Whispers spread through the crowd, fear and doubt plain on many faces.
Jon Fossoway's brows drew together as he shook his head. "Ser Davos, do you really expect me to believe a story that sounds like a child's fairy tale? Magic? Shadow killers? You might as well tell me the Others are coming next."
At that moment, the nervous fat man standing beside Ser Jon suddenly spoke up, his voice shaking. "L-Lord Fossoway! I… I think we should believe that magic exists!"
All eyes immediately turned toward him.
He looked young, with a round face and expensive clothes that didn't quite fit, making him seem awkward and out of place.
He hurriedly introduced himself. "My lords, I am Samwell Tarly of Horn Hill, now head of House Tarly. I once served as a steward in the Night's Watch and followed Lord Commander Jeor Mormont to the Fist of the First Men. I saw those things with my own eyes. The Others truly exist! This world doesn't just have the Others, it has magic as well!"
He stammered with nerves, but the fear in his words was unmistakably real.
The mention of "the Others" drew Melisandre's attention.
Samwell Tarly had been brought back from the Wall through the efforts of the Reach lords.
When he learned that Dickon had been killed by Cersei during the wildfire disaster in King's Landing, and that his father and house had been wiped out in a Lannister attack, this timid fat man made the bravest choice of his life. He cast off the black of the Night's Watch and returned to Horn Hill to inherit his family's lands.
The Night's Watch, short on manpower and bolstered by a shipment of criminals sent from the Reach, ultimately turned a blind eye to the matter.
At Maester Aemon's final request, Sam also brought back dragonglass and the horn found Beyond the Wall and delivered them to the Citadel for study.
Unfortunately, the maesters scoffed at his claims. They kept the items but dismissed him without a second thought.
After returning to Horn Hill and enduring the collapse of his family, Sam changed in unexpected ways. He lost a great deal of weight and showed a sense of responsibility he'd never had before.
He settled refugees, restored farmland, raised soldiers, and slowly brought the battered Horn Hill back to life.
Stannis's cold gaze swept over Samwell as he spoke. "Tarly, you broke a sacred vow. By the laws of the realm, that crime is punishable by death. Has The Reach already placed itself outside the Seven Kingdoms, no longer bound by its laws?"
The words instantly enraged Jon Fossoway. He burst out furiously, "Stannis! Stop parading your kingly airs. The Seven Kingdoms are already in chaos! Law? Honor? Go preach that to the Lannisters. We're the ones who've suffered!"
Stannis's expression grew even colder. "The blood debt owed by the Lannisters will be paid. But before that, we must stand together and drive out the Blackfyre invaders from across the Narrow Sea."
Hearing this, Samwell gathered his courage and spoke again, softly but urgently. "Lord Fossoway, Lady Arwyn, I truly believe we should help Stannis. Whether it's the Blackfyre or the Lannisters, they're all willing to do anything for the Iron Throne. Have you heard the news? Jon Connington ordered Stoney Sept burned to find Kevan and Tommen. The entire town was burned alive. And the Dothraki have been killing and plundering all along their march. If the Blackfyre army reaches The Reach, our people and our lands will suffer the same fate."
Lady Arwyn Oakheart of Old Oak spoke up in reply. "Sam, you're exaggerating. If this Aegon truly proves unstoppable, The Reach can simply choose to swear loyalty to him. After all, neither Stannis nor the Lannisters look capable of holding the Iron Throne securely. And besides…"
She lowered her voice. "News from the Westerlands says the Ironborn are raiding freely. The Reach may well be their next target. We must conserve our strength and protect our own lands."
Seeing hesitation and reluctant agreement flicker across Jon Fossoway's face, Sam grew anxious. "But, my lords, we are lords of the Seven Kingdoms. We swore our loyalty to the Iron Throne and House Baratheon. Lord Stannis is King Robert's most legitimate heir. How can we swear ourselves to a Blackfyre descendant of unknown origin?"
Lady Arwyn gave a cold laugh. "Lord Samwell, your eagerness to help others is admirable. But don't forget, if you aid him now, what's to stop him from charging you with 'breaking your Night's Watch vows' once he sits the Iron Throne, and sending you to the headsman's block? Is Ser Davos's experience not warning enough?"
Sam's face turned deathly pale. He instinctively looked to Stannis, hoping for reassurance or a denial.
But Stannis merely stared ahead, expression unreadable, as though silently accepting the possibility.
Sam's heart sank. He opened his mouth, but no words came. At last, he lowered his head in defeat and slowly retreated back into the crowd.
Stannis watched Sam retreat, his face utterly unreadable, as though he did not care in the slightest.
He turned the question elsewhere. "And House Hightower? House Redwyne? Why haven't they come?"
Jon Fossoway let out a derisive snort, his voice thick with mockery. "Them? Hah. Unless your army marches all the way to the Honeywine, they wouldn't spare you a glance. They've been scared witless by the Ironborn. Right now they're busy fortifying their ports and reorganizing their fleets, preparing for defense. Who has the time to worry about your troubles?"
At the mention of the Ironborn, Stannis's brow tightened further.
Trouble within, enemies without. Powerful foes on all sides. The realm lay in pieces, so broken it seemed beyond saving.
He said nothing more. With a cold snort, he turned away decisively and led his men back toward the lifeless camp, never looking back.
If the nobles of The Reach were too short-sighted to offer aid, then he, Stannis Baratheon, would resolve this in his own way, using the last strength granted to him by the Lord of Light.
His gaze drifted once more, unbidden, to Melisandre's swollen belly.
...
At the same time, in the North, Lo Quen's campaign of conquest was nearing its conclusion.
All Northern lords who dared to resist were crushed without mercy. Their castles were taken, their houses uprooted, their leaders publicly executed.
These iron-handed measures drew no objection from House Manderly.
On the contrary, Manderly soldiers felt no sympathy for the families that had once helped destroy White Harbor. Many of them even welcomed their annihilation.
After purging the North, Lo Quen wasted no time. He immediately ordered his general Roro to lead the main army, embarking from White Harbor and setting sail south, their objective fixed firmly on the Vale.
Lo Quen himself remained astride his red dragon Blooddancer and set out ahead of the army, flying toward the Vale.