How Is a King Made?

Riverrun stood at the confluence of the Red Fork and the Tumblestone.

The Kingsroad also ran through it.

It could be called the hub of the entire Riverlands.

Whoever controlled it controlled most of the Riverlands.

Riverrun had white walls and blue spires.

The rivers to its north and south teemed with thriving sturgeon.

Thus, the sturgeon became the sigil of House Tully of Riverrun.

Yet in a very short time, this city had experienced both immense joy and immense sorrow.

The joy was that the castle lord's grandson, Robb Stark, had led a great army to lift Riverrun's Lannister siege.

And Jaime, son of Lord Tywin Lannister, had been captured as well.

It was an unquestionable and glorious victory.

The sorrow was that Robb had lost his father forever.

The northern lords had lost their Lord of Winterfell forever.

At this moment, a discussion over their stance was underway in Riverrun's great hall.

After Eddard's death, King Robert's brothers had proclaimed themselves kings one after another.

And both demanded that the North and the Riverlands submit to them and join their cause.

Catelyn, however, hoped to join the relatively stronger side—Robert's youngest brother, Renly Baratheon.

Renly was already Lord of the Stormlands and master of laws in Robert's court, holding high rank and great authority.

Now he had allied himself with wealthy and powerful Highgarden.

He was determined to claim the crown.

By allying with Renly, Catelyn could rescue her two daughters trapped in enemy hands more quickly.

"Highgarden has already sent troops, and Storm's End goes without saying. If we join Renly as well, Lady Lysa will not hesitate either. Then six of the seven great houses will support him.

Before long, we can sweep up the Queen Mother, the little king, Lord Tywin, the Imp, and every last one of those Lannisters!

It will not even take a year, my lords! We need only join King Renly!" said a shrewd knight.

Catelyn looked at him, her eyes full of hope.

Stevron Walder.

She had never thought anyone from House Frey could look as pleasing as he did now.

Yet the one who shattered his hopes was her own son.

Robb sat high at the head of the hall and spoke slowly.

"Renly cannot be king. By law, Stannis is king! Just as Bran and Rickon cannot inherit Winterfell before me."

After winning such a great victory, Robb no longer needed schemes to solidify his authority.

For a military commander, victory was the greatest authority.

When he spoke now, he already carried the bearing of the Lord of Winterfell—or, more precisely, the bearing of his father.

But continuing to cling to Eddard's brand of honor and conviction at such a time would cost them a powerful ally and turn that ally against them.

It was a difficult road, one Catelyn did not wish to tread.

Yet asking the North and the Riverlands to pledge themselves to Stannis did not sit well with everyone either.

"Or perhaps we can wait and see. Let the two kings determine the victor themselves, then make our decision?

Of course, I imagine Lord Tywin would also be willing to pay some ransom," Stevron suggested again.

As expected, his words immediately drew rebuttals from the others. "That is cowardice!"

The speaker was Greatjon, whose roar nearly drowned out Stevron's proposal.

"Begging for peace is showing weakness!" Lady Mormont of Bear Island declared.

"To hell with peace talks!" Rickard reacted even more fiercely. Jaime had killed both his sons on the battlefield.

"Never negotiate!" said a Riverlands lord.

"Why not?" Catelyn asked in a voice that was almost pleading.

In her eyes, no number of victories could bring Eddard back to her.

But clearly, the northern and Riverlands lords all disagreed.

The Lannisters had gone too far. They had burned, killed, pillaged, captured cities, and taken strongholds throughout the Riverlands.

Until their ancestral lands were recovered, the Riverlands lords would never be willing to negotiate.

And after this expedition, the northern lords were bound to gain something—greater power, greater prestige—or they would not agree either.

"Negotiations are certainly possible, but we will not accept peace in name only," said Catelyn's uncle, Brynden Tully.

In his early years, Brynden had refused to follow his family's arrangements and marry for an alliance, so he left Riverrun to make his own way.

And he called himself Brynden the Blackfish.

His words rekindled Catelyn's hope.

