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Chapter 56 –" Steel and Siblings"
Frosthall, Morning
Snowfall whispered over the rooftops of Frosthall, drifting in thick, soft curtains from the grey sky above. The forge fires hissed against the cold, and smoke rose in elegant plumes. Within the main hall, Cregan Stark stood reviewing reports with Jon when the heavy doors creaked open.
Rodrick Longspear entered, wrapped in black and grey furs, his spear slung over his shoulder.
"My lord," he said with a respectful nod. "We've received the lad. The one from King's Landing — Gendry, the smith's apprentice. Mott vouched for him."
Cregan arched a brow. "The King's Bastard ?"
"Aye,Mott's sends him and told us he will owe you one" Rodrick replied. "Smart hands. Better instincts. Made something out of nothing. I thought you might want to see him yourself."
---
The Bull and the Wolf
The forge at Frosthall burned hot even in morning chill. Gendry stood at the anvil, sleeves rolled, chest glistening with sweat, hammering iron into shape. When Cregan stepped in, he was greeted by the ringing echo of steel meeting steel.
The boy glanced up, eyes wary but respectful.
"You're the Lord of this place?" Gendry asked, voice deep and blunt.
Cregan nodded. "And you're the smith who made this?" He held up the bull-headed helmet — blackened, heavy, and fierce.
Gendry nodded. "Forged it back in the capital. Didn't know where I was going. Just knew I didn't want to be owned."
Cregan chuckled impressed by his blunt nature. "Good. Wolves don't take well to collars."
He turned to Jon. "There's fire in his blood. A rough edge, but sharp. Take him into the smithing corps. He can work under Maester Harwin, Have him practice with our steel 'wolfsteel' ."
Jon gave a light smirk. "You planning to forge him into something more?"
"Aye," Cregan said, stepping closer to Gendry. "You've got your father's look. Let's see if you've got his strength."
He turned to Jon again. "Set him up with dual instructors — sword and warhammer. And make sure he gets the best we have."
Jon raised an eyebrow. "You're investing a lot in him."
"He could be more than a smith," Cregan said. "He could be a hammer of war."
---
A Different Kind of Metal
An hour later, Cregan sent for Samwell Tarly, who arrived still puffing from the stairs, wrapped in too many layers and still sore from the previous day's light drills.
"You asked for me, my lord?" Sam said between breaths.
Cregan nodded toward Gendry, who stood nearby polishing a blade.
"You'll be working with him. In the forge."
Sam blinked. "W-With the hammer?"
"Yes. Hammering steel will help trim that weight off you, and you'll learn the basics of weapons. Strength isn't always born — sometimes it's forged."
Sam looked uncertain, until Gendry gave him a shrug and muttered, "Not the worst thing. At least it's warm near the forge."
Then Cregan smirked. "Once you've lost a bit of fat, I'll personally teach you to wield a battleaxe."
Sam's jaw dropped. "Y-you?"
Jon laughed. "You should be honored. Cregan barely trains anyone personally unless he sees potential."
Sam stammered. "I—I'll try not to disappoint."
"You won't," Cregan said flatly. "So long as you try harder than you think you can."
As Sam walked off with Gendry toward the forge, still wide-eyed, Jon leaned against the wall and grinned.
"You're softening."
Cregan grunted. "He's a wolf now. And wolves don't stay weak."
---
Meanwhile, in Winterfell…
Lyanna Stark stomped down the hallways like a hurricane of braids and indignation. She burst into her father's study and slammed her hands on the desk.
"Father! Uncle Cregan should be arrested!"
Robb blinked, more confused than alarmed. "Arrested? For what?"
"For ignoring me!" she declared. "He promised to teach me sword forms and then rode off like a crow in a storm!"
Robb rubbed his temples. "Sweetling, your uncle is busy. He's not deliberately ignoring—"
"He gave me a Valyrian steel dagger and then vanished," she huffed. "Who gives someone a gift and then doesn't even show them how to use it?!"
Before Robb could reply, Arya entered with that knowing smirk she always wore when chaos unfolded.
"She has a point," Arya said. "Maybe we should all go to Frosthall. It's been too long. I want to see Jon. And Kael. And Kael's ego."
Robb sighed. "I can't just—"
"You can," Arya interrupted. "The North is stable. You've got the Lords' support. And Cregan's always breathing down your neck about delegating."
Lyanna's eyes lit up. "A vacation! Or exile! Either way, we're going!"
"And Torrhen wants a Valyrian steel dagger too," Arya added. "Thanks to our brother's generosity."
Robb dropped his quill. "Of course he does. I gift him a carved wooden horse, and Cregan gifts the most precious metal on this realm . I am being replaced."
He sighed dramatically, looking to the sky.
"Fine. Pack your things. All of you. If I have to listen to one more story about how Shadow the Big Bad Wolf once beat five men with a paw swipe, I'll go mad. Let our brother enjoy this madness ."
Arya grinned. Lyanna squealed. Torrhen shouted somewhere down the hall.
And Robb Stark,Hier to the Warden of the North, quietly plotted his revenge — by dumping his chaos-bringing children on his equally cursed younger brother.
---
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