6. Back to the North

Next day, Rodrik held the promised meeting with Tywin and as Rodrik expected he wanted Rodrik's and North's support to raise have his daughter, Cersei Lannister, married to the Robert Baratheron and make her the queen. Rodrik played him well, not telling him of Lyanna's condition or the king has already been convinced to not marry Lyanna and was able to make Tywin part with a million gold dragons for losing the chance of having Stark blood on the throne. But he was not expecting Tywin to ask for having Jaime released from the Kingsguard. Fortunately, Symeon told him that he wanted Jaime to suffer in the Kingsguard for the rest of his life for stealing Starks revenge. While he said this because he couldn't have Jaime removed and wanted Jaime to have their incest child with Cersei, but everyone thought it was in anger. Rodrik decided to play Tywin and asked that he can just raise the issue, but it is upto the king and the Hand whether they will release him and was able to squeeze out another quarter million out of him.

After the discussions Tywin left and Rodrik went to meet with Jon Arryn. There he proposed him the idea of having Cersei married to Robert to bring Westerlands properly into the fold. Then he raised the issue of not having Jaime freed from Kingsguard to keep a measure of control over Tywin and humble him.

Later that day, they had an audience with King, Price Stannis and Tywin Lannister in which they discussed potential for the candidate of queen. Tywin as expected held his ground and demanded his daughter to be taken as queen if they want his and Westerland's support. Jon Arryn and Rodrik Stark spoke in his favor as it brought lots of benefit. Stannis was the only one to seriously oppose it. Robert opposed it just for his tantrum and kept saying that he didn't want to marry anyone other than Lyanna but in the end was convinced. Then came the topic of freeing Jaime from Kingsguard, while Robert didn't have any opinion about it, Jon Arryn opposed it as discussed while Rodrik supported of taking away his white cloak for breaking his vows. Stanis Baratheon unknowingly helped Rodrik by saying that he is unusually supportive of Tywin. In the end, Jaime himself was called to tell what he wishes to do. He said that he wants to remain as a Kingsguard and Tywin looked as if he was betrayed.

After that Tywin and Jaime left the room and Rodrik started the discussion about North's reward. They went back and forth, North's main demands were money to raise a proper castle for Ned as was the demand of Hoster Tully, monetary reward, return of the land of New Gift and tax exemption for a decade. Jon Arryn and Stannis was opposed to tax exemption and the large monetary award. But Robert tired of all these backs and forth agreed to the initial proposal of funding the castle, 1 million gold dragons, return of the land of New Gift and Brandon's Gift and tax exemption for a decade. Jon moved to oppose but Robert didn't hear a word of it and dismissed whatever he said. This war proved itself very profitable for the North as they won around three and a quarter million gold dragons from it with only a loss of 10,000 men.

"There is one more thing that I need from the crown." Rodrik said.

"What is it you want Rodrik." Robert asked impatiently.

"A sanction on House Frey of the Twins. They hindered our army movement and made us wait at one position for weeks. It costed us valuable time that could have been used to come to your rescue and in loss of life of many Stormlander for the final conflict. Not only that but reports also keep coming every year to us that Frey keep asking for higher and higher toll each year from northern merchants for using his bridge. We sent missives in the past to the mad king, but he did not take any action. And after that they had the nerve to arrive to the field after the battle was already won." Rodrik said playing to Robert's emotion by bringing the death of Stormlander and his hatred for Targaryens.

"What do you want me to do with them." Robert asked already looking angry.

"Nothing much, but a decree that limits the toll they can ask like a penny for a man or woman, a groat for cattle or horse, a star for a loaded cart etc and no tax for an army."

"Yes, this is good, Jon, see that this decree is drafted and sent to the Feys as soon as possible." Robert said.

"Yes, your grace." Jon said. After that Rodrik left the chamber.

Northern forces stayed for another week in the King's Landing, during which they began cleaning the rubble of dragonpit to clear more space for themselves. While cleaning the rubble they found a clutch of what could only be 5 dragon eggs, which were immediately stored with other dragon eggs, and many weapons that have already been spoiled by rust but one of them was still as sharp as ever. When the dust was cleaned from the sword, they could clearly see the distinct smoky ripples of a Valyrian steel sword. When Rodrik was told of this he immediately came to see the sword and immediately recognized the sword as Lamentation, the ancestral sword of House Royce. Lord Yohn Royce was told of this discovery, ofcourse he was not told about the eggs, who was very grateful for finding their lost ancestral weapon and swore to help House Stark in any endeavor they could. 