If she allied with Renly, she could rescue her daughters sooner. If they made peace, she could rescue them immediately. She could accept either choice.

"If weapons are merely stored away for a while, only for war to be prepared again soon afterward, what meaning does such peace have?"

There will still be war. Catelyn cried inwardly, leaning weakly back in her chair.

Brynden's argument won the approval of most people.

"Never make peace lightly!"

Amid the clamor, someone spoke in a noticeably childish voice.

Catelyn followed the sound and discovered a little boy no older than ten.

"House Darry." Catelyn suddenly remembered.

Not long ago, Lord Raymun Darry, the boy's father, had been murdered by the Mountain.

Catelyn looked at Robb, but he did not seem to have made up his mind.

Her son was now commander of the army. His word was final.

Even Catelyn, his mother, could not interfere.

At that moment, a huge man suddenly leaped out and shouted, "My lords, let me speak my mind!"

It was Greatjon. The hulking man was brimming with spirit, glaring around like a tiger.

"Stannis? Renly? Pah!" Greatjon spat hard onto the floor. "What Highgarden, what Stormlands, what Lannisters—they are all fucking nonsense! What do they know of snow and wind, of the Wolfswood, of the gods?

They can fight however they please; it is none of my concern. But I say we can govern ourselves!"

As he spoke, he drew his sword, pointed it at Robb on the dais, and said,

"If I must choose a king, then him! Robb Stark is my king!"

The moment Greatjon finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

Even Robb himself could not hide the shock and excitement on his face.

Greatjon threw his broad, ugly greatsword onto the floor and then said,

"Long live the King in the North!"

The greatsword struck the floor with a dull thud, shattering Catelyn's last hope.

After a stir, someone suddenly said, "If that is the case, then I can accept it." The speaker was Rickard.

"Long live the King in the North!"

Then Lady Mormont stepped forward.

Just as she was about to imitate Greatjon by laying down her weapon before Robb to show her support and submission, a furious shout suddenly rang out from the hall entrance.

"Stop!!!"

The others turned back in displeasure and saw a familiar figure standing in the doorway.

It was Eddard Stark's bastard, Jon Snow.

The northern lords' attitude toward Jon had changed drastically in just a few months.

At first, they saw him only as a son trying to save his father.

They mostly viewed him favorably.

Later, he helped Robb restore military discipline and displayed formidable martial skill.

That earned him the respect of most people.

Later still, when they learned the full details of the Battle of the Green Fork, they all became curious about the young man.

To turn the tide when defeat was already certain—such strategy was likely among the best in all the Seven Kingdoms.

When the lords of Westeros chose heirs, one of the most important measures was martial prowess.

An heir had to possess exceptional valor!

Many lords had worried themselves sick over not having a qualified heir.

Yet Eddard had somehow possessed two at once!

And both were extraordinary!

That made quite a few people deeply envious.

Yet just when they had finally found a path that satisfied everyone, he suddenly stepped out to stop them. No one could understand why.

Robb, seated at the highest place on the dais, naturally saw Jon first.

On the battlefield of the Green Fork, this bastard brother of his had performed quite well.

But just as he was about to become King in the North, being interrupted so suddenly still left him somewhat displeased.

Greatjon was already kneeling on one knee and had been left hanging there. Seeing everyone's attention shift away, with all the emotion he had built up finding no outlet, he was extremely annoyed.

He turned and said in a rough voice,

"Jon Snow, we Northmen are about to govern ourselves. What are you dissatisfied with?!"

Jon did not answer. As he walked into the hall, he observed the others from the corner of his eye until he came before Robb.

"I think we should recognize Stannis's kingship. He is the lawful king."

Jon looked into Robb's eyes. If Robb showed any greed for the crown, he would immediately set his plan to switch sides in motion.

PS:

To make things easier to understand, let me sort out two rather crucial future battles in the War of the Five Kings.

First: the Battle of the Red Fork.

In the original story, Robb invaded the Westerlands, and Tywin led an army back to reinforce them.

Robb ordered his uncle Edmure to defend the Red Fork. He had originally believed Edmure was no match for Tywin and that Tywin would break through Edmure's line.

