Capítulo 6: 6: Fostering At It's End
(Moat Cailin, The Causeway, The Neck, The North, The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, GoT Universe)
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(Barthogan Stark POV)
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(Time-skip: Five Years Later)
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(Year 278)
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Steffon Baratheon was Dead, Barthogan knew it would come, but it also meant that his Fostering was over, and that for the next few Years he'd be expected to take Cassandra under his care at Moat Cailin until they could be Wed in a few years time. Cassandra had yet to bleed, but her body had developed beautifully. It was like a more muscular and busty version of Myranda Royce from the Books but with Black hair.
If even that was too hard, picture a less willowy and more fuller figure with the breasts of Myranda Royce, only firmer, fuller, and more prone to bouncing. Then pack on muscle, give her a delicious pair of Sapphire Blues for eyes.
As For Barthogan he had grown taller, he was more Muscular and had a growing black beard.
Barthogan had spent the last few years using his Control over Ravens to ferret out Secrets, which allowed him to build a vast network of contacts, connections, friends, acquaintances and allies. Barthogan used these to help build the Northern Fleet.
Barthogan hadn't been idle, he'd focused much of his Network on Causing Issues for The Reach, Dorne, Crownlands, and Westerlands, trying to limit their ability to deal with problems. The Reach had an influx of Bandit activity, every time House Tarly put down a group, five more sprung up out of nowhere. The Bandits mostly focused on burning down Armories and Granaries. The Westerlands had trouble exporting into the Free Cities as Lysenei Pirates raided the shipments constantly. The Crownlands suffered from infighting caused by plots being sent to the intended victims, not to mention a number of Mass Poisonings with several different poisons such as Sweetsleep, Nightshade, Wolfsbane, Strangler, Long Farewell, and Widow's Blood. While Dorne suffered from heavy taxation.
The entire thing was connected in a loop, The Crownlands allegedly paid to have Lysenei Pirates attack Lannister Shipping into the Free Cities, while House Lannister initiated the Mass-Poisonings for no reason. The Reach meanwhile used it's influence to allegedly heavily Tax Dorne, while Dorne supposedly supported Raiders harassing The Reach.
These would form scars, scars which by the War of The Five King's will have healed, but will have never been forgotten. It also would serve to make the Dornish and Reach slow to trust in the Rebellion, especially when Barthogan released the Evidence in every Tavern, Whorehouse, and Castle Garrison just before Lyanna was kidnapped.
It was a gradual destabilization plan that would hopefully make the Rebellion less troublesome than it was in Cannon.
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Barthogan sat in his Solar appreciating that Moat Cailin could raise a Force of Fifteen Thousand Men on it's own, while Houses Ryswell and Dustin could Raise Ten Thousand Men each, with Five Hundred Ships Each. House Manderly could raise Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Men, with an additional Three Thousand Ships, making the Manderly fleet some Forty Five Hundred Strong, though at least half of that extra Three Thousand amounted to Merchant and/or support Vessels, while The remaining half was split between Longships, Brigs, Dromonds, Frigates, Galleys, and Man'o'War's. Houses Locke, Ryder, and Fisher could raise an additional Two Thousand Men each, while House Flint could Raise an extra Five Thousand Men.
On average the North could originally raise a total Forty Five Thousand to Fifty Something Thousand Men. With the influx of Wealth afforded due to the inventions of Barthogan, the Numbers of Troops and population had gone through a massive Growth spurt. The Super Alloy that Barthogan had Created has also increased the Military Threat, to the Point that Tywin Lannister had been trying to buy the secrets that Barthogan held.
Barthogan didn't care what Tywin offered, unless it was a night in bed with Cersei. Which in itself he didn't want, that was just a way to test how badly Tywin wanted it. Which apparently wasn't enough.
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(Storm's End, Shipbreaker Bay, The Stormlands, The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, GoT Universe)
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(POV Shift: Cassandra Baratheon POV)
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He was dead, Her Father was Dead, and Robert was now the Lord of Storm's End. Cassandra's Betrothed was unable attend the Funeral, but sent more than enough tokens of his esteem to satisfy Robert.
Cassandra knew why her betrothed could not attend, her Father ended his Fostering when King Aerys ordered her parents to search out Essos for a Bride for Prince Rhaegar. Before Barth left, her Father Knighted him as Ser Barthogan Blackstark. Barthogan took his Knightly Vows before the Storm's End God's Wood. Swearing to uphold Nine Virtues.
They were odd, which is why Cassandra recalled the Swearing with perfect clarity.
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(Warning: Flashback Start)
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'Old Gods, Children, and Greenseers hear my vow and bring me before my ancestors when my time has come. I, Barthogan Stark, do hereby renounce my name of Barthogan Stark and adopt the name Barthogan Blackstark, I do this so that any shame I reap does not Tarnish my Birth Family. To Guard against evil, I swear to uphold the Thirteen Virtues. I swear to Be Honorable, to my defeated enemies and my prisoners. I swear to Be Generous, be it with my Friends or Rivals. I Swear to Be Merciful, to the Defeated and the Broken. I Swear to Be Honest with my friends, but Ruthless with my enemies. I swear to uphold my Oaths and Promises, to the best of my ability so that my fidelity remains unbroken. I Swear to fight with Courage and Stand Strong. I Swear to do all this under the Banners of Life itself.
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(Warning: Flashback End)
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That last wording gnawed at her, like it was a Warning in and of itself. But it wasn't something she could really worry over right now, her Father was Dead, and following a mourning period she would travel to be with her future Lord and Husband. They hadn't really been able to actively be together since her Father departed for the Free Cities.
But That would change, Cassandra only wished that it was to be her Father who would give her and not Robert. She loved her twin brother dearly, but damned if he wasn't a Drunken fucking Idiot with a insatiable appetite for Drinking, Hunting, and Whoring. He'd be the death of House Baratheon mark her words.
If only Stannis was the Heir, their future would be far far less bleak.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
Theragfromthecrag
Theragfromthecrag Last Serious Time-Skip for a while, after this it'll be less filler and more dialog I promise. Next Chapter will Involve a retaliation from Tywin, which pays off more for The North andthan Tywin would expect in his worst case scenario estimates.
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