The Redfish (Edmure SI) chapter 126 (Patreon)

Great Council

Edmure POV

I liked snow more than most people, even though I wouldn’t say I liked getting in my shoes, having it melt, and making my socks wet. I liked how it reflected the light of the moon in the night. When the sky is clear, the snow feels like it is sparkling. Everything snow touched was visible, giving the usually chilly night a touch of beauty.

“They are waiting for you, my lord,” Maester Luwin informed me.

“Has everyone been gathered?” I asked as I prepared myself for a lot of bullshit.

“Yes, Lady Shireen, with lord Beric Dondarrion, were the last to arrive.”

It was still surprised that Shireen was willing to come. She quickly convinced the remaining lord of the Stormlands to surrender and pledge their allegiance to Jaehaerys. While I was busy overseeing my lands, they ended the war. But I thought since she didn’t come to the wedding, she would refuse to attend the council, I was wrong.

I didn’t think she would want to come because the other lords wouldn’t trust her. Even though she accepted the Iron Throne’s conditions, she is still the daughter of Stannis Baratheon. It would be hard to believe that Shireen wouldn’t have any resentment for her father’s murderer. But unlike the Lannister, Stannis had a pretext for his actions, and he hasn’t done anything that could be considered unforgiving.

I knew it would be a long night. Hopefully, the winter doesn’t fall upon us before we are finished. Entering the Great Hall of Winterfell, everyone's eyes settled on me. Jaehaerys sat at the high seat; to his right were Robb Stark and Lord Wyman Manderly. They represented the North, while Jaehaerys represented the Crownlands and the Seven Kingdoms.

The seat to Jaehaery's left was left empty; it was also the seat next to Arianne. Lord Ander Yronwood and Arianne represented Dorne in Prince Doran’s stead. Blackfish and lord Yohn Royce were under the Vale’s banner. Shireen and Lord Beric Dondarrion were here for the Stormlands, but nobody would deny they had the least power here. Lord Mance Tyrell and Willas Tyrell came in together with lord Randyll Tarly representing the Reach.

After greeting others, I took my seat and looked at Lord Tyros Blackwood, who could be considered the second most powerful house in the Riverlands ever since he took massive pieces of House Bracken's lands and the keep of Stone Hedge. Only House Mallister could compete with House Blackwood in my trust and influence. He and I would represent the Riverlands and the newly acquired lands of the Westerlands.

“Should we begin?” Lord Rodrik Harlaw was the only one that was from the Iron Islands. Asha didn’t want to participate as she knew she wouldn’t have any more power than lord Harlaw. And unlike her, Lord Rodrik has a better reputation with the rest of the Houses.

“Since everyone has gathered, we shall begin,” Jaehaerys agreed as he saw how some of the Houses felt quite out of place. “Firstly, I want to thank all of you for agreeing to gather here. It is a great honor to be in your presence. Secondly, without wasting your time, I will begin with something some of you know and others wouldn’t believe. Grandmaester if you please.”

“Of course, your Grace,” Grandmaester Marwyn and Maester Luwin attended the meeting as they would record it and offer counsel. “Before I start, I would like to ask Lord Commander to add or correct me so no misunderstandings occur between us.”

Benjen Stark, clad all in black, nodded. His expression was between somewhat tired and stone cold. He was here in the name of the Night’s Watch, and even though some of the lords looked confused about why he was here, nobody said anything about it. Seeing that Benjen agreed, Grandmaster continued as everyone else watched him.

“Firstly, I would like to ask if anyone here doesn’t know of the Others and the White Walkers,” Seeing that nobody said anything and were somewhat familiar with it, Grandmaster continued. “Those legends, some even say fairy tales told to children are true.”

“True?” Lord Harlaw asked while lord Dondarrion narrowed his eyes. “In what sense? That night that will last generations is coming?”

“The White Walkers and the army of the dead are real,” Robb replied as everyone’s eyes gathered on him. “I saw them with my own eyes. I fought against them, and I killed them.”

