~~~Winterfell~~~
~~~ Two weeks later ~~~
Catelyn Stark POV
"Have all the preparations been made?" I asked Maester Luwin.
"All is done, my lady. The food, the ale, and the vodka and rum are all prepared," Maester Luwin said with a smile.
"Vodka? Rum?" I repeated, slightly puzzled. "Is that one of the new drinks the Vale produces? I have heard the guards speak of it often."
"Oh yes," he said, letting out a soft chuckle. "It is quite strong. It has become rather beloved among the northerners. It seems you have not tasted it. How come?"
"Oh, you know me, Maester Luwin. I drink only wine," I replied with a smile.
"Is it truly that good? This vodka?" I asked, still unsure what to make of it.
"It is, while being more expensive than ale, I would say it is worth every penny. It is much stronger than ale. From what I hear, it can be made from wheat, rye, barley, or even potatoes, and for rum, sugarcane is needed, though the process is well protected," Maester Luwin explained.
"Both of these new foods were introduced by Artys. I heard the merchants talking that Artys had them imported from the far east and the Summer Isles," he added.
"He seems to be doing a lot for a child," I said, amused by the words coming out of the maester.
"It has earned itself the name 'poor man's bread,'" he said again with a chuckle.
That's a strange name. Why would people call it that?
"It is much better than grains, easier to grow, and on very little land it could grow enough potatoes to feed a family, even in the North," he explained after seeing my confused look.
"Cat, we have been searching for you everywhere in the castle," I heard my husband's voice.
He was standing at the door of the great hall, our daughters, little Arya and Sansa, in his arms. He held them up like a loving father. Robb was standing beside him.
May the Seven give them a long and happy life. I pray to you, Seven, may you give my children a loving family like you have given me.
I stepped forward, intending to gather them all into my arms, and then I saw him.
That boy.
Clinging to Ned's robes, half-hidden behind him.
My steps slowed.
That bastard of my husband, the only taint on his honor, and his betrayal to me.
"My lord, the guests from the Vale will be arriving shortly," a servant announced, bowing his head.
"Good," Ned said, his mood brightening further. "Let us go and meet Jon Arryn's boy."
He has been like this since he heard that Artys was coming. For the past three days, he has told me all the stories about how he and Robert spent their time in the Vale.
Jon has been like a father to him. He even gave his bastard his name.
POV ends.
---
Artys Arryn POV
The show did not do justice to Winterfell. It was nothing like they showed.
To begin with, it was big, really big. Two massive walls surrounded it, the outer one a few meters shorter than the inner. It was less a castle and more a fortress town with a small forest inside it.
I need to build something like this in the Vale, a seat from where I could rule once I bring the realm to their knees. King's Landing is just too open. The Vale is easier to defend.
As for my castle, the Eyrie, it is much smaller than any great castle, though the only upside is that no one could attack it.
And even if someone marches to the Eyrie, they must first cross the Bloody Gate.
And yet… they chose to fight the dead in an open field.
Fools.
As we passed through, I saw them gathered in the yard.
Soon, when we entered, I could see the Stark family along with a few men gathered to welcome us. Eddard Stark was smiling, same for his wife, while Robb was observing me.
As for the other children, they were just looking at us with curious gazes.
This was far more than I expected. I was no king, no prince. In rank, Ned Stark stood equal to my father. Yet he had come himself, with his entire family, to greet me.
I dismounted my horse, followed by Yohn Royce, Ser Robar, Ser Lyn, and the other guards.
"Welcome to Winterfell, Artys," Ned Stark smiled at me.
"Lord Stark," I inclined my head slightly. "You have not changed. The last time we met was during the Ironborn rebellion, when you came to King's Landing, if I remember correctly."
He let out a quiet laugh.
"But I can't say the same about you. You have grown taller," he replied. "I recall you asleep on Jon Arryn's lap during a council meeting… asking for milk when you woke."
I kept my smile.
That was embarrassing.
I am not Homelander. I was barely a toddler at that time.
"I would prefer not to remember that part, my lord," I replied, keeping the smile on my face.
"Why not, Artys Arryn, the merchant of milk?" I heard the voice from behind. I knew who it was.
"Lord Stark, I hope you remember this old man," Yohn Royce spoke as he stepped forward to give Ned a hug.
"Forgive my son for his ill manners," he added with a smile.
"No need for that, Lord Royce," Ned replied quietly with a chuckle.
I swear to God, I will get back at him for this one.
"Come," he said, amused. "Let me introduce you."
He placed a hand lightly on my shoulder as he turned.
"This is my wife, Catelyn. Sister to your mother."
"Stepmother," I corrected gently, offering a polite smile.
For a moment, something flickered across her face. Displeasure, but she quickly hid it behind her smile.
Well, Catelyn too was much more beautiful than what they showed in the show, but that doesn't change the fact that she was a bitch and a fool.
"My lady, it seems I was wrong. There are roses in the North too," I gave her a little compliment, to which her face, which had shown displeasure from my earlier comment, softened, though her eyes told a different story.
"This is Robb, my eldest son," Lord Stark said as we moved forward.
Robb stepped forward. We clasped hands.
Firm grip. Steady gaze.
He would grow into a capable man.
And die too early.
"Sansa. Arya."
Both girls looked up at me, wide-eyed. One shy, the other curious, both missing their front teeth.
Then came the Greyjoy boy, held as ward.
And finally—
Jon.
We exchanged a brief handshake. By blood, he should be my cousin, considering my ancestor Aerys Targaryen and Aegon Targaryen, known as Egg, were brothers.
Though I looked at Jon for a moment, not sure if I should have him killed in secret or let him live and have him killed after the Night King problem is dealt with.
He has a claim to the Iron Throne, in fact the strongest claim.
And in Westeros, a claim is a powerful thing. Though even with dragons that I will have in the future, there should not be much protest, but he could claim a dragon too, and so could his children.
Maybe if he decides to stay away from power, I will castrate him at best.
"Come," Ned said, breaking the moment. "Let us go inside. It grows cold out here. I will have you try the latest batch of vodka, Lord Royce."
"Yes, I would love that," Royce said. "The journey from the Twins to the North was too much for my old bones."
"The Twins?" Catelyn asked, frowning slightly. "Why come that way? The Kingsroad would have been simpler."
Well, about that.
"My lady, I did not travel directly from the Eyrie. I made several stops along the way. Maidenpool, Darry, Harrenhal, lands of the Brackens and Blackwoods, and House Mallister. There were matters to discuss, particularly regarding sugarcane production and some trade matters. That route brought us to the Twins."
In truth, I would have preferred the Kingsroad. It is just that I would have had to go all the way down and then come back. The Twins route was much shorter.
"I must say," Ned continued as we walked, "the drinks you sent… the vodka in particular. It has become a favorite. It warms the body well. And those potatoes… we may finally grow something reliable here."
I inclined my head.
"It is nothing, my lord. I am only glad it proves useful."
That much was true.
Once introduced in the Vale, it had spread quickly. Even Dorne had attempted to grow it, though with little success.
Ned Stark is probably one of the few characters I liked. There is nothing to hate about him besides his stupidity.
Pity I would not save him from his fate, since I need him dead to have his son fight against the Lannisters. Though I will send Robb my support, whatever supplies he needs, but no men.
POV ends.