Robb snorted a little as he looked at his younger sister, Arya. Young Star was practically bouncing in her seat while tucking into her breakfast. Although he couldn't blame her for being so happy either. After months, Jon would finally be visiting Winterfell. It had been a little difficult for Robb to do everything without Jon's presence. Before, his brother always seemed to make things a little more relaxing. It had nothing to do with helping out, but more with his presence. Now Robb had no one to share his annoyances with or just chat about nonsense while they lay relaxing somewhere.
Besides, things had been a bit hectic this past week. Baby Rickon had been born healthy, and his mother was doing well. Tired, but actually quite well.
"Father, do you think Jon will let me accompany him when he gets back?" Arya asked excitedly, but Ned simply raised an eyebrow with a slightly amused look, something unusual for him.
"Shouldn't you ask my permission first?"
"Ah..." Arya trailed off as Robb chuckled, as did Bran.
"Honestly, Arya, I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Why?"
"The things they say about the land your brother protects are good. In fact, too good. The fortress he received is now a small town. In the last two moons, they've already expanded trade with northern peoples, and news of it has probably reached the capital by now."
"Isn't that good?" Robb asked with a frown.
"..." Ned frowned slightly as he thought for a moment. "It's good, because it will attract more people to the north. But there's talk of it being the best place..."
"Children can learn to read and write, the older ones have secure, paying jobs. They have plenty of food, and the city has been expanding little by little. In short, an ideal city. I'm afraid that the stories of the city will completely overshadow the view of the capital, and that will create problems."
"Do you think the King will be offended by this?"
"Hardly. Roberth really isn't like that. In fact, he most likely wants to visit the place and enjoy himself. But even if Roberth is King, he also has to listen to the 'advice' of other men."
"Father, is it really such a good city?" Sansa asked curiously.
Ned nodded. "If what I hear is true, its walls are white and the roads are made of rock. Since people can learn to read and write, in addition to gaining job opportunities, thefts and attacks among them decrease exponentially. Jon has not only kept the place protected, he's also given the people the tools to create their futures... They're probably very loyal to Jon at this point."
"At the same time, by growing such good crops, they can give better taxes to the Wall. Jon has really done a great job."
"My lord..." Luwin walked in and looked at Ned with a small smile.
"Luwin, is something wrong?"
Luwin shook his head slightly and said, "Nothing troubling, sir. Jon has just arrived at the gates."
Arya got up and ran out, receiving an annoyed shout from Catelyn, who had been quietly looking after Rickon. Ned looked around at everyone and nodded, giving the go-ahead for them to leave the table. So, the whole family went out to the courtyards to see Jon for the first time in months. When they arrived, they were a little surprised to see Jon. He looked a little different—not in appearance, but in demeanor. His sullen, brooding side wasn't very noticeable, especially with his hair tied back.
Arya jumped up and hugged her brother while asking a bunch of questions. Jon could only chuckle softly at Arya's excitement. When he put his sister down, he approached the rest of the family and smiled at them.
"Father, Lady Stark... It's good to see you again," Jon bowed slightly as he greeted them, simply out of respect. Ned nodded before giving him a short hug. Catelyn simply nodded, saying it was good to see him again.
"You've come alone..." Robb said after giving his brother a manly hug.
"Yes. There was no point in coming with someone. Besides, every person is necessary."
"Did something happen?" Ned frowned immediately.
"No. Actually, everything went well. But I don't want even one man missing when there's a chance the wildlings might attempt a raid."
"By the way, I'll have to speak with you about the proposal you made to Lord Commander Mormont," Ned said seriously. Jon simply nodded, remembering the letter he had sent to the Wall.
"How is baby Rickon?" Jon asked with a smile, hoping to see the little one.
"I left him with his caretaker for the time being. "I don't think it's good for him to go out at such a young age," Catelyn replied with a slightly tired smile. While there was a woman who saw to her recently born son's needs, she didn't feel entirely comfortable leaving that sole responsibility to someone else.
"Oh! I brought gifts, by the way!" Jon walked to his horse and asked Robb to assist him while the rest of them walked toward Ned's manor upon his request.
"Is this a sword?" Robb asked in surprise as he picked up something wrapped in cloth and leather. It felt very thin, but he could feel the sharp edges a little.
"Yes... for Arya."
"Oh, damn it, Jon! She's already a complete training addict!" Robb couldn't help but curse, causing Jon to laugh in amusement. Such a thing was something he had come to expect from Arya.
"And speaking of swords; is it true that you break swords when you swing them?" I heard Maester Luwin speak of it."
"Yes..." Jon sighed a little. He had understood his ability much better in this time. While the [Trial of the Sword] skill could be used without breaking a sword, the ones he had used weren't good enough. This proved that a sword's potential was incredible, but that they weren't crafted with enough care. Jon suspected that a Valyrian steel sword was capable of being left unpunished while using the skill, but that if he used the sword's full potential, it would create a powerful attack before it broke.
