7 Chapter 7 RICKARD

Rickard Stark perspective

Throughout my life, I've been a tough man, deeply rooted in my customs. I always knew what was expected of me: survive the winter, fight for the North, and prepare my heir to be a lord with a bit better luck than me. Since I was young, I had only one dream: to improve the North, not for power or glory, but for mere survival.

My trusted advisor, Maester Walys, shared my perspective. We believed that the North needed the South to survive. Together, we planned to secure a southern marriage for Brandon and adoption for the rest of my children outside the North. However, then came the bad news: Walys, the damned, turned out to be a spy who despised the North.

Brandon is a natural-born warrior lord, whom men would follow into battle. With just a few moons of practice in the yard, he already excels in the art of war, from formations to supply planning. As for Ned, he perfectly complements Brandon as an excellent administrator. I thought everything was settled and the North was safe. But then came the maester's betrayal.

For a moment, I remembered my childhood and my desire to see a strong and independent North. All the lessons from my mother about how the South had betrayed the Starks over and over again resonated within me. Now, I'm not sure if we really need the South. How many ideas were mine and how many were just the maester whispering in my ear?

It's funny how a father can underestimate his son.

I tasked Ned with transcribing Maester Walys's letters. That's when I knew Brandon was ready to be a Lord. I couldn't help but see him as a child and start seeing him as an equal. Ned transcribed the letters, but he didn't do it correctly. He left out many parts, the most horrible and unnecessary ones. It was enough for him to understand that he had to distrust the North enough to know that there was a bigger conspiracy. But I can't understand everything. If all the content of the letters had come to light, I would have had no choice but to declare war on the Hightowers, out of honor and revenge. My banners would never have tolerated it. I almost exploded in anger, but he filtered the letters and did an excellent job.

Maybe I should have told him that I can also read High Valyrian, haha, but seeing him struggle to keep his emotions under control was fascinating.

Knowing the language of the dragons is simpler than you think. Since the Dance, Lord Cregan Stark left secret orders. All direct heirs of the Starks were to learn it in secret.

Let them think we're a backward people, let them believe we don't understand what they conspire against us in their language, let them think we're just their rabid battle dogs they can use for their wars.

But we're not dogs, we're wolves. We attack together, surround the enemy, and leave no survivors.

At what point did I think the Southerners had changed? I have to say, not all of them are like that. My good friends Jon Arryn and Steffon Baratheon respect us. There's nothing better for forging respect and strong bonds than war.

I know Jon won't like me changing my mind. He's worked hard to initiate marriage conversations with the Tullys, but I think it's time to strengthen ties with the North. Maybe Ned can have a southern marriage if he wants, but I need Brandon to marry in the North. There's still time to decide, there are four years left for Brandon to get engaged.

Maybe it's fatherly pride, maybe the fact that I see myself reflected in him, all those ideas, that desire to improve the North.

Today, I tried to test him, choosing between two projects. I have to say, I wasn't disappointed that he chose what would ultimately help more people. I hope he understood that sometimes you have to sacrifice a few for the good of many, even if it's just for a hope.

"Today, once again, my second son surprised me. It turns out he didn't discard the orphanage plans. He knew it was a test of choice, yet he still decided not to make difficult choices... yet.

He put his money into building the orphanage, and no, it's not money I put into his vault as a lord's son, but his own money earned through the effort of his adventures. It seems he found more than just silver servants; pure luck, some would say, and they wouldn't be wrong, finding money was pure luck.

What's impressive is the fact that he's willing to use that money he found not to buy frivolous things, but for the sake of others, for not only himself to survive, but for others to survive. Neither Lyarra nor I have said a word about it; we both pretend, pretend not to hear the praises sung in Ned's name in Winterfell, pretend that a project the size of the orphanage doesn't exist.

Today, Maester Aemon arrived, a capable man undoubtedly and wiser than any man I may come to know. I can't remember the last time a Dragon and a Wolf could live in harmony, can't remember the last time I didn't feel hatred for the southern dragons. But here we are, working side by side with my son to prepare a plan for the improvement of the north. Well, I must say the great ideas come from Ned; the maester and I are just in charge of landing the plans and mitigating the impact of these projects.

