Bran told Arya that he was starting a massive foundry to produce 'flowers'. He told her that the clans were calling her "Arya of the Black Hand" now, behind her back. She giggled at that. She told him she was sending an interpreter, Ming, for intel, Wicket, and her mother for communication, as well as some treekin magic users, to act as testers back with him to King's Landing. He nodded thoughtfully, asking her what her plans for defense were. She told him she would build her port, a shipbuilding city, and get all the groups settled in their homes. Then she would have the road continued all the way down the coast, and build forts with 'flowers' overlooking any place the Zon could land."You will need to send soldiers to man these forts, Bran," Arya told him. Arya said, "What about Dorne and Essos? And if you can start building a road from the King's Road at the neck, up to meet our coastal road, it would help connect everything. A fleet in the Narrow Sea should give the east protection, with some 'flower' forts at strategic locations. But we have to be careful because their witches can cause thick fog banks." Bran said, "Dorn is more ready than we are. Even the Ironborn are joining forces with everyone else. I will see to the road and the needed troops, and we will facilitate 'flower' forts in the east. I brought 100 troops north with me, but 50 will stay under your command. There are another 80 on your ships to guard them till you get there. Dear sister, be well and get your coast ready for war, huh? Settle your new people in, and we will see what comes next." Bran hugged Arya, and Sansa did too. Bran left for King's Landing, and Arya and her people left for their new homes.
Springer had stayed aboard the Sovereign to sail it to Ice Bay. He had his treekin wind affinity power workers and a good deal of the crew with him. 20 men-at-arms from King's Landing came along with them, and other knights were on the six other ships. It took the other captains a while to get comfortable with the wind power, but once they realized what it could do, they liked it. They sailed into the Summer Sea and around Dorn with little issue. They docked in the Ironborn Isles to resupply and were swarmed by Ironborn wanting to see their ships. The Ironborn leaders were taken aboard the Sovereign and shown around. They showed real interest in the 'flowers' and wanted a demonstration. Springer had the crew load one and said, "See that shanty on the shore over there? Watch." The shack was over a thousand yards away, and the Ironborn scoffed at the idea that anything from here could touch it. "Boom!" went the flower, and the shack evaporated, and the shot carved a huge hole in the hill beyond it. Everyone on the wharf turned at the sound and could see the damage as it happened. They were stunned, all of them, and then they started cheering. That convinced the Ironborn; they all now wanted 'flowers'. The rest of their journey north went fairly easily. They encountered one fishing sloop that decided they were the touted enemy come early. Springer shouted, "You fools, if we were the enemy, you would be dead already!" Once they saw the knights, they relented.
At last, the 7 ships pulled into the Bay of Ice, went past Bear Island, and anchored off the coast in the cold. They had to maneuver around some ice to get there, though. The westerners on board began to experience just how cold this homeland would be. A small camp had been set up for the road builders who were almost to the bay. The ship's crews went ashore in small groups to see the land and to warm themselves in the tents of the road builders. Arya and the rest were still several months away.
The road to the Bay of Ice cut north-west from Winterfell, then leveled off westward below the mountains in the northern Wolfswood. There was a wide valley just north of the road, surrounded by a circle of mountains. It was here, among the old-growth forest in the valley, that the treekin would make their new home. Standing on the road looking north, Elanor remarked, "It looks like our old homeland, only larger!" The mountain sheltered it from the worst of the cold, but it was still very cold. The treekin cheered when they saw it, and all of them wanted to hug Arya. They sent out explorers to pick sites and discovered a place to plant the trees of their homeland. Arya told them that her and theirs, the new lands went 100 miles to the south. However, there were hunter villages that must be respected inside that border. She told them that a huge amount of lumber would be required to get ready for an invasion. The treekin would be in charge of that. They would be paid for their efforts as well. A place was found for their homes, and the wagons were taken in and unloaded. Everyone helped pitch large tents that would serve as their living quarters until housing was built. Arya pointed north and said, "Bring the wood this way, and come and see me." She left 25 troops to protect the treekin from unhappy clans and to intercede when issues arose. They left 100 wagons with them for wood hauling. The treekin spotted a mountain stream and a small lake and sent some to fish in it. Hunters went out in search of food. Arya and a much smaller army headed north.