Capítulo 65: Chapter 65
The Royal Wedding was to be a grand event. As was expected of a Royal Wedding. Everyone in the city was running around, preparing for a grand wedding not seen in over a century. Even the wedding Robert Baratheon had with Cersei Lannister was not talked about or considered as grand as this one. Though it wasn't that surprising for many since the Royal Wedding between those two had followed after the sacking of King's Landing by Tywin Lannister. Most people were trying to recover from that sacking and many of the low born who suffered during that time did not attend it. This time, they were going to get the chance to enjoy a Royal Wedding over having to hear about it from their severely damaged homes or overhear how the wedding went from the numerous servants of High Lords who were there.
This time, all of King's Landing would be able to attend, enjoy, and celebrate the wedding of their new King and his caring and lovely wife of a Queen.
"You want all three religions to be part of the wedding, your Grace?" asked Tyrion in confusion since he was surprised this came from the King's own mouth.
"Why not? I said that the city is open to all faiths. It is only fitting they bless our union. Plus, it prevents those of multiple faiths from feeling theirs is not being appreciated by the Crown. There is nothing wrong with having my marriage being blessed by multiple Gods Tyrion. This also removes the issue of anyone claiming their Gods or faith being superior to the others for not blessing it. Besides, it's better, not to mention cheaper to have one big wedding held by all three faiths over three different weddings from each faith being held one at a time," said Aegon with Tyrion thinking it over in his mind before nodding.
"True. I take it you have someone in mind to perform the ceremony required by R'hllor?" asked Tyrion with Aegon nodding.
"Yes. Thoros of Myr and the Red Priestess Melisandre will be performing it. I know one is a drunk and the other came here with Stannis Baratheon. Fortunately, my time in King's Landing has made Thoros sober and Melisandre pleased her God will have a deeper connection Westeros. Though I did remind them that anyone who wishes to join their faith must do so of their own freewill. The same is said for those who wish to follow the Old Gods or the Seven Faith. I won't tolerate any type of war of religions. They understand that and know their God or Gods do too since it would only hinder their Gods presence here. Not help it," said Aegon with Tyrion nodding since it did make sense to him when thinking it over.
"It also helps with any couple who are not from King's landing and wish to be married here without the issue of their faith being different among the others here," added Varys who was from Essos and was pleased the King was thinking of everyone and not just a select few.
"Exactly," said Aegon knowing Varys would hit the issue on the head.
"Wedding aside, there is one issue that needs to be addressed immediately your Grace," said Ned with Aegon nodding since business with the Seven Kingdoms could not be postponed, even for a wedding.
"The Wall?" asked Aegon with Ned nodding.
"Aye, the Wall," answered Ned knowing it needed the King's attention.
"A message from the Lord Commander I take it?" asked Aegon with Ned nodding again.
"Yes. The Lord Commander requires more men for the Wall. It has been undermanned and several castles there have been empty for years now. All of them falling apart with little to no maintenance to keep them running. Those that are filled have not been properly maintained due to the lack of coin and means to improve the various defenses there," said Ned while handing the message to the King.
"For how long?" asked Aegon with Ned sighing.
"Since Robert was King," replied Ned while Aegon let out a long and very tired sounding sigh.
Not surprising since Aegon was trying to fix Robert's mistakes and lack of running the Seven Kingdoms in such a short amount of time. The fat man truly had been a lazy fucker who cared for nothing but his own vices he could enjoy while being King.
"So, not only did the Usurper unknowingly bankrupt the realm with the involuntary help of the late Lord Baelish, but he didn't give the Wall the necessary funds needed to keep them running. Just the people sent there," remarked Aegon with Ned nodding.
"I didn't think it would be so bad like this when Robert had asked me to be his Hand. The Wall is to be its own part of the Realm not tied to the Crown or any Lords despite there being a tax in place to help send it coin. As such, I left it alone unless they asked for men to help man it. In fact, I didn't even know about the Wall being in such poor condition until just now. It was as if the news was kept from me before and after I was made Hand of the King," explained Ned with the new King letting out another sigh.
"Fortunately, we are going to correct that. I want a long list of names of carpenters, masons, and anyone else skilled in the arts of building or in the repairing of buildings brought to me before the end of the week. Once the wedding is over, we will send as many of them as we can to the Wall for the purpose of fixing each and every castle. Each and every defense along the Wall will be updated to help in repelling attacks from the other side. All of them will be paid handsomely for their time and effort. In addition, we will need men to help fill those castles once they are ready to be used," said Aegon knowing the work done on the Wall will mean next to nothing if there isn't anyone using them.