The two brothers entered the castle as they headed toward their father's manor. They talked about a few things as they walked slowly with the gifts in their hands. Robb was curious about his gift, especially since the things Jon was carrying wrapped made a large bundle. But Jon simply smiled at him without saying anything. When they arrived, Arya was waiting with the door open to help them enter with the things. She was smiling, waiting for his gift.
"It seems that "You brought quite a few things..." Ned commented as he looked at the large bundles he allowed to rest on his desk.
"Yes... and I think I'll start with Arya. She can't seem to resist any longer."
She snorted, but it was true. Her feet shifted in the chair where she was sitting. Jon took the cloth-and-leather-wrapped sword and placed it across Arya's lap.
"It's a gift, but it's still dangerous. I hope you've learned that from the training you've had so far," Jon said earnestly, and watched as Arya removed the top of the cloth and let out a small gasp at the sight of a beautiful sword with a slender blade.
"It's so slender..." Arya murmured as she ran her fingertips along the thin blade.
"Like you." It won't kill anyone with that blade, but you can pierce them if you're fast enough."
"I can be fast!" Arya smiled excitedly as she took hold of the hilt and raised the sword, tip to the ceiling. She admired the sword happily.
"I'll call it... Needle."
Robb chuckled while Catelyn and Sansa choked slightly. Ned simply smiled slightly. Jon nodded, pleased that his sister liked the gift. Then, he looked at his father, a little uncomfortably.
"Honestly, Father, I had no idea what to bring as a gift. I just hope you like it."
"You didn't have to. Even I know it's difficult to give a gift that pleases the other party," Ned said calmly, calming Jon a little. Honestly speaking, Jon never really expected the people tasked with traveling to the Bay of Seals to find things considered treasures. Even more so, it was surprising that such a thing could be found in such a place.
It didn't help Jon; he discovered he could buy things like this for a few points at the shop. It might have been helpful to Robb, but he believed it was best to give this gift to his father. Then, when he unwrapped the gift, Ned and Robb's eyes widened in shock. Arya, despite not knowing much, still understood what was before her.
"Jon, this... Where did you get it?!" Ned exclaimed in surprise, staring at the sight as he stood up.
"Is it surprising?" Sansa asked curiously.
"It's Valyrian steel, sister. It can no longer be created, merely reforged. And yet, the number of people capable of such a thing can probably be counted on one hand. It's the same material as our House Stark's ancestral sword."
Jon ran a hand down his cheek with a trembling smile, sensing all the stares. What lay on the table was a gauntlet, but a slightly different one. The part of the forearm near the wrist was slightly narrower than normal, but widened at the end. The fingers were straighter, with points at the end and where the middle phalanges of the hand ended; as a result, the fingers had a claw-like appearance.
"Honestly... I was just as surprised when some men came from Seal Bay with this thing. They told me that while they were doing their work collecting water and sand, they found this gauntlet buried in the ground," Jon shook his head in slight dismay.
"It's simply amazing."
Ned nodded, appreciating the gauntlet as he sat down. He took it before removing his glove and inserting his hand into the gift. It felt quite comfortable to the touch and didn't seem as heavy or inflexible as its appearance might indicate.
"Thank you very much, Jon. I... never expected a gift like this."
"Will you name her?" Arya asked as she leaned forward slightly. Ned looked down at his daughter, thinking for a moment. But, remembering his sword and the appearance of the gauntlet's fingers, it didn't take him long to come up with a name.
"Ice Claw... Yes, Ice Claw is a good name."
"Incredible..." Robb nodded, feeling a little envious of his brother's luck. After all, who's lucky enough to have their men hand over something made of Valyrian steel when it was worth so much? Not even that anymore; the point was that it had been found!
"Ah, now, Robb. I think you might like this. When I was thinking about what gift to bring you, I thought you would one day be Lord Stark. So..." Jon unwrapped the cloth-wrapped and leather-wrapped gift, surprising everyone once again.
"I believe some things are indispensable to Lords. And one of those is armor parts."
This gift, he had actually bought at the Aeternum Group store. Jon still couldn't believe that weapons or normal pieces cost only one point. Valyrian steel was worth ten points. And what Robb now had in front of him were shoulder guards and gauntlets. The latter was almost identical to the gauntlet now called the Ice Claw. One of the shoulder guards was a normal, beautifully crafted plate, but it had the sigil of House Stark engraved on it. The other was actually a wolf's head with its mouth open, baring its fangs.
Robb's eyes glittered as he swallowed a little. The pieces before him were simply stunning, gleaming in the light coming from one of the manor's windows.
"To create something like this... you must have an exceptional blacksmith," Ned said in amazement.
Jon simply nodded with a smile.
"Thank you, Jon," Robb looked at his brother gratefully. He didn't know how to truly show how grateful he was; he could simply say those words with all the sincerity he could.
"Finally, Sansa and Lady Catelyn," Jon looked at them with a slightly embarrassed look. "I hope it's to your liking, Lady Catelyn. Because I really don't have a good sense of dress."