And that would lead him straight into Robb's trap.

If all went well, they could surround and kill Tywin outright.

If they succeeded, the Starks would not only unite the Riverlands and dominate the North, but also carve out the Westerlands and deter Highgarden.

But no one expected Edmure to drive Tywin back. Of course, it was also possible that Tywin realized the Westerlands could take some losses, while the truly critical place was King's Landing, so he withdrew.

That led to the later Lion-Flower Alliance between the Westerlands and Highgarden.

The next decisive battle would be the Battle of the Blackwater.

The outcome was that Tyrion burned Stannis's army to ashes with wildfire, forcing it into a crushing defeat and retreat.

Still, Stannis had nearly captured King's Landing. But Tywin's and Highgarden's armies had already arrived, leaving him no time but to withdraw.

The Lion-Flower Alliance had a hundred thousand troops, while Robb had at most thirty thousand. His homeland had also been taken by others, so the greater situation was lost.

Then Roose Bolton betrayed him. After the Red Wedding, the North was severely weakened and leaderless, left entirely at the mercy of others.

The protagonist's motive for supporting Stannis was this:

If Robb supported Stannis, they could completely secure a political status of obeying military orders while ignoring civil commands.

That way, the protagonist could help Robb carry out his plan to ambush Tywin.

Jon, as Robb's most trusted and capable brother, would be sent to the Westerlands.

Then he could rely on the Westerlands to develop his own power.

It would also be the simplest route, without having to keep competing with Roose Bolton.

And if Tywin died, the Lion-Flower Alliance might collapse. Stannis could capture King's Landing.

He could deal with Highgarden however he liked. The Starks of the North would remain unshakable regardless.

At the very least, Stannis would have no reason to attack them.

If he lost, they could bring him to the North.

They could find a way to kill Stannis and enthrone his daughter Shireen as queen.

They could hold the emperor hostage to command the lords, creating a north-south standoff.

Highgarden might have many men, but Dorne was also in the south. They would not dare commit all their forces to a decisive battle with the North.

Even if they remained deadlocked, the Wall could at least gain the support of half the Seven Kingdoms.

But if Robb still insisted on calling himself king, Jon could still help him ambush Tywin, but afterward they would lose the banner of legitimacy.

Whether Stannis won or lost, the Iron Throne would ultimately go to war with the Starks. If Stannis won, the Iron Throne under his rule would fight the Starks. If King Joffrey won, he and Highgarden would fight the Starks. If Robb did not proclaim himself king, then at least there would be no need to fight if Stannis won. But if he did, there would inevitably be countless more wars ahead.

That did not fit the protagonist's goal of ending the war as soon as possible to save the world.

If Jon intended to switch sides to Stannis, then he would help him win the Battle of the Blackwater. He had to win, or this story could not continue.

After victory, he could at least become a buffer and bridge between the Iron Throne and the North, while the protagonist could maneuver between both sides.

If Stannis won, Tywin would be unable to advance or retreat—Stannis at King's Landing, Robb in the Westerlands. It would only be a matter of time before Tywin was surrounded and killed in the Riverlands.

Highgarden might even turn on Tywin to make up for backing the wrong side.

And then, would not the Westerlands...

All right, no more spoilers.

Though the protagonist carried Targaryen blood, no one would believe it if he revealed it now, aside from Howland Reed.

He had to climb upward step by step as a bastard, until he reached the very top. He wanted to become Zhao—ah, wrong channel.

Though Jon had followers now, they were all patchwork soldiers and temporary trial cards.

He needed to become a lord in his own right and cultivate his own strength.

In short, this is the direction the story will take from here on.

To the esteemed readers willing to keep reading, I will do my utmost to polish the story.

To those who feel this direction is unsuitable...

I hate to see you go. Please give this humble one a chance—perhaps the later story will pique your interest?

I have only provided a general direction here; the logical details are inconvenient to elaborate on.

If anyone has questions, please keep reading.

Respectfully, Plump Little Guard~