Today, Brandon came to me with a proposal, his own proposal to improve the North. I can see Ned's influence in the matter, so I decided to put him to the test.

Retrospective scene:

"Hello father, do you think we can talk?"

"Of course, son, come in, sit down. What do you need?"

"I've heard that Ned and you are working on a proposal to present to the northern lords."

"Yes, son, nothing concrete yet, but we're on the right track. Why do you want us to include you in the discussions?"

"Yes, I mean no, I'm not interested in being in discussions and books for so long... Ned tried to talk to me about it, but it sounds very boring. But I would like to present my own proposal. It's nothing spectacular, just some loose ideas about our military forces."

"Hmm, I can see there's more than just simple ideas here," Rickard said after reading the papers.

"Well, to be honest, the ideas are entirely mine, but when I told my brother about them, he told me to write them down, investigate if they were possible, and outline an approximate plan, and of course, he helped me... a lot."

"So why are you here alone? Shouldn't your brother also get credit?"

"I told him that, I swear. I asked him to accompany me, that we could present this as a joint effort, but he refused, something about everyone needing their own moment of glory or something like that, but I didn't understand."

"Well, your proposals are good, but some will cost too much money, others would even make it seem like we're preparing for war. But they could be applied maybe later on. I'll discuss it with your brother. For now, I'll put you in the service of Lord Cassel; you'll be in charge of reviewing our weapon supplies and asking about the territory patrols. I want you to familiarize yourself with them and the way they train."

End of the retrospective scene.

Clearly, I understood why Ned handed the project to Brandon; anyone with a bit of political savvy knows he does it not to overshadow the heir, although I believe such considerations aren't necessary in the North. But again, it's a good testament to his character.

Today, I finally made a decision; the maester was of great help in clearing the doubts that plague me. I think it's time to rebuild Moat Cailin; I can't leave my son without a familiar seat. I'll take some dragons from Ned's reserve; I know he won't mind. I plan to pay for the fortress, but we must start as soon as possible; I can't wait for the harvest.

***

"Lord Winterfell's Solar, 272 AC.

'Children, as you know, your ideas and work have greatly helped Winterfell; they have strengthened us as a house. That's why I want to give you both a reward and a mission. Brandon, I have decided that next year you will be adopted by Lord Manderly and Ned, as you have requested. Your stay will be with Lord Arryn once you turn 11. But both of you are the pillars of the North, its future great lords, so I can't let the houses be upset for not having chosen them. That's why I have decided that you will travel throughout the North to meet all the lords, pay your respects to them, and spend time with them for at least a month. I want you to strengthen the bonds and gain experience dealing with the lords.

'Yes, sir.'

'I will give each of you a different mission to carry out separately, and you must swear not to share the details of the mission with each other. If you do, I will know. So for now, Eddard, I want you to stay. Brandon, wait outside for a moment.'

'Ned, I want you to discreetly expand your information network throughout the North. See how our orphanages are doing; if there's any mismanagement not related to the lords, eliminate it and replace them with your people. But if they are going wrong because of the lords, I don't want you to offend them. Spread rumors that it's because the Bannermen are stealing the Starks' money, that the orphanage isn't functioning. Also, during your journey, I want you to analyze the lords' lands; look for projects with which we can reward them for their loyalty or which part of the industry we could relocate there. Don't be greedy; you already have many profitable projects, and continuing to monopolize them will only breed resentment. Understood?'

'Yes, father, understood.'

'Very well, send in Brandon, and don't wait for him; his conversation will be longer.'

***

'Hello, son, you know, before giving you your mission, I want you to tell me what you desire for your future. You see, it's expected that the Warden of the North marries within the North. That's why I have prepared two marriage options for you. I want you to meet them during your journey; you have until your return to make a decision.