“The first known encounter happened when Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Waymar Royce were on a raging mission,” Benjen added. “A fellow member of the Night’s Watch was found dead in one of our outposts beyond the Wall. When night fell, the dead rose and attacked their squad. Even after cutting his head off, it still moved, and only after burning him did they save themselves. The severed head was still moving and was sent to Winterfell before it was delivered to the King.”

“The head is still in King’s Landing. It is slowly deteriorating; it lost its skin and most of its flesh, but his eyes still move as its mouth, too,” Grandmaester confirmed Benjen’s words.

“Why is it the first time I have heard of it?” Lord Yronwood asked as he looked at the Grandmaester then at Jaehaerys and lastly at Arianne.

“It wasn’t wise to spread the word of it,” I answered. “Firstly, there was no way of knowing how other people would react to it. Secondly, who would believe it without proof? And lastly, the King could be accused of many unsavory practices by the Faith as the Faith and King weren’t in their best relationship.”

“You said you faced them and fought them, Lord Stark?” Lord Blackwood asked before lord Yronwood voiced his dissatisfaction.

“It began long before,” Robb answered, slowly gathering his thoughts. “Before the war. More and more wildlings started climbing over the Wall and invading our lands. The ones that were captured alive said the same thing. The dead is rising. The Others have returned. Nobody believed them, nor did I. But as the evidence was provided to me, and knowing why the wildlings organized themselves into an army, I was left with a decision. I chose to be on the side of the living and let the Wildlings pass the Wall safely.”

“I heard of your expedition to Beyond the Wall. Did you meet the Others, then?” Lord Royce asked.

“They found us first,” Robb answered. “Since we had limited information on where the Wildlings were, we first came to the Fist of the First Men, where they were last seen. The attack on our camp was fast and ruthless. If the animals within the camp didn’t react first and put us on guard, we might all have been killed.”

“Lord Commander said that only by burning their bodies can they be killed. Is that true?” Lord Dondarrion seemed skeptical, but it was impossible to deny the facts when so many people confirmed it.

"Yes," Robb replied. “It is hard to tell how many attacked us; it was deep into the night, and storm clouds covered the sky. It could have been tens of thousands or even more. Cutting them apart didn’t stop them. And even when they were set on fire, they continued moving until they were thoroughly burned. On the other hand, the White Walkers could put out the fire.”

“Then how did you kill them?” Lord Harlaw asked having his full attention to Robb.

“Valyrian steel cut right through their ice armor and body,” Robb unsheathed Ice, leaning beside his chair. “Dragonglass, otherwise called Obsidian, made their bodies melt once pierced through their armor.”

“It also confirms the legend that the Forest of the Children pushed them away with weapons made of Dragonglass,” Grandmasters added.

“It is hard to believe,” I said. “But deny it would be the same as accusing Lord Stark and Lord Commander of lying and deceiving us. And I am sure thousands of soldiers who went with them would confirm it. Most importantly, it would insult the previous Lord Commander, Lord Umber, and everyone else, who sacrificed their lives at Hardhome to save the wildlings from the army of the dead.”

Hearing my words, the rest couldn’t say anything back. Even though Robb was still young, he was Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. His words had unimaginable influence; ignoring them would be considered an insult to his honor. And nobody can say otherwise since his words can be confirmed by those who fought with him that day.

“What should be done with them?” Lord Tarly asked.

“The Wall and the Night’s Watch stand vigilant,” Benjen replied. “We have sealed all the tunnels leading to the North of the Wall. Men are patrolling the Wall, day and night, ready to face the enemy at any moment.”

“So, we should leave it to you and the Night’s Watch?” Lord Tyrell asked, concerned about it.

“Nothing else can be done,” Benjen replied. “Still, the Wall needs resources. Food, steel, more importantly, Dragonglass and other necessities. And even though we have about five thousand men in our ranks. Only half of them are capable of fighting competently. Most are criminals who are hard to discipline. I would like to ask for seasoned knights to join the Night’s Watch so they can take command and train the others.”

“As Lady of Storm’s End and Lady Paramount of the Stormlands, I promise to provide you all those who are willing and capable, would it be knights, cooks, healers, or scholars,” Shireen said her first words. “Even if we can’t effort much, we will give the Wall out best support. I am sure the rest of the lords of the Seven Kingdoms will do the same.

