(Third-person perspective)
The House Borrell's grand hall and the infamous smuggling den of Sisterton stand solemnly. The flags within, once symbols of the House Borrell's power and influence over the city's underworld, now bear the heavy weight of resentment. The male members of this noble family, who once reveled in their dominance in the city's underworld, now face an inescapable fate determined by Druid decree.
Lord Borrell stepped forward, his features bearing the marks of years of smuggling. His voice, bitter and sorrowful, echoed through the hall like a requiem for this once-powerful family. "We have no choice, my children. The Druid's words are final. We must accept the Men in Black and begin our new lives on the Wall, or we risk suffering the same fate as the Stormcliff."
His sons, their shoulders slumped, their pride weighed down by the heavy pressure, reluctantly nodded in agreement. They would together renounce their status as lords of the Three Sisters and join the Night's Watch's Watch, leaving their noble lives and criminal careers to their sisters.
Meanwhile, a similar scene was unfolding in the grand hall of the House Sunderland, the former lords of the Three Sisters. All the male members of the noble family were gathered together, their expressions solemn and their demeanor grave, filled with worry for the impending doom.
Lord Sunderland was a stern man. He said to his kin, "We must also heed the coming calamity. We must also obey the Druid ' commands. My brother's fate remains unknown." He continued somberly, "This is our only way out. We will carry on the work of the Black-Clad, we will find solace in our family, and our family will continue through our female members."
The descendants of the House Sunderland, their eyes filled with resentment, nodded in understanding. They realized that fate had finally caught up with them, and the consequences of their greedy actions were gradually becoming apparent.
With the enactment of the Druid Edict, the fate of the male members of House Borrell and House Sunderland was irrevocably sealed. Their lives as lords and nobles were a thing of the past, replaced by the solemn duties of the Night's Watch. Submitting to the will of the Druid, their hearts were filled with a sense of loss.
Aermir's plan had a broader scope. One of his secondary objectives was to strengthen the forces at the Wall, including not only the sons of nobles but also nearly half the living men of the Three Sisters army. This audacious move would gradually replace the Three Sisters with robust North men, just as the Andals had assimilated their First Men in the past.
When Aermir saw the report stating that he had sentenced two thousand commoners, knights, and nobles to the Night's Watch, he laughed. He wanted to see Jeor Mormont's face. Of course, he knew that a few hundred of them would desert, but that would only worsen their situation and that of their families.
Although the Three Sisters had proven themselves weak in battle, Aermir believed their value would still outweigh the hundreds of ruffians and thieves currently lurking in the Wall's ranks. As the Druid laid out his plans for the upcoming battle against the Night's King, the most crucial part of his strategy remained unfinished. If he couldn't achieve his objective before the Night's King's attack, Aermir knew he would have no choice but to withdraw those who would only hinder the Wall's defenses.
Eddard Stark sat in his bedchamber, his brow furrowed with worry. He had been reading unsettling messages from the lords of the North stationed at the border of Bite. The reports confirmed that the Vale was amassing troops along the coast, clearly in response to the recent events at the Three Sisters. As Warden of the North, he had a duty to deal with the situation, but its complexity troubled him greatly.
What troubled him most was that many of the North lords who were on good terms with Aermir and the Druid had amassed their armies and set off for the coast, ready to stand by his side when the Druid summoned them. Their loyalty to the Druid was rising, Stark knew he couldn't easily sway them. The loyalty Aermir had gained as Druid proved his ability and leadership, which also posed a significant challenge to Eddard, the Warden of the North.
Eddard knew perfectly well that he couldn't dissuade Aermir from his bloodlust, nor could he expect a peaceful resolution. Clearly, the Druid had grander plans, and if Eddard acted rashly, the situation could escalate into a full-scale war with the Vale. He knew the wisest course of action was to contact Jon, then open channels of communication between them, and find a way to avoid further bloodshed.
With these thoughts in mind, Eddard Stark made his decision. He would not lead a large army to confront Aermir or Vale of Arryn. Instead, he would handle the matter with a smaller, more diplomatic force. He would accompany a contingent of 500 men, deliberately keeping the number low to show that he was not there for battle, but for dialogue.
In preparing for his journey, Eddard knew his mission was extremely challenging. As the Warden of the North, he was responsible for maintaining peace and stability in the region. His primary task now was to navigate this delicate situation, prevent a full-scale war, and reach an agreement with Aermir and the Vale.
Aermir and his war council met around a large table, their eyes glued to the map of Longsister. Jory Flint, always eager to act, spoke up, "Sir, why are we lingering here? Shouldn't we conquer Longsister as well?"
Aermir looked up from the map and fell into thought. "We can't charge recklessly like before," he began. " Longsister has reinforcements from the Vale. We're no longer facing just conscripts and pirates; the Vale Knights have joined the battle. I estimate they number about five thousand, and if you include Longsister's reserves and conscripts, their numbers could rise to eight or even nine thousand."
Eddard Snow exclaimed in surprise, "My lord, when did they have time to assemble such a force and bring them here?"
Aermir gave a knowing smile and explained, "I foresaw their arrival when we set off to invade Sweetsister. I anticipated that Jon Arryn would immediately mobilize the Knights of the Vale upon learning of our departure. You see, Jon Arryn may present himself as an upright and peaceful man, but as Warden of the Vale, and a descendant of kings, he cannot retain such power through mere peace. It requires cunning and strength. He only seeks peace when he has nothing left."
Aermir took a sip of his drink and continued, "When we began our operation, I sent one of my familiars to the Eyrie. The problem was, it's far away, outside my direct range, preventing me from receiving real-time information. However, by establishing a communication link, I could get information a few days later. That's why I expedited the attack on Sweetsister, because I knew they were already on their way."
Eddard Snow asked, his confusion evident. "My lord, if you knew they were approaching, why didn't you sink their warships with orcas along the way?"
Aermir's sly smile hinted at the complexity of his strategic thinking. "Because I don't want Jon Arryn to lose only a few islands and five thousand soldiers," he explained. "If my plan succeeds, House Arryn will lose the entire Vale within the next five to ten years, and the First Men will be able to assimilate the Andals, just as they did to us in the past. I don't want this war to end prematurely. If I sink his ships, he will accept the loss and not send reinforcements."
Eddard Snow suddenly understood, a smile spreading across his face. "Because he didn't know about the orcas. Now he believed he still had a chance," he exclaimed. "If we bide our time, he'll send more troops to consolidate his power and try to reclaim the islands."
It was late, and discussions on the various agenda items were progressing slowly. The members of the Aermir Council all looked exhausted, as the day's discussions showed no signs of reaching a conclusion. Aermir, observing the advisors' weary expressions, knew it was time to adjourn the meeting.
He addressed the council with a serious expression, his voice calm and measured. "It is clear that today has had an impact on all of us," he began. "Our discussions are far from over, but we must acknowledge that our fatigue is finite. To make the right decisions, I need the Valyria minds of all of you. Therefore, I propose an adjournment tonight, to be continued tomorrow."
As soon as he finished speaking, the councilors dispersed and returned to their respective meeting rooms to rest. Aermir knew that tomorrow's restart was crucial for making decisions that would determine the future of his land.