"Given how the Wall is seen by many these days as some kind of penal colony for rapist, thieves, and murders who wish to not lose a hand or a head, it will be best to change that image," said Stannis since he had heard many who wish to escape harsh punishment use the Wall as a last resort.
"The question is how? We want people to join the Wall willingly because it serves a purpose. Not just so they can keep their head when justice demands that certain people lose theirs," said Aegon with many nodding since there were many who used the Wall to escape being put to death when justice for those harmed by guilty parties called for the sword.
"The purpose of the Wall is to keep the Wildlings out your Grace. As well as the rumored Others that are there lurking past them," said Ned with Aegon nodding since that was the purpose of the Wall for one thousand years.
"Unfortunately, many feel the Wildings fall under the jurisdiction of the North once they get over the Wall. Just like how deserters of the Night's Watch would be killed if they are caught," said Varys with Ned sighing since it seemed he had been too blind with the way things had gone following Robert's war with the Targaryens.
"Hence why many feel being sent to the Wall is seen more as a punishment over an honor. Still, it needs to be manned and manned properly. There are still a lot of people who are poor and don't have much of a purpose in life considering how overly crowded the city is right now. Correct?" remarked Aegon with the others on the Small Council nodding.
"Yes, your Grace. From my understanding, the city is currently filled with roughly one million people. At the very least," said Mace with the man having lengthy conversations with Varys and Ser Barristan on the estimated number of people in the city and just how much King's Landing could hold before being deemed overcrowded.
"Meaning there are plenty of people who need a purpose in life over living poor nonexistent lives. They could be offered new lives if properly relocated elsewhere with promises of employment and coin, am I correct on that?" said Aegon with everyone nodding.
"Are you thinking of relocating people from the city to the North or the Wall your Grace?" asked Stannis with Aegon nodding.
"There is a small area in the North where a village called Wintertown resides. It is mostly populated with only a few thousand people during the Summers and more during the Winters. I saw it in passing once or twice when I was younger. It has been arguably underused for some time in my opinion. We can have the people living in the city be told of possibly relocating to the North, if they want to move out, and live a life where they can have new fresh start. We can also offer them a chance to join the Night's Watch and make something of themselves there too. To perform the task of defending the realm in their own way over living a life of poverty and suffering," said Aegon with everyone thinking it over and felt it was a good idea since it would lighten the populace in the city while helping another location in the Seven Kingdoms grow.
"Can the North handle such a sudden increase in population growth? We are talking about more than a few thousand people," said Tyrion knowing such an increase meant more homes, a means to feed them, clothed them, and ensure they have jobs that paid good coin that is used for when it is time to pay the North taxes.
"If we have time to prepare for it, I know the North can support them. The North is arguably the largest Kingdom among all Seven put together. It has plenty of land to allow expansion if necessary. I can easily send a raven to Maester Luwin. He can see to starting the project and my son Robb can help oversee it when returning to the North following the royal wedding," said Ned with Aegon nodding.
"Excellent. By the time Robb returns North, I imagine Maester Luwin will have made the necessary plans for him to manage when the project gets started," replied Aegon knowing his cousin will have his hands full once returning to the North.
"There is one more thing about the Wall that was sent to us separately, yet it as signed by both the Lord Commander Mormont and Maester Aemon," said Ned before handing it to the King.
"It says that the Wildlings are marching South, and they are heading straight for the Wall. From what the Lord Commander was able to learn from his…questionable source, the self-proclaimed King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder, has roughly 100,000 Wildlings under his command," said Aegon with the rest of the Small Council looking shocked.
"That many?" asked Mace while in shock at the number this man commanded since it would take more or less the combined strength of two, if not more, Houses to come close to that number.
"From what the Lord Commander was able to learn, it took Mance Rayder about 20 years to unite them all under his command. He also says that they are marching to get out of the North. Almost as if there is something chasing them. He suspects…it's the Others. The White Walkers," said Aegon while reading the message carefully.
"Grumpkins and Snarks your Grace. Stories to tell children so they behave and don't become unruly," said Mace offhandedly since that was what he believed about the White Walkers.
"Maybe that is what everyone south of the Neck may think Lord Mace. But not the North. And certainly not the men of the Night's Watch. They are real. You caught and beheaded a deserter at one point, did you not Uncle?" questioned Aegon with Ned nodding.
