The War of the Five Kings began with a series of humiliating defeats in the Riverlands, almost leaving them no room to retaliate against the Westerlands.
The Battle of Gold Tooth first saw the loss of four thousand men from House Piper and House Vance, and then over ten thousand men from the Riverlands were routed in the battle beneath Riverrun.
The Quartered Banner hung high on the wall of the Wolfs Den council chamber: a crowned stag on a field of gold, now with the crown and warhammer symmetrically echoing above the stag's head; three red dragons on a black field; below, a galloping Wolf Pack on a white snowfield; and a silver slave breaking shackles on a sea-green field.
Today's discussion was about entering Westeros. Those present in the council chamber were Gendry's absolute confidantes: Anguy the Attendant, The Handsome Man the treasurer, Maester Qyburn the intelligence officer and maester, Dick the Fletch the quartermaster and advisor, Ser Barristan the lord commander of the kingsguard, Longspear, Steel Fist, and Black Billy from the Wolf Pack Legion; Grey Wolf (the former Unsullied leader) and Gilo (the former Commander of the Spear Company) from the Free Legion; Ser Jorah from the Second Sons Legion; Moros (a smuggler from Myr) the Commander of the Two Cities fleet; and Harris (a former exiled slave from Volantis) the Commander of the Narrow Sea fleet.
Gendry felt surrounded by talent. This was a combination of Free Mercenaries, liberated slaves, disgraced maesters, and exiled Knights, yet Gendry believed they were second to no army in the world, and under his leadership, they were unstoppable.
In Westeros, Gendry would certainly have found it difficult to organize such an army, as Westeros places great emphasis on noble hierarchy and order.
Across the Narrow Sea, however, there was the possibility of appointing people based on their abilities.
"We are perhaps the last to prepare for the Westeros civil war," Gendry said, rising to address the assembled.
Gendry wore a studded black leather jerkin, the only embellishment being a quartered emblem.
Myr, after all, was further south, with a milder climate.
Gendry now stood six feet six inches (2.01 meters) tall, like a towering giant, head and shoulders above the crowd.
His strength was also like that of a giant; the warhammer he wielded was difficult for others to even lift.
He seemed a combination of strength and beauty, with black hair and blue eyes, a refined and handsome face, clear and bright eyes, broad shoulders, and the strong arms characteristic of a blacksmith.
However, Gendry felt he wasn't the tallest of the Storms Blood; the mad storm of yesteryear was about as tall as Duncan the Tall, and Ser Duncan the Tall was six feet eleven inches (2.11 meters).
Everyone couldn't help but laugh, their voices tinged with pride.
"That's because we are the latest army to rise, while other Lords have been eager for a long time—the Old Lion, Renly the usurper."
What good was it that these people prepared the earliest? They were destined to be defeated by the liberator.
"That's irrelevant; what matters is that I will win this war.
winter is coming, and we face an unprecedented danger.
Maester Qyburn, how long has summer lasted in Westeros?"
"After a long summer comes a Long Winter, and summer and winter are almost equal in length.
A long summer is a legendary thing.
This summer began in 289 AC, and even with a conservative estimate of a nine-year long summer, it is very likely that a Long Winter of nine years or more will follow.
What does this mean?"
Maester Qyburn said.
"This winter could be the most severe winter."
"So we need to have a psychological expectation: victory is only the first step; how to feed the hungry mouths and heal the wounds of war is the immediate priority," Gendry told everyone.
"Therefore, our military discipline must be strict when we march.
Because we are not just an army of summer, but also an army of winter."
The crown was not just an honor, but also a responsibility.
In this regard, Gendry felt he might have common ground with Stannis.
"Yes."
"Yes." Everyone promised.
"The war in Westeros is in a stalemate, and we need to find an opportunity in the complicated situation," Gendry said.
"This opportunity is the Riverlands.
Perhaps many people speculate that I will disrupt the Stormlands, but compared to the Stormlands, my opening move must be in the Riverlands."
"The Riverlands?" Everyone already knew this idea beforehand, so they continued the discussion.
"Nevertheless, we also need to pay attention to the situation in the Stormlands; this responsibility falls to Maester Qyburn."
Renly might want to win over Stannis, but Stannis also had his own ideas.
"Yes."
"What is the situation at Riverrun now?" Ser Barristan asked next.
The Old Maester was battle-hardened and highly respected; he was entrusted with important responsibilities, with almost no dissenting opinions.
The Old Knight Barristan, Old Maester Qyburn, and Old Quartermaster Dick the Fletch—these were the three elders of Wolfs Den, and no one could question their authority and wisdom.
"Riverrun is still under siege by the Kingslayer's divided forces and should be able to hold out.
After the Kingslayer's victory outside Gold Tooth, he marched straight to Riverrun, where he again routed Edmure Tully's hastily assembled army.
Previously, Ser Edmure had dispersed the main Riverlands forces to pursue Gregor Clegane's men and protect villages.
When he learned that the defenders outside Gold Tooth had been annihilated, he could only hastily recall his scattered troops.
Due to the defeat, Edmure's army was routed.
Edmure himself and many Riverlands Lords were captured.
Riverrun was directly exposed to the Lannister siege, in grave danger.
Fortunately, Lord Blackwood escaped back to Riverrun and opened the sluice gates, allowing them to hold out," Qyburn replied.
"Since they escaped back to Riverrun, they can naturally hold out, and Riverrun has enough grain to sustain the defenders for two years.
It's just that with such a devastating defeat, the morale inside Riverrun is probably low," Ser Jorah said.
The defenses of castles in Westeros were almost maxed out, with formidable castles like The Eyrie, Casterly Rock, and Storms End.
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