Chapter 16

Robb's POV (Age 11), 291 AC Moon 02

It's been a moon since he uncovered the last of the 'treasures' hidden in Winterfell. Marwyn had already completed the task he gave, and newly printed copies of journals were placed in Father's Solar. He could be found reading the original copies as he performed his duties around Winterfell, he had even roped in Mother, Ser Rodrick, Maester Luwin, Mullen, Archmaester Marwyn, and his siblings.

He and Marwyn were the only ones aware of the Mace and the Books. Only the journals of Kings and Lords of the North were revealed, explained by discovering it while rearranging the furniture within the Solar. He had tasked them all to read these and write down anything they found useful on a separate paper. This way they could move through the journals of unimportant King or Lord, but the journals of Cregan Stark, Theon Stark, and a few more notable members of House Stark were read by everyone involved even Mother.

He frowned thinking about the incident just 2 weeks ago. Sansa had mistakenly let it slip about the journals to Septa Mordane.

- Flashback Start-

As supper was served in the Great Hall with the whole household being there. He had ordered it to be so to keep the morale up and to distract Mother from thinking about war.

"My Lord, a request before supper begins?" suddenly a voice rang in the middle of the hall.

As he looked up he saw a stone-faced Septa Mordane, but he knew enough about her that he knew she was angry. "Yes, septa. What can we do for you?" Mother asked before he could.

"I would like to petition something tomorrow during court."

"You can say it now, septa. I will give due consideration to your request" He replied.

"Thanks, Lord Robb but I shall let you have supper in peace."

"Very Well" He saw Septa quickly leaving after giving a terse bow. He and his Mother immediately turned to face Arya who turned red-faced.

"I didn't do anything. I promise. I haven't pranked her for two weeks and the one that I am planning to do is for next week." Arya blurted quickly.

"I believe you, Little sister. But if this petition is about you, I won't be able to protect you from Mother." He said laughingly while Mother grinned at the prospect and Arya pouted. Many times he had saved Arya before or after being caught.

'Curious' he thought about septa requests and tried to guess what it could be.

As the next day rolled around. He was sitting in the Lord's seat of the Throne Room in Great Keep. Besides him, sitting to the left was his mother, who decided to attend the Court for today. And to the right, was Maester Luwin. He sat and listened to the smallfolk, solving whatever disputes and problems had occurred. His siblings were also present in Court today, sitting against the wall watched over by Ser Rodrick.

When he was learning from his father, he watched his father sitting for a full day solving various disputes. He didn't want to toot his own horn, but he knew he was an astute lord and amazed everybody with his ability to mitigate disputes. Proved by smallfolk, as the solutions he had given were good and everybody left with a smile on their faces.

By the lunch hour came by, he decided to get over with Septa Mordane's petition. So he called her forward.

"My Lord, Lady, Maester.", Septa Mordane began.

"I was informed by Sansa that you have found journals of your ancestors. I request, My Lord, that you burn those journals of your heathen ancestors who worshipped trees and rejected the true gods." She completed her request and Hall was shocked into silence and then the outrage spread throughout the Hall.

His face had turned into stone, showing no emotions. He knew that Septa Mordane was uncomfortable with the religion of the Old Gods, but he never knew her hatred ran so deep. As he raised his hand after a few minutes the Hall immediately quieted down.

"Your request is denied. Now leave. And...."

"My Lord, I must insist that you grant my request. This is the will of the seven. You were raised in the light of the Seven." She interrupted, "The seven are the only true gods." 

"Septa Mordane" He roared while standing up. "There is only one true god, the old gods. The Gods of Forest, Wind, Rivers, Stone, and Earth. Don't forget where you standing. This is the heart of the North. While you were indeed teaching me I wasn't learning. Anything. From. You." He paused and after taking a few deep breaths calmed down.

"I want to take your head. But that would increase tensions with the South, You will be escorted to The Twins, and after that, you will travel on your own. Pack your things you leave at the end of the week."

From the corner of his eyes, he saw his mother about to protest about the sentence and signaled Luwin to stop her. She was reluctant but complied.

"Trails will be held at Court after lunch. And Septa, if you come before me spouting this nonsense again I will take your head." He said while motioning his siblings to follow.

As they sat down in Father's Solar slowly Mother entered and sat down too. He gave the order to guards to bring food. After their bellies were full. He told his Mother that his decision was final and explained that Northerners was predominantly follower of the old gods. He also explained that he had been pretending to follow the new gods to appease her.

He then questioned his sisters about the Septa. The girls told them everything about the lessons they received from Septa which was as he found out mostly false and too much distanced from the real world. Mother was horrified, to say the least. He decided to talk to his father about fostering the girls to provide them with Northern education.

Later, during the trial he had to give out a death sentence to a man. The crime was rapping and murdering her. How he had done so was the sickening part and he didn't want to think about that. After hearing from the victim's family, he asked the man that did he deny the charges. The man smirked and discreetly looked towards his sisters and asked to take the black. He had to sentence the man to beheading which would be carried out the next day.

As the hall emptied Ser Rodrick came up to him and said "My Lord, Be prepared to ride out after breaking fast on the morrow, I will behead the man, and as always you will be there to witness the sentence carried out"

As he closed his eyes in exhaustion and exhaled he thought about his siblings and resolved himself. "No, Ser Rodrick. I will carry the sentence out myself." As he finished he walked out of the halls toward godswood. In godswood, he thought about families that could help in fostering his siblings and make House Stark's connection with North strong.

For Sansa, House Dustin would be good. Lord William Dustin was one of the only three survivors to return from Dorne. House Dustin was loyal and it also was a reward to them. Lord William has two children, Artos and Erena. Fostering Sansa with them can also bloom into a marriage with Heir Dustin assuaging any misgivings Lady Barbary has with House Stark.

As for Arya, House Mormont would be best. There was simply no other choice. They were the only house in the North that allowed women to be warriors. He felt that Bran could be fostered with either House Manderley or House Reed. Then he remembered that Lady Leona Manderley was also having a child, which would be the same age as his sibling-to-be. So House Reed can foster Bran. His to-be-born sibling can be fostered with House Manderley.

For Himself, as he had tasks to complete from Old Gods, he would travel throughout the North staying a few months with their vassals to forge a close bond with everyone.

The next day, after breaking his fast and seeing to preparation for the beheading done, he rode out from Winterfell along with 20 guards and the prisoner. After an hour and a half ride from Winterfell, they came upon the cliff that served as an execution spot. Without much ceremony or words, the prisoner was put on stump. He was begging now.

"I, Robert of House Stark. Heir to Winterfell and the North. Sentence you to die for the crime committed against the citizen of North." And so he swung his sword. It was not a clean beheading, he had swung the sword 2 times.

"Please, clean up here. I will sit near the horses to clear my mind." He requested the guards.