GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond The Ice

"Ser Selmy."

"Ser West."

The old Kingsguard turned and, under the moonlight, saw Aegor's face clearly for the first time. Though they were not acquainted, Barristan respected those who were loyal to their duty, and Aegor's dedication to the Night's Watch earned him some measure of regard. The old knight did not ignore his words. "Why aren't you inside for the wedding?"

---

Strictly speaking, addressing Aegor as Ser was incorrect. As a sworn brother of the Night's Watch, he had renounced all former titles and could never reclaim them. In the eyes of the law, a Night's Watchman was no different from a commoner, regardless of his rank within the order.

Yet, after months away from the Wall, Aegor no longer bothered correcting people when they called him Ser or Lord, as he had once done upon leaving Castle Black. The reality was simple, people like Margaery Tyrell and Barristan Selmy had little interaction with commoners. If Aegor denied being a Ser, what would they call him?

Besides, the resources and influence he now controlled far surpassed that of an ordinary knight, or even a lesser lord. He could afford to accept such courtesy without protest.

---

"It's just a farce," Aegor said. "You don't approve of this marriage either, do you?"

"Who the heir of House Stark weds is none of my concern," Barristan replied, shaking his head. "What I oppose is His Grace's way of handling things. Marriage determines the future of a noble house, it should never be treated as a jest. A wedding arranged without even informing the groom's parents? It's absurd."

"In terms of spectacle, this is no mere joke. Apart from a royal wedding, when else could so many of the realm's lords be gathered in one place?"

"What good are all these guests if the groom's parents aren't among them?" Barristan countered. "What happens when you return to King's Landing and the Hand of the King refuses to recognize this marriage? Will Robb Stark be expected to pack up his bride and send her back to the Twins?"

"Lord Eddard is an honorable man—he would never do something so disgraceful." Aegor considered for a moment. "And as for rejecting the marriage entirely? That seems unlikely. Tell me, how many non-ducal houses in all of Westeros are as wealthy and powerful as House Frey?"

Rhetorical questions were typically meant to imply a negative answer. But as Barristan pondered, he realized Aegor's point had merit.

"In the North, there's House Manderly of White Harbor," Barristan mused. "In the Vale… never mind, after the 'Righteous League' fiasco, they're in shambles. In the Westerlands, there are certainly wealthy houses, but none with significant power, Lord Tywin has made sure of that. In the Stormlands and Dorne, the harsh conditions prevent any non-ducal houses from rising too high. And in the Reach, there's House Hightower of Oldtown and House Redwyne of the Arbor both as rich and powerful as the Freys, if not more so. And certainly more prestigious."

"The Manderlys are already Stark loyalists, marrying their heir to them would be a wasted alliance," Aegor reasoned. "The Westerlands, Stormlands, and Dorne aren't worth discussing. As for Oldtown and the Arbor, their influence is undeniable… but tell me, where are their lands? In the southwestern corner of Westeros, thousands of leagues from the North. If trouble arises, what aid could they possibly provide? Such an alliance would be meaningless. There's a reason people say, 'befriend distant lands, strike nearby foes.'"

He shifted his tone slightly, pressing his point. "But the Freys? They control the key crossing between the North and the rest of the realm. They have wealth, troops, and a strategic location. A marriage alliance with them would not only increase the North's available forces by a tenth, but it would also extend their influence southward by hundreds of miles. The Starks would grow stronger, and at the same time, it would stabilize House Tully's hold over the Riverlands. Two birds, one stone. Why wouldn't they do it?"

---

"That's a fair argument." Barristan gestured toward the flask of wine Robert had bestowed upon him. "Come, have a drink. If we're speaking purely of wealth and military strength, the Twins is a valuable ally. But House Frey's history is short, and they've never produced any heroes or great men. Their reputation as nouveau riche does them no favors."