"The third one that very month. Just before Robert came to see me to become his Hand. The deserter I beheaded claimed to have seen the White Walkers. A large part of me was hoping he was wrong. Even more so when I brought my sword down on his neck," said Ned while Aegon nodding.
"Unfortunately, for those who believe or wish the White Walkers were just a story, myth, legend, and a means to keep unruly children in line…these creatures are real," said Aegon with members of the Small Council looking fearful and still unsure if what he told them was true.
Part of them hoped he was lying. A large part.
"How do you know this your Grace?" asked Varys curiously.
"My powers. When I am in deep mediation and draw on it, I can see things beyond the norm. I can see things, events even, as far as Essos. I can see things beyond the North and beyond the Wall. I saw them. Five of them in total, but with one of them wearing a Crown of ice on his head. That is the Night King. He is the source. Kill the source and you kill the other White Walkers along with every undead they have made rise from death itself. Strike down the King and the rest fall," said Aegon with many knowing this was true given any sense of command in their society and it made sense if the King among the White Walkers was killed.
The greatest strength the White Walkers had was the Night King, but he was also the source of their own weakness when it came to defeating them in combat.
"Do you know when the White Walkers will make their move?" asked Stannis curiously since they all knew not to question the King's powers or what he could see with it.
"Not for quite some time Lord Stannis. They are moving slowly. Patiently. They have time on their side. Or so they believe. They only take small groups from those who stray too close to their area. Wildings. Night's Watch. They take whoever they can get to feed their army for their own march on the Wall. It is understandable if Mance is making his move now. He knows as well as I do that if the Wildlings don't head South of the Wall…," said Aegon while giving everyone a knowing look.
"By the Gods, the White Walkers will have added 100,000 to their army," whispered Ser Barristan from his position in the room with everyone now feeling uneasy.
"Exactly Ser Barristan. Well over 100,000 undead added to what the White Walkers already have in their army to march South. That kind of increase will easily give our true enemy the means to take the Wall themselves or find a way around it," said Aegon with many frowning now at this possible threat being all the more real to them.
"How do we proceed on this matter your Grace?" asked Mace worriedly.
"I do have an idea Lord Mace. One that I have no doubt will not be popular with everyone here for even suggesting it. The Lords of the North even more so should they hear of it after this meeting. The idea my Small Council members, is to let the Wildlings through the Wall to live in the North along the Gift," said Aegon with the other Small Council members looking shocked by this.
"Your Grace, I must protest. As your Hand and Warden of the North, it must not be done! It goes against everything for the last 1,000 years," protested Ned knowing the Lords of the North would never go for it.
"I agree with Lord Stark. Wildings do not care for anything. This Mance Rayder calls himself a King and united them to get over the Wall. If they did, what would happen next? They would possibly disband with their shared goal being completed. They would rampage through the North and go further South to cause more chaos. It would be as if having a combination of the Iron Born and Dothraki Hordes running freely through our lands without a means to truly stop them," said Stannis firmly.
"I agree with my fellow Council members your Grace. From what I understand, these Wildlings are quite savage and ruthless. They don't believe in kneeling to any King. I imagine they only listen to this Mance Rayder because he has some kind of plan to achieve his goals. Once that is done, it will be every clan or tribe for themselves. I dare not think of the chaos they would bring to the Seven Kingdoms if that did happen. No army could be mobilized quickly enough to stop them if they scattered once getting over the Wall," said Mace, who had surprised some members of the Small Council for his way of thinking since his point was like theirs, but also mentioning any bannermen called to fight them would take time.
Time they would not truly have or possibly be able to utilize effectively to repel them. No one truly knew how Wildlings fought when it came to battle.
"They are not wrong your Grace. The idea of Wildlings being brought over the Wall does not sit well with either. While the alternative is far more worse, perhaps another idea should be considered," said Varys with Aegon shaking his head.
"I have considered all alternatives Varys. My Lords. Believe me I have considered what would happen if we let them over the Wall. But this one is the best choice. We cannot kill the Wildlings, even if they were brought over the Wall because it would be wrong. It would be mass murder no matter how you look at it or try to justify the act. No one here can justify the murdering of over 100,000 people. Not all of them are fighters or warriors. Many of them will be women and children seeking to escape the reach of the White Walkers. Who here wishes to be a murderer of so many who are innocent? To murder them all simply because they are nothing more than Wildlings? Either we help get over the Wall and deal with them soon after, or we prevent them from leaving their side of the North and let the true enemy turn those poor souls into soldiers for their army? I understand your fears and concerns my Lords. I do. But with the Wildlings over the Wall, we deny the Others the increase in strength. We can also handle the Wildlings accordingly once they are on our side and ensure they do not try anything while here," said Aegon with many of the Lords in front of him not liking this idea.
