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The rebellion wasn’t really fair. Even with the sneak attack that targeted the two nearest ports, one dealing a surprising amount of damage to the Lannisters, the other fizzling out and getting a Greyjoy killed, the Greyjoys would have lost badly even without my intervention. With my additional ships and troops, the outcome was even more predictable.

My larger ships were bigger and faster, having siege equipment aboard specifically for sinking enemy ships; any fight they were in was a forgone conclusion; they’d have to sacrifice one ship for every one of my ships in order to even get close, but they mostly fled when they saw my fleet. Euron, one of the key figures during the war, was also already dead.

The inevitable was going to happen, I was just surprised the Ironmen didn’t surrender when they failed so much more spectacularly this time… But one thing the squids were known for was their stubbornness. We pushed them all the way back to their stronghold at Pyke. Only then, after fighting a losing battle where they were routed and fled to the castle, did Balon surrender.

As one of the first responders for the war, and one of the only leaders with a fleet, I got to take part in the surrender, watching Balon kneeling and paying reparations. I didn’t much care for the surrender or kneeling, but reparations, I had some ideas. Robert demanded gold, which was a given, and that was it. Theon was also going to Ned, which was fine with me. But that was all they were going to request, which is when I stepped in.

“One moment, your majesty.” I approached as I looked at who was near the front. Tywin, Eddard, Robert, my two uncles, and two more Kingsguard (Jaime and Barristan) all stood near Balon as he was still on the ground. “I think we addressed the insult to your rule, but now we need to speak about the rewards of those loyal to you. Sure, the money will serve to help, but I have a few suggestions for how you can get out of paying anything to anyone.”

The Greyjoys owned six islands; even after hundreds of years of rule, they only had a few hundred thousand gold, and only a fraction of that was paid out for the reparations. “You got my attention, boy. Any way to increase the crown's cut will go a long way.” I called for Tyrion, and he approached with his two enforcers. Darkstar and Reinhart.

Darkstar was my cousin, who didn’t really listen to Tyrion, but knew that being around him was the best place to be if you loved fighting. Reinhart was the biggest man in my guard besides myself, and I wasn’t done growing yet. Tyrion’s left and right hand muscle worked to help him secure deals and made it so no one would look down on him for being a dwarf.

“This is my left-hand man, Tyrion Mopatis. Some of you may recognize him as he used to go by Tyrion Lannister until his own father tried to have his wife assaulted.” The room was silent as he approached until the other thing I wanted to be seen was noticed. On the back of Reinhart was-. “Brightroar!? How does he have it!?” Tywin couldn’t hold himself back, and I could only smile as he fell right into my trap.

Tyrion feigned disinterest. “Oh, that, Alexander here gave it to me once I made him his first million coins. He keeps all of his elite bodyguards equipped in the best, and most of his men have Valyrian steel weaponry. I don’t really see the point; it’s just an extra sharp and durable pointy stick in my eyes. But back on point. I’d like to get back to my suggestions.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I saw the expressions both Tywin and Jaime made as Tyrion effectively dismantled any attempt by them to make peace with him while downplaying their help and pointing out their failures. He really, REALLY hated them, which makes sense. He suggested alternate rewards for the less important families. Robert was interested at first, but by the ten-minute mark, I could see he was losing interest, and I stepped in.

“Alright, it seems you’re losing focus, so let me speed up the real reward suggestions. First, I think you should allow the North to build a fleet. Ever since Brandon the Burner destroyed the northern fleet, the Targaryians no longer allowed them to make another. It would not only help solve that previous mistake, but also allow the North to protect its shores more easily in the future.”

Robert's eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Aye, that’s a great idea. Ned, I give you permission to build a fleet to forgo your cut of the loot.” Even Eddard Stark couldn’t help but smile at the idea. How long had the Ironborn raided his shores unimpeded? How many requests for help to the throne were ignored? Now, the North could handle raiders themselves. “That sounds like a great idea.”

“The next would be Lannister. They suffered the most with the destruction of their fleet; they have no use for the paltry amount of gold. So, I’d suggest freeing Jaime from his position as a Kingsguard, revoked so he can become the next head of house Lannister.” Another great suggestion that had everyone (but Jaime) happy. It would help Tywin out in the short term while also hurting Jaime because he would be separated from his lover(sister).

It was also a slap in the face of Jaime, as he would be the first-ever Kingsguard removed from the position. In the long term, Tywin would regret picking him as heir, because Jaime is gifted physically but stunted mentally. Tywin was feared, and fear could only go so far in protecting your land once you’re dead. The moment he died, the wolves would be at the door of the Lannister hold, and I highly doubted Jaime could handle it. “I also agree to this deal, your majesty. We’ll forgo our cut if you free my son from the Kingsguard.”

“Now my last suggestion is for me… I know I don’t really deserve much, you’d have solved this rebellion without my help, but I do have a suggestion that you may like. I want ten thousand peasants from each of their islands to help with a large-scale terraforming project that will bring incredible amounts of unused land into play for you to give away, your majesty.” 

He looked curious as I pulled out a map. “The largest area in all of Westeros occupied by a single house is right here in the Neck. Only house Reed can get by in the bogs here, but there is a hundred-mile stretch of land that, if we dig up, we can connect, draining the lands while making a river to travel by boat. It would give another method of transport besides finding a Crannogman as a guide.”

Robert thought about it before his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Why would I like this suggestion? I get nothing out of it?” I couldn’t help but smile when I knew I got him. “Well, the new river will obviously need a name. How about the king who commissioned its creation? Roberts River does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? And by creating more fertile land, you can make more houses to rule that land and pay tribute as well. And I’d like to suggest a few of my men as the heads of these new houses, I suspect that Stark and Lannister will also want to make some suggestions and put their own people up as well as your own.”