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Chapter 44

The wrath of the North

Jon POV

It was still hard to accept who I was. If I accepted that I was Jaehaerys Targaryen, then Jon Snow was nothing but a lie. It felt like my life didn't belong to me. Still, I must do my duty, no matter what. I am Jaehaerys Targaryen, the King of the Seven Kingdoms.

"Your grace, we arrived at the Golden Tooth," Lord Jason Mallister informed me.

The Golden Tooth deserved its fame. At first sight, I could tell there was no way to pass it. To conquer it would cost many men and days. Too many. Standing on top of a hill, the castle overlooked everything in its path. We needed to pass it now. Good thing that Lord Mallister knew the way to pass it.

It only strengthened my opinion of Lord Edmure Tully. He knew everything before anyone else. He had prepared for this war a long time ago. A part of me was impressed and grateful. The other part was resentful that he didn't stop this war from happening in the first place.

"We will leave the foot soldiers there," I ordered.

It was the plan from the beginning. We will leave a portion of our forces and resources there. The Lannisters will think we are preparing to take on the castle, while in truth, we will ride around it. They will only see a host of foot soldiers surrounding the hill and nothing else.

It was a good plan, but not my plan. On top of the hill, where the Golden Tooth stood, it would be hard for them to see the detail of our forces. I knew I should follow the plan, and I did. Still, I didn't stop thinking of what I could do more.

Lord Edmure was smart, but he was a fool if he thought I didn't know what I was to him. Just a puppet in his mummer show. Part of me realized that it be better just to listen to Lord Edmure, as he probably knows better than me. But I couldn't let myself be controlled. I had my own goals.

"This way, your grace," Lord Jason led us through a narrow path. "Once we get to the Westerlands, we should hurry and defeat the host at Oxcross. Before anyone realizes what is happening."

"Lord Umber," I called out. "Would you be kind enough to lead the attack?"

"It would be my honor, your grace," Lord Umber replied with a big smile.

The Greatjon wasn't the most powerful or influential lord of the North, but he was the loudest. If he had something to say, everyone would hear it. I needed to win him over if I wanted to succeed in my goals.

"I trust you the most when it comes to fighting, Lord Umber. I know you will bring the victory to me."

"Your trust won't be misplaced, your grace," It seemed that my words affected him.

As a King, I couldn't be endangered. That is something that everyone had agreed on. I couldn't be seen to be leading forces in the first line. Still, I would not stand back and do nothing.

…

Once we reached the Oxcross, it was clear of was awaiting us. The camp was just about three days from the Golden Tooth. The information wasn't false. I blended in with the forest I observed through the far eye as their trained. Unskilled, that was the only word I had for them.

There were sellswords among them, but they weren't anyone special. There weren't any sentries keeping the watch. They had no idea that we were there. Lord Umber was eager to fight them, but I held him off till the night.

The battle was over before too long, if you could call it a battle. It was more like a massacre. Untrained and unprepared men faced the best the North could offer. It was a night raid, as they had not prepared any sentries, thinking they were safe in their lands. I used it, sending men to cut lose the enemy's horses, so they wouldn't be able to escape. Ghost silently had approached the camp and scared the horses away.

Then Lord Umber was set on them while I told Lord Karstark to secure as many hostages as possible. It was an excellent opportunity to get as many lords and heirs of Westerlands as captives. Not only do they hold great value as hostages, but the information we will get from them is essential too.

"Your grace, what should we do with them?"

Lord Manderly asked, presenting me with hostages. The one in the front was ser Stafford Lannister, a good brother to Tywin Lannister. I didn't know how much Lord Tywin cared for him, but the Queen or Tyrion might care about him, so I ordered him not to be injured.

The other hostages were to be escorted back to the Riverlands, where they would be kept until the war was over. Now the question was, what to do now? We should raid the Westerlands before returning, but I saw no value in it.

It will only anger the smallfolk. The Lords would keep their riches in their castles. We didn't have time to go and take every castle in the Westerlands. The Raids would only harm the smallfolk at this point. I was not too fond of it. The Winter is Coming, and if we burned the farmlands, many wouldn't be able to survive the winter.

"Should we siege the Casterly Rock, your grace?" Lady Mormont asked.

It would be great if we managed to capture the mighty castle, but it would be hard if not impossible. Still, Lord Tywin would lose a lot of reputation when people would learn of the attack on Westerlands. Lord Edmure would spread the rumors that Lord Tywin hid in the Red Keep while his lands burned.

"We don't have enough resources to fight a prolonged battle," Lord Manderly informed us.

"We could take the resources we need from the towns and villages," Lord Glover suggested, "We could take the Lannisport. There should be enough food and equipment to support us."

"We could," I agreed. "Yet, what would be the point? The Lannisters have already lost. All of the fighting men are at the King's Landing. And it seems that Lord Tywin is too keen on hiding. I say we bring the battle to him."

"Are you suggesting attacking the King's Landing?" Lord Mallister asked.

"No, I suggest taking the Crownlands first, then attacking the King's Landing," I answered. "Let's see where the loyalty of Crownlands stands. We would need to march on King's Landing, sooner or later, so why not take the Road that the Lannisters are so proud of?"

"It wouldn't be hard to get more resources from Riverlands once we are there," Lord Karstark agreed. "And we would need to march to Crownlands anyway, as his grace said."

"We should set up the camp and prepare for a siege at King's Landing."

Lord Umber, too agreed to my plan. I knew that the North wanted to prove themselves to others, just like I wanted to prove myself. For too long, they were looked down. They wanted to do something. With the victory the Riverlands got, they felt left out.

"So, it is decided, we will march to the King's Landing," I told them. "We will set the camp there and destroy those who won't kneel."

I couldn't stop at one victory. We needed more. The North wanted more, so I will give them the chance to get more.

…

The Goldroad was in pristine condition, so marching to the King's Landing wasn't hard. It wouldn't take long before we would reach the King's Landing. As we rode, the lords around discussed how we should take the city.

"We don't have enough men," Lord Jason argued against a frontal attack.

"Bah, they won't even know what hit them," Lord Umber disagreed. "Just like Tywin himself fell on the capital in Robert's rebellion and sacked it, we could do the same."

Lord Umber was not a fool. I knew he insulted me with that comment. He was a sly one, and if I let my guard down around him, he would take advantage of me. Yet there wasn't much I could say to him. After all, it was my grandfather who started the war. Now that I think about it, both of my grandfathers were killed there.

I didn't know much of the Mad King. My father, no, Lord Stark, didn't talk about the rebellion much. Yet I only heard good things of Rickard Stark. My family is probably the most complicated one in the whole known world.

"Lord Mallister is right," I intercepted before the argument got worse. "We don't have enough men to take on the King's Landing. But we have enough men to take over the Crownlands. Not many will expect to be attacked from the south."

"Aye, we should take Hayford and then move one to the houses of Blackwater Bay," Lord Manderly agreed with me. "I wonder how they will feel when they see that their King won't be coming to help them."

"I like to see their faces too," Lady Mormont laughed. "And if the Lannister tries to send someone to protect their lands, we can take on the."

"Then it is agreed," I said for everyone to hear. "We will take the Crownlands under control and wait for reinforcements to start the siege of the King's Landing."

Everyone agreed with my proposition. The lords of the North were pleased to fight. So far, they had not faced anyone worthy. It was only runaways or unprepared and unskilled men. It felt like we were the bad guys there. They wanted to fight someone deserving of our wrath.