Jon took a beautiful, high-quality green gown and handed it to Catelyn with both arms. Lady Stark stared at the dress in surprise, as did Sansa. Just a glance showed that the dress was finely crafted. When she took it in her hands, the fabric felt soft and comfortable.
Sansa's dress, which she took in her hands when Jon handed it to her, was red with some black details and had more detail, but it was equally beautiful.
Sansa smiled tightly and looked at Jon as she said, "Thank you so much, Jon! It's truly beautiful!"
"Mm... they're dresses you'd find more in the south. How did you get them?" Catelyn asked, a little surprised, but still looking at the dress as she gently touched it with her fingers.
"Some people ask for one thing in exchange for another: a trade. While coins are well accepted and aid trade in the city I protect, some things are brought from the south for sale. Clothing especially. Also, since I asked for small free samples of what we have on hand, it was much easier for the southerners to accept trades."
"What kind of samples?" Ned asked, interested.
"What kind of samples?" Ned asked, interested.
"The result is the use of so-called bitter cultures. When you take what's in their fruits, you can process it to create a bitter, semi-bitter, or sweet mixture. It's served as a dessert, or you can mix it with milk for a hot drink. It's quite popular, especially with children."
"I brought some in case you want to try it later. Oh, and vodka too. It's another thing we've started making. It's stronger than beer or wine, but it takes longer to freeze."
"Very useful for winters."
Jon nodded to his father.
"So, now that the gifts have been delivered..." Ned looked more closely at his son (nephew) and examined his changes more closely for a few moments. He was taller, and you could see he'd gained muscle. His face was more serious, and that melancholy seemed to have largely disappeared. But if he had to choose the biggest change, it would be his eyes. Jon's orbs had been dark before, almost black. Now, however, they were almost silver and shimmering. It was as if a silver liquid were moving very slowly through his irises. It was beautiful, but a little frightening if one focused too hard.
"The proposal you made to Lord Commander Mormont," Ned said, but ended with a small sigh. He understood that it might turn out to be a good idea, but it would probably require the King's approval. Besides, some might object if they found out, citing ancient traditions and rules.
"The idea isn't actually bad, but I don't think many would agree, honestly. Besides, it would require the King's approval."
"What exactly is this idea, Father?" Robb asked curiously.
"Your brother thinks it would be good if people were sent to the wall. This would no longer be permanent, but on a rotating basis. For example, one hundred people would go and work on the wall for a month. After that time, they would return, and another hundred would enter. That way, the wall would have a certain fixed number of people at a time. The number hasn't been decided, but at this point, anything could be helpful to the wall."
"That..." Robb shifted a little in surprise. "...It's actually a good idea. The men wouldn't have to fear for a life on the wall, which is something that makes many people reluctant to go. Besides, the reputation of the place could even increase in the process."
Ned nodded, satisfied that Robb understood the advantages of this idea.
"Anyway, I think I'll have to visit the south," Jon said before letting out a sigh.
"The south? Why?" Catelyn asked with a frown, a frown that Jon matched with a hint of annoyance—not at her, but at the situation.
"The fortress I was meant to protect soon grew into a small town thanks to... well, a little luck and the benefits of the land itself. The problem is that the town keeps growing, and at this point, I've estimated there are already over a thousand people, and little by little, more are arriving every day. Honestly, I never expected it to become so popular."
"And if things continue this way, I'll still attract the attention of the southern houses, especially some like Lannister and Tyrell. There's also the Hand of the King, who will surely watch this carefully as well. I'll definitely have a raven with a letter to visit the king."
"They might question your loyalties... Is that what you're trying to say?" Ned asked a little coldly.
"Correct. After all, the land I manage is freer compared to others. We still pay taxes, but it's actually toward the wall. That's why I also need your help, Father. It would be good if you could send a raven to Lord Jon Arryn."
"What exactly do you want to do, Jon?"
"Arrange a meeting with the King, as well as Jon Arryn himself. I want to be able to speak with them in a calmer manner than with some Lords who are too interested in the things I do. And if what I've heard from the Queen or Lord Lannister is true, then interest will surely arise."
"I want to cut those problems short as quickly as possible."
"That's dangerous," Ned said a little more forcefully.
"Besides, I don't think Lord Lannister is interested in northern lands."
"You underestimate people's greed and envy, Father. Lord Lannister is a man proud of what he's achieved, and I don't think he'd simply ignore someone slowly approaching the level he's at. Even more so when that person is a bastard from the North."
"Fine, but you have to be careful. The South is different from the North."
"I understand. Besides, it's not like I want to play that damn game. In fact, I still don't understand why some people covet that bloody throne," Jon frowned, his expression slightly puzzled. And it was true, he still didn't fully understand. Perhaps that was part of the Southern way of life.
"Okay, then I'll allow you to do that. But you have to be careful."
"I promise," Jon nodded confidently and seriously.
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