Duke Stannis said, "We have won the overall victory, but we have also taken on enormous responsibilities. Now we must prepare for winter and war at the same time."
"Granaries, grain, and roads... we have a long way to go. These are tedious matters, but there are established ways to handle them," Ser Barristan Selmy said. "Build storage granaries at the ports, and prevent grain exports. But we must be careful with this news too. If we announce it suddenly, we may cause another panic among the people."
"We also need to discuss Harrenhal," Gendry said. "House Whent is nearly extinct, and House Whent surrendered to Tywin when war broke out."
"Lady Whent is only an old woman," Eddard hastily said. "And Tywin had twenty thousand men with him at the time."
"Even so, Lady Whent did surrender her castle," Stannis said. "The other Riverlands lords largely fell apart beneath the walls of Riverrun."
"But..."
"Enough, Lord Eddard. Perhaps you have not heard, but Lady Whent has now offered Harrenhal to the Iron Throne. She is a grieving old woman, and the Small Council will not make things difficult for her. Harrenhal holds sorrowful memories for her. In response, the castle will now be administered by the crown," said the Master of Laws, Bronze Yohn Royce. This was an approach they had unanimously accepted. In winter, Harrenhal's position would become even more important.
"In fact, it will be our logistical hub going forward," Duke Stannis stated plainly. "It is Harrenhal, after all."
Ser Barristan Selmy also felt a complicated mix of thoughts. After all, a certain Whent had once been his sworn brother in white, and the White Knights of those days had truly been a dream team, the strongest of the White Knights.
Eddard nodded and said nothing more.