Game of Thrones Iron Stark

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CaveLeather

No one interrupted while Randyll Tarly spoke to his son. Even Tywin Lannister stayed silent. He understood the rare satisfaction of seeing a child finally show spine. Tywin had three children of his own—Cersei married to the king, Jaime in the Kingsguard and still unwed, and Tyrion… best not mentioned. Watching Randyll's rare moment of pride made the old lion quietly envious.

Eddard Stark broke the silence first.

"My lords. Your Grace. The dead are no longer a story from beyond the Wall. We need to act. Suspend the tourney. Set aside every private grudge. The realm's first duty is to the Wall."

Robert turned to Tyrion. "You're supposed to be the clever one. What do we do?"

Tyrion didn't hesitate. "Tony Stark and Lord Stannis already prepared for this. Tony has been mining dragonglass on Dragonstone and shipping it north for months. The real problems now are numbers and leadership."

He looked around the table. "Each of the nine regions sends one thousand men. North, Iron Islands, Vale, Westerlands, Crownlands, Stormlands, Reach, Dorne, and the Riverlands. Nine thousand soldiers plus the Night's Watch gives us roughly ten thousand. We also need experienced commanders who know how to hold a wall."

Robert rubbed his beard. "Holding walls… there's no one better at that than my brother. Stannis."

Stannis gave a single, stiff nod.

"Then it's settled," Robert said. "We create a new force—the Wall Guard. Stannis commands it."

Ned frowned. "Your Grace, Lord Commander Mormont still leads the Night's Watch. Placing Stannis over him risks looking like we're pushing the Watch aside after they've guarded the realm for thousands of years."

Varys spoke smoothly. "Lord Eddard, the last few Lord Commanders have rarely led more than a hundred men at once. Ten thousand is a different game. Experience matters."

Before the argument could grow heated, Tyrion cut in again.

"Then give them two deputy commanders. Mormont and Lord Randyll Tarly. One knows the Wall, the other knows how to win battles."

Robert grinned. "Done. And add the Umbers at Last Hearth and the men of Bear Island. They're closest to the danger."

He looked at Barristan Selmy. "Ser Barristan. Take all seven Kingsguard and ride north with Stannis. Protect the realm."

Pycelle sputtered. "Your Grace, the Kingsguard exist to guard your person—"

Robert stood, shrugged off his outer robe, and revealed the plate armor beneath. He picked up his warhammer with one hand.

"I still have this," he said, voice carrying. "If the rest of you fuck this up, maybe I'll be the last line of defense. Don't disappoint me, little brother."

Stannis bowed his head.

Tywin spoke next. "Since the king sends his brother, I'll send mine. Kevan, go with Stannis."

Kevan Lannister rose at once. "Yes, my lord."

Oberyn Martell leaned forward, eyes bright. "Dorne rides with you. I'll lead them myself."

Garlan Tyrell stood. "The Reach will not be absent. I go as well."

Robert nodded, satisfied. "Muster your men. Meet at Riverrun, then march north along the Kingsroad. Any hedge knights still lingering in the city who want to fight can come too. It'll thin the streets and give us more swords."

For once, the men around the table looked at Robert and saw more than a drunken king. They saw a man who could still lead when it mattered.

---

In Sheep Village the three baby dragons drank sheep's milk and seemed to love it.

They were also strangely affectionate toward the sheep people, especially Happy Sheep.

Happy Sheep ran across the open ground with one of the hatchlings in his arms, moving so fast the little dragon spread its wings as if trying to fly. It couldn't yet—the wings were still too weak—but it clearly wanted to.

Daenerys watched them with a thoughtful smile.

"Happy Sheep," she called, "you and my dragon seem to share a bond. When they are grown, I could make you a knight… and a dragonrider."

The Dothraki warriors nearby stared with naked envy. They had begged for the same honor and been refused.

Happy Sheep gently set the dragon down and bowed.

"Princess, I'm honored. But my people love peace. We don't fight or kill. A dragonrider's life isn't for us. Please give the honor to someone who wants it more."

Daenerys felt a small sting of disappointment, but she nodded. "As you wish."

Outside the village, in a patch of rich grass and clean water, pollen from the Qiq i flowers had drifted in on the wind. It settled into the soil and took root within hours. By the next day the strange flowers had already spread across several yards, choking out the native grass and wildflowers around them. They grew fast—too fast—and they showed no sign of stopping.