Capítulo 69: Heir
Again, and again, Willas' cane tapped against the stone ground, the noise echoing down the corridor. Turning down a corridor, he entered the main corridor where he found two guards standing before the large wooden doors leading to Robb Starks solar.
Both pushed open the door allowing him inside where he found his sister overviewing the dealings of the kingdom that Robb had built. With the lands of the North, the Riverlands, the Westerlands and the Reach under his control, either by conquest or by negotiation. There was a vast amount of food required, as well as wood, stone and other raw materials that could be used to rebuild houses and other aspects.
With the war still raging and Robb currently engaging Tywin Lannister at the Antlers, as the new Queen of this kingdom, Margaery had taken on the other responsibilities with the help of himself and Olenna. Already, despite the war, she was implementing several new jobs that included farming, mining, fishing and other important jobs that couldn't be filled with the current manpower shortage.
However, it was necessary.
With Robb's army already fully amassed and the sheer size of his kingdom, especially with all the problems that were taking place, he had several serious problems. Edmure Tully was doing excellently in supplying food and overseeing the implementation of fishing once more in the Riverlands. This gave more food with quite a lot being supplied up North and to the Antlers.
But they also had to gather raw materials, the reason behind it hadn't been something that Margaery had liked hearing. The possibility of Robb losing was something she had refused to believe, which had been a curious thing for him and Olenna.
They hadn't forced Robb Stark into a marriage with Margaery at the time considering Robb's chances of victory were high and their choices limited. The plan had been for Margaery to seduce Robb and then subtly manipulate him to increase Tyrell's power, not to fall in love. But it seemed that things hadn't gone exactly to plan, just like many things in this war.
However, if Robb lost then the Riverlands would be open once more to invasion from the Lannisters. Willas had doubts about Robb's victory considering the size of Tywin's host, yet he didn't doubt that they would be drastically reduced in size as a result of this battle.
If Robb did lose, then the Riverlands needed their castles repaired in preparation to face them. The garrisons had already been increased as a result of recruiting from the Smallfolk, it was why Robb hadn't in turn drawn additional forces from the Riverlands. He too was preparing for the possibility that he might lose.
"You looked tired, Margaery," Willas said, taking note of her appearance. To the normal person, she would appear just as beautiful as always, clad in the Stark colours she looked very much like a Queen of the North.. But to him, as her brother, he could recognise the subtle signs. "You should rest, properly. Remember, you don't only have yourself to worry about."
At these words, Margaery's hands moved to her stomach, the smile on her face at seeing her brother, momentarily twisting into a frown. Olenna herself looked, her face giving nothing away on what she thought on the matter.
"I'm well aware, dear brother." She answered. "What news do you have?"
"Several letters," Willas answered, frowning slightly. "Lord Mallister reports that Lord Vance has taken Flint's Finger and Lord Bracken has taken Castle Cerwyn."
"That's good news at least," Olenna stated. "And what else?"
"In summary, Lord Greatjon Umber is dead. Out of the Wildling horde, Lord Stark estimates that only a quarter are warriors. But there are Giants amongst them." Both Olenna and Margaery showed varying measures of surprise at this news. Giants were believed to be beings of myth, to now be faced with the news that they still existed was shocking. "This is something he stakes his word upon. However, that is not the end of the news. Stannis Baratheon is at the Wall."
Both went silent at this news, Willas providing them time to come to terms with this. Though by the looks on both their faces, they recognised just how precarious things were.
"Lord Stark has evacuated men west of the Northern Mountains to Mormont Keep and everyone east, to Karhold. Lord Mallister says that this will keep the Boltons, the Dustins and Stannis in a state of temporary immovability. Especially with Lady Stark and the Stark Princes not in Winterfell." Willas continued, providing some good news at least. "This provides Lord Mallister freedom to move, and he's already begun making moves against the Ironborn and the Boltons."
"If Lady Stark and the Princes are not in Winterfell," Margaery began. "Then where are they? Is there any news on whether they've been found yet?"
"No one knows," Willas answered simply.
"And the King?" Olenna spoke up.
"Engaged Tywin Lannister three days ago," Willas informed. "He reports that they have only engaged in small skirmishes over the previous two days, each one ending in their victory. It was today that they engaged in full force on the flanks ending in a draw on both sides. Victory is still in sight."
The comforting words did nothing to calm, Margaery's words.
"Inform him of the child," Olenna said.
"Mother!" Margaery exclaimed in shock.
"What? It is good news, is it not?" The Queen of Thorns posed.
Willas nodded his head. "Dear sister, I understand your wish to not distract the King, but this news could very well be the thing that provides extra morale to the men. Their loyalty to Robb is undeniable, but they fight not only for the King, for their families, but the dynasty that he represents. Knowledge of an heir will make them fight harder and make them more secure that this dynasty will have an heir upon which they can follow should Robb...lose his life. Send him a letter, I know you wished to tell him when he returned, but you must tell him."
Margaery remained silent.
She knew what Willas was saying was true, but she hadn't told Robb because part of her hoped that not doing so and waiting for him to return would mean that he would do so. Part of her feared that by telling him, he wouldn't come back and would die in battle. That he would take risks for victory and risking his own life knowing that his dynasty was secured.
She hadn't said anything believing that by not doing so, he would come back alive.
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