During this time, Stannis with the new fleet acquired from House Hightower as per the treaty mounted an attack on Dragonstone on Robert's order but a storm suddenly struck the seas just when Stannis was about to reach Dragonstone. While it destroyed the whole royal fleet at Dragonstone leaving only a few ships at Dragonstone, it also damaged Stannis fleet massively. Almost half of his fleet was sunk, and he was not able to land on Dragonstone till the storm ended. This gave Viserys Targaryen time to flee with his newborn sister Daenerys Stormborn and Ser Willam Darry. When Stannis reached Dragonstone, he found a weak garrison which immediately surrendered and Rhaella Targaryen who was thankfully saved from the jaws of death by the maester at Dragonstone and Maester Cressen bought by Stannis to treat any men injured during the attack.

After Rhaella Targaryen was safe and completely fit to travel, she was taken to King's Landing where she accepted Robert as king and admitted defeat of her House and renounced the claim of her son Viserys and asked to stay with her only remaining family, her granddaughter Rhaenys. While Robert wanted to kill her, he was dissuaded from the notion by Jon Arryn and her wish was granted to keep her away from all the supporter she may have left remaining in the south.

 After a week of Robert arriving in Kings Landing, Northern forces along with its lords, Princess Elia, Princess Rhaenys and Queen Rhaella left King's Landing for the North after a few days with an entourage of thousands of people from King's Landing. They were following because Symeon asked his men to spread word that North is willing to take any men or women and feed them if they are willing to come to the North and work there and convert their faith to the faith of Old Gods. But only skilled men and laborers were allowed to come. Around ten thousand people agreed to move North, most of them were poor people from the Flea Bottom and the newly made widows and orphans from the sack of King's Landing.

As we marched North, our first destination was Riverrun from where we took Uncle Ned's wife and newborn son. While marching Uncle Ned was told the whole truth about the child with Lyanna. As we reached Riverrun we were greeted by Hoster Tully, Brynden Tully and Catelyn Tully with baby Robb. Uncle Ned moved ahead of the party and went to meet his wife and son. Catelyn moved forward and greeted her husband.

"Welcome milord." Catelyn said.

"Thank you, milady, I missed you a lot." Ned said while kissing his wife.

"I missed you too milord. Look here is your son milord." Catelyn said while showing him the baby in her arms. The baby had tufts of red hair and blue eyes.

"He is perfect, milady." Ned said.

Just as Catelyn was about to invite the rest of the lords inside, she saw the baby in Aunt Lyanna's arm. She asked suspiciously "Who is that in your arms goodsister." Ned started hesitating and was thinking what to do, but than a voice came.

"That's my daughter, Diana Snow." Rodrik said coming forward.

"Oh, welcome good uncle" That's all Catelyn could say. Then all the lords went inside Riverrun.

The Northerners didn't stay long in Riverrun and within days left for the North due to the behavior of Hoster towards Lord Symeon and baby Diana and Lyanna, also they were not sure if Hoster may try to kill Symeon while they were in Riverlands, so they were all eager to leave Riverlands as soon as possible. While leaving, Hoster made sure to give Catelyn many servants, men-at-arms and Speta Mordane and Septon Chayle, which angered the Northern Lords because of the North's hatred for faith of the Seven and marginal tolerance of it and were further angered when Uncle Ned allowed them to come with us. Then they soon reached the castle Twins where no one seemed happy and let them go without any toll, which means that the new decree has reached them. Soon from there they entered Neck where Lord Reed and Lord Flint seprated and went towards their own castles. Then they reached Moat Cailin where all the laborers were told to stay.

"Uncle Ned I am giving you the responsibility of guarding the whole of North. Today I am making you the Lord of Moat Cailin." Symeon Stark said.

Ned didn't know what to say and just said his oath of loyalty to Symeon and accepted it. For now, the castles steward was given the task of rebuilding the castle because even if the castle was used as a military post, it was still a big castle and not many people lived in the surrounding lands to generate enough taxes to maintain it. Then we continued marching to Winterfell and our entourage keeps getting shorter and shorter as we moved. Finally, a fortnight after reaching Moat Cailin, we reached Winterfell where we were greeted by Lady Barbrey Stark, Lady Genna Stark and Benjen Stark.