That is why I liked Shireen. She knew very well what position she was in and used it perfectly. Not only was she the first to promise support for the Wall and gain the favor of Benjen Stark, uncle of Lord of Winterfell, but she also challenged others. Now, no matter how much Shireen sends to the wall, other kingdoms will have to at least match that not to be outdone. They couldn’t let a House that had fallen to its slowest outshine them in anything.

“The Riverlands will support the Wall as it has done for years,” I said, as I wanted to make them even more embarrassed that a little girl promised her support before anyone else. “We shall do it for years to come. Since House Baratheon and the Stormlands aren’t in a position to make great contributions, I will take it upon myself to match their offerings in addition to our normal contribution. After all, with my family’s strength, something as simple as that isn’t a problem.”

From then on, the other Houses quickly promised their support as they tried to outshine each other. I was once again surprised by how mature and brilliant Shireen was. In the political world, she will rise quickly. The only thing that holds her back is her name and age. But I think within ten years. She will make her House and the Stormlands rise again. She was someone I wanted as an ally, no matter what.

“Since we agreed to support the Wall to our best capabilities, we should trust the Night’s Watch to protect the realm of the living,” Jaehaerys spoke after everyone quieted down. “On the next agenda, I would like everyone here to sign a pact of peace.”

“Pact of peace?” Willas Tyrell wasn’t the only one who was surprised by it.

“After this long and bloody war, I do not want to repeat the history,” Jaehaerys said. “So, I prepared a pact of peace, and all those who sign it will have duties to upkeep the peace. If anyone breaks the pact, the rest that sign it will have the authority and a responsibility to stop the aggressor. Even if that aggressor is me.”

So that is why I haven’t heard anything about it. Jaehaerys knew that I wouldn’t have agreed to such reckless action. The King’s rule was as effective as his authority. But with this pact, Jaehaerys is letting part of his authority go. It is hard to tell if it will pay off in the future or cause more trouble. I would have never agreed to it, as it was too risky. That is why Jaehaerys didn’t tell me anything, and now I can’t voice my concerns if I do not want to be seen as someone against peace.

“Since not everyone has power over their liege lord to sing it, I will await them in King’s Landing,” Jaehaerys said as the parchment of the pact was passed down to the lords to sign and seal. “Through the uncertain times we face, we must be united. I hope everyone feels the same way as I do.”

How can anyone else respond otherwise when the King has put his feelings and ideals in his words? It would be like challenging a King directly. Even I couldn’t do anything but take the pact and sign it. Arianne glanced at me, showing that she was angry that she didn’t know of this, but I also could tell she was quite happy for the King to show this kind of shrewdness.

“Without a delay, we should discuss the last thing for tonight before it gets too late,” I said after everyone signed the peace pact. “The winter is upon us, as everyone can see coming here. The days are becoming shorter and colder. While most kingdoms to the south still don’t feel the effects, it is only a question of time. Will it be months or years before all kingdoms fall under the effects of winter?”

“As Lord Tully said, we need to prepare for this winter, for it might be the longest in the living memory,” Jaehaerys added. “Grandmaster, has the Citadel assumed how long this winter will be.”

“At our lowest estimations, it will last at least a decade,” Grandmaester replied. “But we should prepare for twice if not thrice the number of years. As I am the only one that extensively studied magic, I can tell that the Others will bring even harsher winter than ever recorded in history.”

“That's why I want to change laws regarding trade and food,” Jaehaerys said. “The food needs to be distributed through all of the Seven Kingdoms as equally as possible. Regulations for food production and storage must be stricter than ever. I will not tolerate someone hoarding food and using its shortage as leverage to exploit people. We must set prices and quantity of food for each Kingdom while we are here.”

It is almost impossible to control people's greed, no matter who they might be. The regulations have to be foolproof so that people can’t find loopholes and exploit them. It will take a lot of time to prepare them, and everyone must agree with whatever we come up with. Well, nobody will voice their opinions as long as the King is satisfied with them. So, we have to do it while Jaehaerys is here and doesn’t have to return to King’s Landing. Arianne looked at me like it was my fault that she wouldn’t be able to enjoy hot springs in a while.