The second mission, perhaps the most difficult for you', he said, 'I want you to listen and only take the scroll when you have made a decision', as he took out a series of scrolls from a black tome.

...

..

.

(Secret conversation omitted)

"I know what I'm asking goes against everything you believe, but I need to know your answer before they reach the first castle to decide.

"Phew, I don't even need to think about it, father. I'll do what you say.

"Really, son? I don't want you to do this for the North or for the house, but only because you want to.

"Father, as the heir, I never had the option to decide. It doesn't matter if you ask me today or in 50 years, my answer wouldn't change.

"Even so, please think about it. I'll make sure that if you regret it, you can still...

"No, father, I'm sure.

"Okay, son. Farewell.

"Now I find myself in Winterfell's courtyard about to bid farewell to my family. For some strange reason, my wife insisted on accompanying them to Karhold, something about spending more time with their children. And although I managed to make her promise to return after seeing the Karstarks with the younger children, I'm still not sure she'll obey me.

Brandon is determined to stay in White Harbor once they pass through there on the journey. I wanted him to return at least a little before leaving, but at least that will allow Lyarra to be the one to negotiate with Lord Bolton for the reception of his son.

End of viewpoint.

As Rickard moved away, the caravan, I could only think:

Now it begins.

__________

Eldrick's Diary

Entry number 5:

It is said that he landed near his home without noise, without signs of the danger he represented. They only realized when the misfortune became evident: the rivers dried up, the green pastures began to die.

But they knew, he had arrived alone, without a great army, a single being as large as a stone giant. The defenders were defenseless, dying quickly. The town gave up resistance; as more people fell, more people rose in their army. They were repelled, almost annihilated, only resisting in 3 steps of the mountain range.

The Jogoss nhais joined forces to fight, the kingdom of Jhogwin sent a delegation to help, even the dwarves of Nefer participated.

They won, pursued the wounded beast to the Gray Sea, and on its waters, man and beast fought, but before dying, the creature shone. It is said that the light was so intense that day dawned twice for the inhabitants on the other side of the mountain range, and the heat was such that from the great sea only the bed remained, boiling waters.

Thousands died, the once green lands became a great sea of sand, the existing sea contracted, and the few survivors, mainly women, moved us to the palaces of the mountains. Today, from the kingdom, only a name remains, a myth: Hyrkoon.

________________________________________

Take a chapter that I'm not sure if I managed to upload later tomorrow."

Hello readers, I have a few things I'd like to address. Firstly, thank you very much for the support and the continuous reviews I've been receiving. I'm trying to correct what you all comment on and respond to your messages. Please keep commenting, and again, thank you.

Another thing I'd like to clarify is the personality of Mc...

You know, I've always thought that a person with power tends to act in two ways: either they're a damned pretentious who always wants to show it off, or they genuinely act as if they don't care.

Firstly, in this novel, I want the division between the North and the South to be more than just about the gods. In the novel, we're told that the Northerners are direct and crude in their mannerisms, but as for the Southerners, I consider them to be just less formal when speaking. They're more about not caring about their nobility.

Secondly, most of the family interactions we see are too formal to believe, either because they're in public or because Catelyn is a witch with Jon. I don't think my Ned has to be formal, not with his family or the people he cares about, not in private or in the North in general.

Lastly, my main character is a prankster and likes to do things to make people uncomfortable. That's how he'll play the game. Imagine Ned introducing Littlefinger as his brother or calling Aerys grandfather or calling Cersei sister-in-law in front of Robert without him being able to object.

Now, he's like this because he really has power. He's the second son of the most powerful man in the North, and behind him is a Stark house that I hope will be more powerful than the original. He won't be like this all the time, only when he wants to mess with someone. He also knows how to speak properly and play the intrigues.

If it bothers you, I'll tone it down, and if it's too uncomfortable to read, let me know because a lot of meanings are lost in the language switch.

That's all, and again, thank you for your support.

Finally, I created a Ko-fi in case anyone wants to buy me a coffee sometime.

https://ko-fi.com/d_vera

May the old gods bless you.