Night gradually settled over the land.
After enduring a brutal battle, the Northern alliance could finally rest.
Galon walked through the camp, carefully inspecting the condition of every army from both the North and the Riverlands.
In just a few short hours, he had done countless things.
He comforted lords who had suffered devastating losses, encouraged wounded soldiers, mourned fallen nobles, and dealt with one matter after another.
Only after finishing everything did Galon return to his own tent, accompanied by Ron and Sparta.
He lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.
Ron and Sparta followed.
After Sparta lowered the entrance curtain behind them, the night's chill, along with the day's chaos and tension, was shut outside.
Only the quiet flicker of candlelight remained.
Ron and Sparta exchanged a glance.
Neither approached.
They simply stood silently on either side of the entrance, watching Galon and waiting for whatever orders he might give.
Galon paid them no attention.
He strode over to the wooden table beside his campaign bed and sat down.
Then he unfolded the map he had brought back from the command tent.
His slender fingers traced the rough parchment while his gaze rested upon the map of the Seven Kingdoms.
His thoughts sank deep into contemplation.
'After today's bloody battle, the Riverlands have been devastated.'
'Many minor lords were killed. Entire companies of soldiers were wiped out.'
'Families like House Roote have practically ceased to exist...'
Recalling what he had witnessed during his inspection, Galon felt as though a massive stone were pressing against his chest.
The situation was even worse than he had expected.
The Battle of the Green Fork had crippled the loyalist strength of both the North and the Riverlands.
Because Kevan had decisively concentrated the Lannister assault on the Riverlands forces, smaller noble houses had been nearly annihilated.
The several thousand soldiers Edmure Tully had hastily raised had almost all perished.
Even powerful houses such as Bracken and Blackwood had lost nearly half their strength.
Though both lords survived, each now commanded only a few hundred men.
The North's losses were somewhat different.
Aside from House Umber, which had led the initial assault and suffered grievously, most northern houses had preserved the bulk of their strength.
However, Roose's earlier battle against Tywin had already cost nearly half of the ten thousand infantry Robb had brought south.
Many of those still alive were Bolton men.
Then Bolton had taken another sizeable force north with him to the Twins.
As a result, the combined Northern and Riverlands army under Galon's command now numbered only a little over seven thousand.
And that included the men Galon himself had brought.
House Glover's own soldiers had been reduced to fewer than four hundred after the day's desperate charge.
The Skagosi had been cut down to barely two hundred.
If the Lannisters marched on them now, Galon's only option would be retreat.
'Seven thousand...'
Galon calmly assessed the few remaining cards in his hand.
His expression grew increasingly grave.
Even if he successfully captured the Twins and absorbed House Frey's four thousand soldiers, his total strength would barely exceed ten thousand.
And that assumed everything went perfectly. Capturing the Twins without bloodshed was impossible.
His enemies, meanwhile... Vastly outnumbered him.
His gaze drifted south across the map. His finger came to rest on Sunspear.
Earlier that day, Kevan had confidently declared that Princess Myrcella's marriage to House Martell meant Dorne had joined the Iron Throne.
But Galon knew the true story.
The Martells still placed their hopes in House Targaryen.
'Daenerys... By now she has almost certainly captured Meereen.'
'News should soon reach Dorne.'
'Prince Doran will undoubtedly send Quentyn to Meereen in hopes of marrying Daenerys.'
Galon recalled the events of the canon. He knew the mission was doomed.
The young Dragon Queen cared far too much about appearance. She would never choose the plain-looking Quentyn Martell.
'If it were someone with my looks...' Galon couldn't help smiling. 'She'd probably agree without hesitation.'
'But that's fine.'
'At least Dorne won't immediately become involved in the coming wars.'
'That buys me more time.'
His attention shifted again. This time, toward King's Landing.
On the map, the golden lion of House Lannister stood side by side with the golden rose of House Tyrell, forming an overwhelming alliance.
