eddard asked.

Aryan replied, " Yes uncle. I call them katanas. The blade is very sharp and can easily cleave a person in half."

He offered one to his uncle, who took it and gave it a few swings and returned it back.

Eddard then got serious and asked, "Are sure that you want to take Roose Bolton with you? He is not trustworthy."

"I know uncle. But trust me I can handle him. As long as we are strong Roose would not betray us. It is when we are vulnerable that the Bolton's strike. I don't plan to be vulnerable or weak. Besides the man is a good commander and some of the things I have to do, need a man like him. If Roose Bolton proves to be a threat he will be dealt with immediately" Aryan said.

Eddard again asked, "Are sure you are going to exterminate them all?"

Aryan told him, "Don't worry Uncle. I thought about what you said yesterday and realized that I do not want to be known as a younger Tywin Lannister at such a young age. I will spare the women, childern and the thralls."

He then turned to Robb and said, "Now you are the Stark of the Moat Robb. I trust you to guard it in our absence."

After the final goodbyes he boarded the Marauder which began its maiden voyage. As they sailed away soon the distant twenty towers of the Moat dissappeared into the cover of trees.