"Thank you." Aegor took a seat beside the old knight and accepted the offered flask, taking a long drink. The wine was strong, but the brewing methods of this era were still primitive, it was more an alcoholic beverage than a true spirit. "Short history? The North is filled with houses that have existed for a thousand years, but most of them combined still don't match Lord Walder's power. And does anyone send their daughters to them just because of their history?"

He smirked. "As for being upstarts… tell me, Ser, who is the biggest upstart in Westeros right now? Three hundred years of history, not even half of House Frey's. But so long as he sits on the Iron Throne, who would dare call him an upstart to his face? The bigger the fist, the greater the truth. House Frey may have a poor reputation, but after tonight, as kin to the Starks, they will no longer be mocked. They will be a Great House in all but name."

Aegor hadn't spoken the name outright, but Barristan knew exactly whom he meant. Comparing House Frey to House Baratheon? It was a bold statement.

Yet despite himself, Barristan found Aegor's perspective… compelling. His logic was cold, pragmatic, and difficult to refute. The old knight could have argued further, but deep down, he felt any counterpoint would be weak. He chuckled instead. "I won't argue with you. But if what you say is true, then surely House Stark, being a ducal house, should have secured an even stronger match. If you could choose freely, which lord's daughter would have been the best choice for Robb?"

Now, that was a mistake. If this had been a formal debate, Barristan had just walked straight into Aegor's trap.

He had already considered this question long ago. In truth, Robb faced the same dilemma as Edmure Tully.

"Unless His Grace is willing to betroth Princess Myrcella to Robb, he only has two viable choices," Aegor said smoothly. "A marriage to Dorne is unlikely—they're far to the south, and I doubt they would send one of their own to the freezing North. That leaves only one option."

He smirked. "Margaery Tyrell is in that tent. If you're so curious, why don't you go in and ask her if she'd be willing to marry Robb?"

Barristan coughed awkwardly but said nothing.

---

"Thank you for your concern, Chief Logistics Officer, but my marriage is not something you need to worry about."

A soft, lilting voice interrupted their conversation, making Aegor stiffen in surprise.

He turned to find Margaery standing behind him.

"Ser, you wear the black, yet you seem to know everything about the Vale and the Seven Kingdoms. How curious."

Aegor exhaled, masking his momentary embarrassment. He hadn't even noticed her approach, between the revelry in the camp and his conversation with Barristan, he had been completely unaware. Fortunately, he hadn't spoken ill of her.

He forced a casual tone. "As the Night's Watch's Chief Logistics Officer, it is my duty to secure supplies and funding from the realm's lords. Naturally, I must learn everything I can about them."

Of course, Aegor's understanding of Westeros didn't come solely from watching plays and reading books before his arrival in this world. After reaching King's Landing, he had relied on Tyrion's introductions and various documents to develop a thorough grasp of the Seven Kingdoms' political landscape. Even so, no matter how much knowledge he accumulated, he could never match Margaery, born into nobility and with access to far more sources of information.

"Hmph."

The girl rolled her eyes at him and said no more.

The notion that ignoring a wealthy and beautiful woman would somehow intrigue her, or even make her fall in love, was a pure fantasy. Rich and beautiful women aren't that bored.

Margaery turned away from Aegor and instead directed her attention to Barristan Selmy. She dipped into a graceful bow. "Ser Selmy."

Barristan the Bold—or perhaps Barristan the Spoilsport?

Though Robert had been rude when he scolded him, Barristan Selmy remained one of the king's most trusted men as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. It wasn't just Aegor who wished to cultivate a relationship with a man so deeply embedded in the heart of power, someone who could influence the king's thinking at any time.

"Lady Margaery."

Barristan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

In the past, as the king's personal guard and advisor, he had always been careful not to engage too much with non-royal nobles, avoiding any hint of improper influence. But after his recent conversation with Aegor about the marriage politics of Westeros, he found himself in an uncharacteristically social mood.

"Forgive me if my question is intrusive," he said, "but, my lady, have you chosen a husband?"

***

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