After the Battle of the Blackwater, Tywin still commanded at least twenty thousand Westermen.
House Tyrell alone could field well over fifty thousand soldiers.
Seventy thousand...
...against ten thousand.
The disparity was enough to crush any commander's confidence. A direct confrontation offered no hope whatsoever.
Galon's finger slowly tapped Riverrun.
'Once Edmure is rescued...'
'...House Tully's prestige should allow the Riverlands to raise another seven or eight thousand troops.'
'If I send word to the North...'
'...Winterfell can probably raise nearly twenty thousand more in a desperate levy.'
'Combined with the Ironborn fleet... I'd command at least fifty thousand men.'
'But...'
He slowly shook his head.
The plan was impossible. The North still needed soldiers to defend its homeland.
More importantly... The wildlings were already being driven south by the White Walkers.
By Galon's estimate, Mance Rayder was likely preparing to march on the Wall even now.
His eyes lingered beyond the Wall.
Recalling everything he knew about the Night King, he eventually turned his attention back to Winterfell.
Then another problem struck him.
'No.'
'Even if I can solve the issue of manpower... What justification will I have for continuing the war?'
'Robb is dead. The one figure who united the North and the Riverlands is gone.'
'Even though he named Sansa as his heir... That only applies to the North.'
'The Riverlords barely obey House Tully. They certainly won't follow a Stark girl they've never even met.'
'Even Edmure and Brynden wouldn't support that.'
Galon frowned deeply.
Although the northern lords now honored him as the Protector of the King and had pledged themselves to him, the foundation of all that loyalty still rested upon Sansa Stark.
Without Sansa...
...many of them would eventually leave him.
The Riverlands were even less reliable.
Their current support existed only because the threat posed by the Lannisters and the Twins forced them together.
Once that danger disappeared... The Riverlords would quickly distance themselves from Galon.
Many would likely return to the Iron Throne.
After all...
Robb Stark was dead.
If they wished to serve a king, it would be the king in King's Landing—not an unseen Stark girl in Winterfell.
'A cause without legitimacy... Cannot endure.'
'Without a king's banner... What path is left for me?'
Regret flashed across Galon's face.
He blamed himself for overlooking this.
He had underestimated the importance of a king. He had underestimated how quickly circumstances could change.
If only Robb had survived long enough for them to defeat the Lannisters and force Tywin to surrender...
...None of these problems would exist.
But there were no second chances.
'Build walls. Store grain. Delay claiming the crown.'
'My strength is still insufficient. I cannot proclaim myself king and seize the Iron Throne.'
'Until my wings are fully grown... I need another king's banner. Someone whose claim I can use while I continue opposing the Lannisters.'
Galon remained calm as he searched through every possible claimant to the Iron Throne.
Yet no suitable answer emerged.
Among the surviving kings of the War of the Five Kings, none fit his needs.
Joffrey and Stannis both had to die.
Although Asha had come over to his side, Ironborn culture made her an impossible figure around whom to unite the mainland.
As for Sansa...
She seemed like the obvious choice. Yet she was also the most problematic.
Even if the Riverlords accepted her authority...
Galon, as a lesser noble marrying a queen, would always stand beneath House Stark.
The children's surname.
The succession.
The future of the kingdom.
Everything would belong to House Stark first. He would merely be working for the Starks.
That was something he could never accept.
'Robert's legitimized bastard would have been perfect.'
'But one was at Storm's End... And Cersei has probably already had him killed.'
'The other has disappeared without a trace. He's likely dead as well.'
'Leaving aside Joffrey... The only remaining claimant with Robert's blood is Stannis.'
'Should I use his daughter, Shireen Baratheon, as my puppet after killing him?'
Galon's eyes rested on Dragonstone.
After a long moment, he shook his head again. The hatred between them ran too deep.
Throughout all this, Ron and Sparta remained silent. Neither dared interrupt his thoughts.
Galon continued thinking.
