Over the course of nearly a year, Arthur launched four more campaigns against the wildling tribes of the Red Mountains.
Aside from the first campaign, which used the Mountain Corps' Falcon Hill encampment at the Prince's Pass as a staging point, Arthur chose four different castles of Marcher lords as assembly points for the subsequent campaigns.
This not only facilitated logistics and resupply but also reduced marching time within the Red Mountains, increasing the efficiency of the suppression forces.
More importantly, this strategy allowed him to directly demonstrate his influence and power as Governor to the people and lords of the Marches in each region.
The assembly points for the four campaigns were: Nightsong of House Caron at the northern end of the Prince's Pass; Blackhaven of House Dondarrion at the northern end of the Boneway; Starpike of House Peake at the northwestern end of the Prince's Pass; and finally, Yronwood of House Yronwood at the southern end of the Boneway.
These five campaigns thoroughly swept through the wildling tribes of the Red Mountains. Arthur captured twelve thousand wildling prisoners and expanded the Mountain Corps to two thousand men, as originally planned.
Maintaining a standing professional army of two thousand soldiers, combined with his record of five victories in the Red Mountains, gave Arthur immense deterrent power even when he wasn't making a move.
Having established his might, Arthur didn't forget to bestow favors. He distributed a portion of the lands seized from the wildling tribes to neighboring Marcher lords and individuals who had distinguished themselves during the wars.
He divided the remaining Red Mountain territories into six parts, granting them to the six wildling tribes that had surrendered earliest. through them, he controlled the Red Mountains along the Prince's Pass and the Boneway.
With these six tribes plus the three remaining tribes in the Torrentine valley, Arthur indirectly controlled the entire Red Mountains through his two thousand Mountain Corps troops and nine vassal wildling tribes.
Some enterprising singers and bards compiled Arthur's five campaigns in the Red Mountains, along with his previous victories over the Vulture King and the Torrentine wildlings—seven victories in total—into songs that were sung throughout the Dornish Marches.
Just among the ones Arthur had heard and remembered, there were "Seven Campaigns of the Dawn" and "Lament of the Wildlings." Both were composed by John, the young fiddler Arthur had recruited at the Skyreach banquet. They were quite catchy.
During this year, besides busy pacifying the Red Mountains and fulfilling his duties as Governor, Arthur also attended a significant event after the third campaign launched from Blackhaven: the wedding of his aunt, Allyria Dayne, to Lord Beric Dondarrion of Blackhaven.
The wedding was grand, attended by all the invited Marcher lords.
Not only that, Jon Arryn sent Renly Baratheon as a representative, bringing the Iron Throne's commendation for Arthur's achievements in organizing the Marcher lords to suppress the wildlings.
He was officially appointed Warden of the Red Mountains, granting him the authority to enfeoff the conquered territories within the Red Mountains.
In a quiet nursery within the keep of Skyreach, a loud infant cry echoed through the room.
Arthur—Warden of the Red Mountains, Governor of the Dornish Marches, and Sword of the Morning—who had just led the Mountain Corps back from Yronwood, was clumsily holding a wailing, naked six-month-old baby.
"There, there, don't cry..."
Arthur tried everything—making funny faces, lifting her high—using every trick he knew to amuse a child. But the chubby little bundle in his arms wasn't buying it and cried even harder.
Finally, at his wit's end, Arthur turned to Lady Nymeria, who was hurrying over. "Ashara keeps crying. Do you think she's hungry?"
Strangely enough, as soon as Ashara was in her mother's arms, she stopped crying. She just sniffled, her little nose twitching as she eyed this "stranger" warily.
Seeing this, Arthur immediately complained, "She doesn't like me!"
"Who told you to spend all your time drilling into the Red Mountains?" Nymeria rolled her eyes at Arthur, gently wiping the tears from her daughter's face.
"How many times have you held her since she was born? Of course she doesn't recognize you."
She lowered her head to kiss Ashara's smooth forehead, and the baby cooed contentedly.
"I have responsibilities, don't I?" Arthur watched Nymeria interacting with little Ashara with a hint of envy.
Wasn't a daughter supposed to be her father's little padded jacket (a Chinese idiom meaning a source of warmth/comfort)?
He suddenly recalled the scene at the Sunspear tourney where Nymeria, the other Sand Snakes, and Arianne Martell conspired to pit their fathers against each other.
Was his daughter going to be a "black-hearted cotton" jacket too?
Arthur leaned in to examine his daughter again. Ashara's features hadn't fully developed yet; her pink little face was scrunched up.
Because she had just been crying, her violet eyes were still brimming with tears, and tear tracks stained the corners of her eyes. Her teary-eyed look was pitifully endearing.
Seeing Arthur lean close, she looked ready to cry again, scaring him into taking two steps back.
After soothing Ashara, Nymeria handed her to Jynessa, the handmaiden standing nearby. "How many days are you staying this time?"
"What do you mean, 'how many days'? I came to take you and Ashara back to Starfall," Arthur said, withdrawing his gaze from his daughter as Jynessa carried her away.
"I've finished dealing with and settling all the wildling tribes in the Red Mountains. My business here is done. Do you plan to stay in Skyreach forever?"
Nymeria glared at Arthur. "Ashara is only six months old. She can't handle the bumps of a long journey!"
"Don't worry, I've already considered that. I had a spacious, comfortable wheelhouse built, lined with seven layers of soft cushions. I guarantee you and our daughter won't feel a single bump on the journey."
"At least you're starting to act like a father." Nymeria's expression softened, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.
"But we have to wait a few days. I need to pack. And you owe Lord Franklyn a chance to host the Governor properly."
During his few days as a guest at Skyreach, Arthur received warm hospitality from Franklyn. aside from attending banquets, he spent most of his time with Ashara.
After several days of attentive company, although Ashara still wasn't entirely willing to be held by him, at least she didn't wail anymore.
The morning they left Skyreach, the sun was exceptionally bright.
Arthur stood before the wheelhouse, personally checking every detail: the leather-wrapped wheels, the shock-absorbing structure of the carriage suspension, and the finest Dornish silk cushions lining the interior.
"My Lord, everything is ready," the rotund Ser Carlo reminded him from the side.
Penrose walked over leading Arthur's warhorse, Violet, with the greatsword Dawn hanging from the saddle.
Arthur nodded and turned toward Skyreach up the slope.
Earl Franklyn was leading his household to see them off by the steps. In the crowd, Lady Nymeria held little Ashara, who was bundled up tight. The Fowler twins stood on either side of her, reluctance in their eyes.
"Governor, safe travels," Franklyn said. His voice was raspier than a year ago, but his spirit seemed high.
"I hope the next time we meet, little Ashara will be talking."
Before mounting Violet, Arthur gave the Old Falcon a hug. "Thank you for all your support over the past year."
After Nymeria bade farewell to her lovers and boarded the wheelhouse, the convoy slowly departed Skyreach.