Date: 299 After Landing, Summer
Funny how quickly the tides turn. One minute I'm worry about how I'm going to double the size of my army, train it, and have it ready for battle in the span of few months, and the next I'm standing in my solar reading a letter that may change everything.
Just a few days after turning Lord Footly and the other captives of the Battle of Harrenhal over to King Eddards men for transport North, a raven arrived from my men at the Golden Tooth. Turns out Tyrion and Jaime Lannister managed to find a way back to Casterly Rock. I guess when you have a family known for its wealth, it isn't difficult to find allies to sneak you across enemy lands unseen. But what I read next surprised me more.
Balon Greyjoy launched a seaborn invasion of the Westerands. His ships have been seen assaulting the settlements of Banefort, The Crag and Faircastle. From what I can gather the occasionally pillaging from the Iron Islands is usually expected, though hasn't happened for many decades, but this time they seem to be taking the lands rather than retreating back out to sea. A few days later I learned why. Greyjoy has named himself "King Balon," and declared his own independence from the Kingdom. He also has nearly a thousand ships to back up his claim.
Now, here is where things have gotten interesting. King Eddard has received two separate ravens, one from Tyrion Lannister, and the other from King Stannis, both seeking aid in their own way. Tyrion has promised that in exchange for aiding the Westerlands, the Lannisters would not only be in debt to the North, but would also join the Kingdom of the North if we so wished. I admit, the idea is appealing since it would vastly increase the North's gold supply and manpower. At the same time, King Stannis has offered to "forgive the North's treason" and "make peace" with us if we stayed out of the conflict altogether. Apparently Stannis wants Balon to lay waste to the Westerlands before he has his own fleet swing around the continent and put down Balon. I rather doubt that the peace he offers would be permanent, more of a respite, but it is one the North needs as well. People in the eastern Riverlands need to rebuild their lands, and some of the changes I have been pushing would work best in a time of peace.
Then again, some of the news coming out of King's Landing makes me wonder if peace will ever be possible. Stannis's Red Woman, a Priestess of R'hllor, has apparently moved into the Great Sept of Baelor and turned it into a Temple to the Lord of Light. Word has been spreading that she is forcing conversions on the people of the city, and burning those who refuse. The High Septon of the Faith of the Seven is said to have been the first to be burned alive, on a pyre made of religious relics. Luckily, with the North's King and Queen being of two separate faiths, separation of church and state is already in place here. But I can't help but fear what will happen when the Red Priests moves this way.
One bit of good news, the Nights Watch seemed happy to work with King Eddard. Before Jeor Mormont and a few hundred men went North on a ranging mission, he agreed to host our captives. In exchange for playing caretaker to these men, the captives will be made to work alongside the men of the Night's Watch. They wouldn't be allowed to hold a weapon, except when there is an emergency, but they can cut wood, cook, aid in construction and work in other non-combat roles. Those who don't work, don't eat. There would be some encouragement to join the Watch as well, but no coercion. He also agreed to let us place the low-born prisoners, forced into combat by their Lords, on the Gift, and in exchange any excess food they grow will be given to the Watch. Northmen would patrol these fields. The final condition was that, as always, the Watch would not take part in the wars of men. "We defend the Wall. Not Kings."
One final item the Watch agreed on, at my insistence, was that "Wildling" families would be allowed to cross South. It made no sense to me that someone would be denied safety based on where they were born. They could either be settled in the New Gift, or at Sea Dragon Point. They would have to agree to living under the rule of King Eddard and the Stark family, and follow the laws, but otherwise they would be safe. This should cut down on pointless conflicts and death. "Shield that guards the realms of men." To me it sounds like the Watch should be saving lives, not ending them.
The last of the Patrol Boats was launched today. PB-50, or Trout-50 if you are from Riverrun. It was a proud day for me, and to celebrate us securing the Riverlands waterways I paid for a feast and a day of rest for our soldiers. I took the opportunity to introduce baseball, and surprisingly it caught on with a few people. It was good to see a lot of smiling faces, and for at least a single day since I felt happy.
Next time I see Arya, I'm going to show her how to throw a fastball.