'If not Shireen... Then only the Targaryens remain.'
But the moment he considered Daenerys... Along with her three dragons and growing army... He sighed.
She represented an even greater threat than the Lannisters.
'If Daenerys returns... I'll have no chance at all.'
'It seems... I'll have to choose Sansa. As for the problems that creates... I'll deal with them after surviving the current crisis.'
He licked his dry lips.
Bitterness filled his heart.
To the north lay the White Walkers and the wildlings. To the south stood the Lannisters and Tyrells.
Across the sea waited Daenerys, her dragons, and her armies.
And beside him...
...A Northern alliance on the verge of collapse.
For a brief moment... Even someone as strong-willed as Galon could not hide the exhaustion in his eyes.
But only for a moment. Soon his resolve returned.
'My great ambition remains unfinished.'
'I cannot give up now.'
Taking a deep breath, his eyes sharpened once more.
'My original plan... Was to use the War of the Five Kings to build wealth and power.'
'I intended to use Robb's death to seize control of both the North and the Riverlands.'
'When the wildlings invaded the North... I'd defeat them. Then recruit them, just as Stannis once did.'
'My army would surpass every kingdom.'
'Afterward... I'd use the Dragonbinder horn to control the dragons. Then unite the strength of the remaining kingdoms.'
'With the dragons and Jon... I'd destroy the Night King and the White Walkers.'
'Having saved the realm... I'd naturally possess the legitimacy to claim the Iron Throne.'
Galon continued refining his plans.
'But Euron's unexpected appearance threw everything off course.'
'The more I altered the original story... The greater the changes became.'
'Events have continued pushing me forward... Until now I'm riding a tiger I can no longer dismount.'
'And even if I raise Sansa's banner... The Iron Throne remains far away.'
'I need another ally.'
'A force capable of changing the entire war.'
His eyes slowly traveled eastward.
Past the Bloody Gate.
Finally, they stopped upon the untouched lands surrounded by towering mountains.
The Vale.
The Eyrie.
House Arryn.
And tens of thousands of fresh knights who had yet to fight a single battle.
'If I can win the Vale...'
'I'll stabilize both the Riverlands and the North. I'll bind them together through shared interests.'
'Only then... Will I possess the strength to face King's Landing.'
'And even if I still can't win... I can force a political balance. Then return north. Gather the free folk and claim the dragon hidden on Skagos.'
'When I return... The Iron Throne will finally be within reach.'
His finger rested upon the Eyrie. His eyes grew brighter and brighter.
This... Was the true key to victory.
'But...'
'How do I persuade the Vale to fight for me?'
Catelyn's worried face appeared in his mind.
At once, an idea formed.
'Catelyn should already have reached the Eyrie. But convincing Lysa to support the North?'
He shook his head.
Impossible.
Lysa's world revolved around only two people. Her son. And Petyr Baelish.
The moment Littlefinger arrived... Every effort Catelyn made would become meaningless.
'According to Kevan... Tywin has already sent Littlefinger to secure Lysa's allegiance.'
'By now... He should already have reached the Vale.'
Galon smiled faintly.
'The Vale is about to become very interesting. I think... I'll add a little more fire.'
Thinking of the tangled relationship between Catelyn, Petyr, and Lysa, a dangerous gleam entered his eyes.
In that instant...
...His plan was complete.
He would expose the truth behind Jon Arryn's murder.
He would use the complicated relationships among the three to drive them into open conflict until the scandal erupted and the great lords of the Vale were forced to intervene.
'And just in case...'
'...I'll send another letter.'
'Bronze Yohn Royce is the Vale's greatest bannerman. He has always been close to House Stark.'
'If I can convince him... The Vale will become mine.'
Galon picked up a quill.
After careful consideration, he began writing.
[Lady Catelyn,
At the Battle of the Green Fork, I captured Ser Kevan Lannister.
