Chapter 119: Discussing the Seven Kingdoms Under the Moon
"Ser Selmy."
"Ser West." The old Kingsguard turned his head, discerning the visitor's features by the moonlight. Though they were hardly well-acquainted, Egger's loyal image—seemingly devoted entirely to the interests of the Night's Watch—had earned him a measure of respect from Barristan. The old man did not ignore his approach. "Why are you not participating in the wedding?"
...
Strictly speaking, addressing Egger as Lord or Ser was incorrect, as he was a man of the Night's Watch. Once a man donned the black, he legally abdicated all titles and status, and could never regain them through other channels. This meant that the social standing of a Watchman was no different from a commoner, regardless of his rank within the Order.
However, after months away from the Wall, Egger no longer felt the urge to correct people as he had when first leaving Castle Black. There was no other reason than practical necessity; take Margaery Tyrell or Barristan Selmy—the people they interacted with daily were almost never commoners. If they spoke to Egger and he insisted he was neither a Lord nor a Knight, they simply wouldn't know how to address him at all.
Now, possessing resources and influence far exceeding that of an ordinary knight or even a destitute earl, Egger could calmly accept these polite honorifics.
...
"It is merely a farce. You opposed this match as well, did you not?"
"Whom the heir to the North marries has little to do with me. What I opposed was merely the manner in which His Majesty conducts business." The white-cloaked elder shook his head. "Marriage concerns the future of a House; it is a matter of the utmost gravity. How can it be treated so flippantly—decided without even notifying the parents, with the ceremony commencing on a whim?"
"In terms of pageantry, this marriage is hardly flippant. Aside from a royal wedding, where else could one gather so many nobles of the Seven Kingdoms at once?"
"What use are guests if the patriarch is absent?" Barristan was unimpressed. "If we return to King's Landing and the Hand adamantly refuses to recognize this union, what then? Pack the girl up and ship her back to the Twins?"
"A man as upright as Lord Stark would never commit such an unseemly act," Egger mused for a moment. "As for refusing the match, I find it unlikely. Look across all of Westeros—how many non-Great Houses are as wealthy and powerful as the Freys?"
The rhetorical question implied a negative—Egger suggested there were none—but Barristan thought for a moment and found several.
"In the North, there are the Manderlys of White Harbor. In the Vale... well, after this 'Bronze Alliance' business, that is all in the past. In the West, many are rich, but the powerful seem to have all been ground into the dirt by Lord Tywin; the Lannisters stand alone there. The Stormlands and Dorne lack the natural resources to fatten a minor House. The Reach, however, has the Hightowers of Oldtown and the Redwynes of the Arbor... both are as wealthy and strong as the Twins, and far more ancient, are they not?"
"The Manderlys are fiercely loyal to the Starks; marrying the heir to them would be a waste of political capital. We need not mention the West, the Stormlands, or Dorne. As for the Hightowers and Redwynes, it is true their wealth and power rival the Twins, but where are their lands? At the southwesternmost tip of Westeros, a thousand leagues from the North. An alliance with them—should anything occur—leaves both parties unable to support the other. The alliance would be a hollow phrase. 'Ally with the distant and attack the near' has its limits of utility." Egger laid out the facts, systematically dismantling Barristan's examples before shifting his tone: "But what of the Freys? They sit astride the vital artery between North and South, possessing immense wealth and ample manpower. Marrying into them, without exaggeration, not only increases the North's available strength by a tenth but also expands their sphere of influence south by hundreds of miles. It bolsters the Starks' own power while simultaneously stabilizing the position of their ally, House Tully, as the liege lords of the Riverlands. It achieves many goals at once; why not do it?"
"There is much sense in what you say. Here, have some of the fine wine the King bestowed," the old knight said, his interest piqued by the discussion. He shifted on the bench to offer Egger a corner. "If one looks only at gold and swords, the Twins are indeed formidable. But the Freys' history is tragically short; they have produced no heroes or great men. The reputation of an 'upstart' is hardly a beautiful thing."