And rightfully so. The Wildlings were considered to be a combination of the Iron Born and the Dothraki, but without the horses or ships. In addition, there were so many of them that if they did scatter once over the Wall, it would take considerable effort and time to track any of them down or call the banners to amass an army to fight them in battle.
But the horrifying alternative was to leave the Wildlings on their side of the Wall. Let them be consumed by the Others and become meat for the undead army the Night King Commanded. Give the true enemy the strength it needed to not only march South, but to possibly get over the Wall. While it was once said powerful magic was used to keep the Wall intact, it was also done to keep the Others from getting over the Wall too. However, if the army they commanded was large enough, the enemy just might succeed in their mission.
And bring about a true winter and darkness not seen in the Seven Kingdoms for 1,000 years.
"If we do this, it will have to be done carefully your Grace. I will not see the North, much less the Seven Kingdoms be ravaged and crippled by Wildlings to the point where we have neither the time nor means to defeat the White Walkers," said Ned with Aegon nodding.
"I am well aware of that Uncle. Fortunately, time is still on our side. Mance will march on the Wall soon enough from what the Lord Commander told us in his message. Fortunately, it will still be a while longer before they do. The realms still need time to adjust to me being King. Not to mention they wish said King to be married and have a Queen by his side ruling with the eventual heir to be born. We will give the realm what it wants for now. In the meantime, we can secretly prepare and plan for what is to come while keeping the truth from the people to prevent an overall panic. When the time comes, we will make the announcement of what has been happening and what we intend to do about it. Uncle, when the time comes, you and Robb will address the Northern Lords about this. Without question, they trust you to protect the North. When the time comes, you are going to the be the one explaining this to them and bring them onboard despite their anger over this when hearing the news," said Aegon with Ned nodding knowing it was best if he spoke to them about this discreetly.
The other Lords in the room knew they would have to do the same for their own lands in order to help prepare things for possible risks. Not only the Wildlings, but the White Walkers too if they managed to get over the Wall.
"One more thing. Lord Varys, I need your help with this considering what it entails," said Aegon with Varys now looking at him fully to show he had the man's full attention.
"I am at your command your Grace," replied Varys knowing the King was putting him in charge of a task of extreme importance of the most delegate nature.
"The Wildfire below King's Landing is a threat to the city. My Grandfather should have never given the order to have it stored underneath the Capital. Madness or not. Still, it has given us a potential weapon to hurt the White Walkers. However, moving it is a delegate issue. One that requires a delegate touch with a great deal of discretion for the task at hand. One I am putting you in charge of Varys. I am giving you 1,000 Unsullied to take into the catacombs beneath King's Landing. Use your little birds. All of them if necessary. Find every cache, every jar, and every container of Wildfire beneath this city. Get it out of the Capital and take to the North. When the time comes, we can have it deployed to be used against the White Walkers. Coordinate with my Uncle on the best places to store them in the North that are close to the Wall, but not too close," said Aegon with Varys nodding.
"Lord Hand and I will make sure every single one is removed your Grace. What of the jars stored by the Alchemist Guild? They still have plenty of their own in storage," said Varys knowing Wildfire was very volatile and dangerous if even a single drop left those jars near an open fire.
"Take them too. Almost all of them. We will leave a few jars in their possession, so they don't feel too insulted by the sudden loss. Take the safest, yet stable roads to the North. Make sure the route takes the fewest bumps and have scouts check those routes ahead of time. I will not have such shipments of Wildfire be taken and possibly abused by bandits or anyone else," said Aegon with Varys and Ned both nodding since they wouldn't want it getting into anyone's hands to use for nefarious purposes.
"What about using ships your Grace? Surely transporting them on ships would be safer, correct?" asked Mace curiously while Aegon shook his head.
"It would, in theory Lord Mace. But ships can rock back and forth. The weather may get rough or stormy when at sea. The cargo could easily break and spill before exploding violently with the crew suffering for it. While we could fill Wildfire in the cargo holds of any ship, the seas are more unpredictable than the roads on land. It will be slower, but safer to have the Wildfire transported North by using the roads. We just have to carefully plan and secure the route needed to ensure it is safely done without casualties," said Aegon with members of the Small Council nodding since they had time to do it.
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