From him I learned that Petyr Baelish conspired with Lady Lysa to poison Lord Jon Arryn using the Tears of Lys.
Lord Eddard uncovered traces of the truth before he himself was betrayed by Baelish and the City Watch, leading to the tragedy in King's Landing.
I have also learned that Petyr Baelish is already on his way to the Vale.
Please be extremely cautious.]
After reviewing the letter, he wrote another to Yohn Royce.
In it, he repeated the same warning and asked Lord Royce to watch over Lady Catelyn.
Once finished, he looked toward Ron.
"Ron... Find several men."
"Reliable. Steady. People we can trust."
Ron straightened immediately.
"Yes, my lord."
He hurried out to the Glover encampment.
After Ron left, Galon glanced at Sparta before returning his eyes to the map.
'Next...'
'I need to inform Riverrun and Winterfell of Robb's death. They must also learn of Bolton's and Frey's conspiracy.'
'Riverrun is simple. But Winterfell...'
'Jon and Sansa must be warned about Ramsay Snow.'
He suspected Roose had already sent his bastard to seize Winterfell.
"With Jon there Winterfell shouldn't fall easily. But just to be safe... I'll have Maester Luwin write to my uncle Robett."
'He must bring the remaining Glover soldiers to reinforce Winterfell. That should allow the castle to hold until I return.'
After writing the two letters, Galon beckoned Sparta over.
"One letter goes to Riverrun. The other to Winterfell. Tie them to the correct ravens."
"Don't make a mistake."
Sparta nodded earnestly. Taking the letters, he left for the rookery.
Shortly afterward, Ron returned with five Glover soldiers.
"My lord. They're here."
"John, Jon, Lyon, Bobby, and Rickon."
"They're all longtime retainers of House Glover. And distant relatives of mine."
Galon carefully examined each of them.
The five men stood nervously. They already suspected they were about to receive an important mission.
Galon confirmed it.
"I want you divided into two groups and travel to the Vale. One group will ride to the Eyrie. The other to Runestone."
"Deliver these letters to Lady Catelyn and Lord Yohn Royce."
"Along the way... Spread a rumor."
He handed the letters to John and Lyon before lowering his voice.
"Tell people that Lady Lysa and Petyr Baelish were lovers. That together... They poisoned Jon Arryn."
The five men stared in disbelief.
Yet these were Galon's most trusted kinsmen. None questioned his orders.
John and Lyon tucked the letters into their clothing and nodded solemnly. "We won't fail you, my lord."
Galon nodded.
Turning toward Ron, he ordered, "Prepare horses and provisions. They leave tonight."
"They must reach the Vale as quickly as possible."
Ron immediately carried out the order.
Soon afterward...
Several horses disappeared into the darkness along the roads leading toward the Vale.
Two ravens also took flight...
...One bound for Riverrun...
...The other for Winterfell.
Having finished every urgent task, Galon finally extinguished the candle and went to bed.
The next morning, he was awake before dawn, full of energy once again.
By his orders, half the allied army rested while the other half hunted down scattered Lannister survivors and the remnants of the Brave Companions who had turned to banditry.
Galon himself rode with the Karstark cavalry to Saltpans, hoping to find some trace of Stannis's retreating forces.
Unfortunately...
They found nothing.
The captains of the merchant ships at Saltpans reported that Dragonstone's fleet had sailed away two days earlier and was now anchored somewhere near Quiet Isle.
Lord Rickard wanted to hire ships and continue the pursuit.
Galon refused.
Their first priority remained the Twins.
Stannis could be dealt with later.
After spending another two days resting at the ferry camp, Galon finally put his plan into motion.
The battered Northern alliance marched north along the Kingsroad toward the Twins.
At the same time...
Word of the Battle of the Green Fork began spreading across Westeros.
And by the time Galon's army approached the Twins...
His name had finally reached the highest board upon which the great game of Westeros was played.
Galon Glover...
...Had become famous with a single battle.
__________
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