"My thanks." Egger sat down and took the flagon from the elder, taking a deep swig to quench his thirst. Brewing technology in this era was immature; ordinary wine was little more than an alcoholic beverage, making it quite difficult to actually get drunk. "Heh... a short history? The North is full of Houses with a thousand years of history, yet most of them combined are no match for Lord Walder. Does anyone offer their children to them simply because they are ancient? As for being an upstart... ha. Who is the greatest upstart in Westeros today? A history of three hundred years is less than half that of the Freys. Yet as long as their backsides remain on the Iron Throne, who dares point a finger at His Majesty and use the word 'upstart'? Might is the only truth. The Freys may have a poor reputation now, but once tonight passes and they are kin to the Starks, they will instantly transform into a prestigious lineage, shedding the fate of being looked down upon."
Though Egger did not name names, Barristan naturally understood who the "greatest upstart" was. To dare compare House Baratheon to the Freys—this Watchman certainly had some nerve. Yet, for some reason, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard found himself drawn to the man's cold, merchant-like perspective and novel way of analyzing issues. Though he had counterarguments, he found them increasingly difficult to stand behind. He gave a hearty laugh. "I cannot out-talk you. I shall concede your logic for now. But the Starks are a great House; if possible, would it not be far better for Robb to marry the daughter of another Great Lord?"
Aha, if this was the debate, Barristan had walked straight into Egger's trap. This was a problem Egger had long considered; Robb faced the same dilemma as Edmure Tully. "Unless His Majesty were willing to betroth Princess Myrcella to Robb, he only had two choices. The Dornish are in the deep south and likely wouldn't wish to marry a daughter into the frozen North. That leaves only Margaery Tyrell. She is right there in the tent; perhaps Ser Selmy should go ask her if she would be willing to marry Robb?"
Barristan did not speak, he merely gave a dry cough.
...
"My thanks to the Chief Logistics Officer for his concern, but you need not trouble yourself with my marriage prospects." A soft, feminine voice came from behind, giving Egger a start. "But you, my Lord—clad in black, yet knowing the affairs of the Vale and the Seven Kingdoms so intimately—it is truly a rare thing."
"Cough..." Tens of thousands of people celebrating together was simply too loud; Egger hadn't even noticed the girl approaching. Fortunately, he hadn't said anything disparaging about her. Masking his embarrassment, Egger offered a strained explanation: "As the Chief Logistics Officer of the Night's Watch, I must collect grain and funding from the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms. It is only logical to stay well-informed on such matters."
Of course, one couldn't gain this level of insight into Westeros simply by watching TV or reading novels before transmigrating. Since arriving in King's Landing, Egger had relied on Tyrion's introductions and relevant documents to reach his current understanding. Even then, compared to someone like Margaery, who was born into a Great House with countless information sources, he likely still fell short.
"Hmph." The girl rolled her eyes at him, choosing not to engage further. The trope of a Rich Beauty becoming interested or even enamored with a man because he acted indifferent simply didn't happen in reality—such girls weren't that bored. Margaery turned to Barristan and gave a slight curtsy. "Ser Selmy."
Barristan the Bold, or perhaps Barristan the Buzzkill? Despite Robert shouting at him without ceremony, as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Barristan Selmy remained one of the King's most trusted confidants. A man at the heart of power, capable of influencing the King's thoughts at any moment, was someone many besides Egger wished to befriend.
"Lady Margaery." Barristan nodded to the girl with a smile. Usually, as the King's bodyguard and advisor, he avoided speaking much with non-Crownlands nobles to avoid suspicion. But having just discussed the marriage prospects of the high nobility with Egger, he found himself in the mood for conversation. "Forgive an old man's prying, and feel free not to answer if it offends—but you, my lady, whom have you set your heart upon as a husband?"
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