CHAPTER 228

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CHAPTER 228

295 AC

POV THIRD PERSON

The council gathered once more, their minds rejuvenated by a night's rest. As they resumed their discussions, Eddard Snow found himself consumed by an ever-growing pool of questions and concerns. After grappling with his thoughts for a while, he finally mustered the courage to speak.

Eddard opened his mouth, ready to voice his doubts, but he hesitated. His words eluded him momentarily, and he withdrew. Aermir noticed Eddard's internal struggle and, with a sigh, encouraged him to share his thoughts.

With a hint of impatience, Aermir said, 

"What is it? Out with it."

Eddard, after a few moments of contemplation, finally summoned the courage to express his concerns. He spoke with a blend of confusion and earnestness, addressing Aermir directly.

"My lord, I really don't understand you," he began, his voice tinged with worry. "A great danger like the Night King is lurking around us, and you are trying to weaken and dominate the other kingdoms. Why don't you gather all the kingdoms and tell them that the Night King is real and will come to destroy us? Surely, if we did that, against this great disaster, a coalition army could be formed."

Aermir, the corners of his mouth curling into a knowing smile, considered Eddard's words. His response carried the weight of years of observation and understanding.

"That is what you would think, someone with a common birth, because you are thinking for the betterment of the realm," Aermir said, his tone measured. "But do you think all those great houses would think like you? No, they won't. I have observed them for years, listened to their conversations, and I overheard their plans, and do you know what I learned?"

Aermir paused and smiled sadly, his words laden with a sense of resignation and understanding.

"They do not care about anything other than their own houses," he continued, his tone grave. "They wouldn't care if all the world burned as long as their house survived. Even if I dragged a wight to their feet and showed them what was coming for us, they wouldn't care for it entirely. Do you know why?"

Eddard, taken aback by this revelation, furrowed his brow and asked in genuine surprise, "How could it be possible they wouldn't care about the Night King?"

Aermir's lips took a bitter shape as he spoke, the weight of his knowledge and concerns evident in his words.

"It is possible because there are thousands of kilometers between them and the Wall, and there's the North right on the way of the Night King," he explained. "That is a part of the human problem. If it's far away, it's not their problem. Yes, they would send some reserve forces to our aid, like 10 to 15 thousand each, and create a 'great army' of 100 or 150 thousand men, but we, the North, would still have to be the bulk of the force and be the vanguard."

His anger simmered just beneath the surface as he contemplated the future. "Let's say we manage to beat or force a retreat from the Night King. What do you think is going to happen after the war? Do you think we will have eternal peace among the regions?"

Eddard, his earlier confusion replaced by a sober understanding, replied, "I wouldn't say that, my lord. I am not that naive."

Aermir posed the question once more, his eyes unwavering as he sought a deeper understanding. "Then what would happen?"

Eddard's brows furrowed in contemplation as he admitted, "I don't know. I think it would be as before the Night King. Like it never happened, and the regions would continue to play their games."

Aermir shook his head, a tinge of disappointment in his voice. "Wrong. I expected more from you. You are still thinking like a smallfolk."

He pointed to his own head and pressed, "Think about it, think about it like a great lord, and more importantly, think about it like a High Septon."

A spark of realization ignited in Eddard's eyes, and he exclaimed, "A second landing."

Aermir's satisfaction was palpable as he slammed his hand on the table, emphasizing, "Exactly!"

Aermir's smile held a touch of wisdom as he expounded, "If we win this battle, as the North, we would be spent; we will lose at the very least 50 to 70% of our men, and even if the other regions send 20 thousand men each, they would at most lose 20% of their power. When the First Men and the Old Gods weaken, what do you think all those lords and the Faith are going to do? Do you think they are going to let us live in peace? Of course not; then the time for the second landing will come, and the second invasion of Andals and the Faith will start. While you all only look at what is in front of you, what I look at is the 10 or 20 years ahead. So that is why I need to at least destabilize and exude control over the Vale and Riverlands. Then I have to weaken all the other regions."

His advisors bore expressions of comprehension now, and Aermir pressed on, "After the war with the Night King, there needs to be a balance of power, or they will wipe us out of existence."

Harlik raised an important query, "My lord, then you are going to remove the Arryns from their seat as Wardens of the Vale."

Aermir, however, shook his head in response, "I would love to do that, but if I were to take such a step, I couldn't simply appoint any house to replace them. Right now, there aren't any houses that would heed my commands as the North does. Moreover, I can't exert the same level of influence over the Vale immediately; it would require 5 to 10 years to achieve that, just as I did in the North. Lord Stark may be the Warden of the North, but I can exert as much control over the people as he does."

Harlik, enthusiastic and resolute, interjected, "No, my lord. You are the true ruler of the North. Lord Stark's position as Warden of the North exists because you permit it."

Aermir shook his head and said,

"Do not underestimate the power the name "Stark" gives, it wouldn't be that easy to control the North without the help of Starks. I would need a few generations to cultivate the necessary loyalty. Besides, I have given my word to Lord Stark that the Warden of the North will always be a Stark, and I do not break my word even if I can. But the Arryns and Tullys are a different matter entirely."