Viserys, hearing the news he'd been hoping for, happily gave the witch a golden dragon. Robert, however, was laughing at him, accusing him of being swindled. Viserys had just taken flight, and now that he was here, with Ned present, there was no way he wouldn't be taken to Winterfell. Having nothing to worry about, he retorted, "So what if it's a golden dragon? The rings you've given away on the road could fill all your fingers and toes, five on each!"
Ned poked at the fire, his grey eyes filled with worry.
Robert angrily cursed, "What do you know, kid!" He glanced at Ned, coughed uncomfortably, and speared a frozen apple on his spear, placing it by the fire to roast. After a while, the apple gave off a sweet aroma. He picked it up, tossed it, and threw it to Ned.
Ned caught it and ate it in silence.
Viserys couldn't be bothered with them anymore and busied himself with brushing his teeth and washing his face.
Robert couldn't stand the atmosphere and stood up, saying in a gruff voice that he was going to inspect another remaining tower.
The witch had already shrunk back into a corner. She held a bowl of steaming carrot and meat stew, muttering, "These three... their new kingdoms aren't here..."
No one paid attention to her ramblings. Including the three rulers of Essos in the future. Of course, when they first arrived on that continent, they would become slaves and hate each other, their circumstances dire... The witch squeezed the golden dragon coin in her hand, thinking, Prince, the gods will look after you. Even if you lose your position, your titles... you are a True Dragon, and you will awaken the True Dragon, bringing forth the True Dragon.
The North was the only place on the continent that wasn't scorched by dragonflame during Aegon's conquest. This was because the Stark king, who led his army south, immediately knelt to Aegon, who possessed dragons, in the Riverlands. This seemingly cowardly act, in fact, protected the people of the North.
People already living in such a frigid place would suffer terribly from war. Farmers would starve to death if they failed to store enough food before winter arrived. The culture here was unique; nobles prioritized harvesting and storing grain over feasts and tournaments. One-fourth of each harvest was stored before anything else. It was only after gathering the harvest for two years that House Stark organized its army to go south and support the king during the Dance of the Dragons.
Viserys found this approach wise. He also deeply understood how crucial it was to obtain crops that could significantly increase yields. This would be the key for his brother to win the hearts of the Northerners in the future, wouldn't it? Who would bite the hand that feeds them? If the black-tech, high-yield crops he was tinkering with could adapt to the cold northern climate, they would also have to be promoted at the right time. For example, if they planted the wheat seeds provided by the Crownlands, they would have to pay one-seventh of the harvest directly to the Crownlands.
The snow on the King's Road was above the hooves of the chestnut ponies. The view was a vast expanse of white. Viserys looked up, and snowflakes clung to his long eyelashes. Was it snowing in King's Landing, thousands of miles away? His brother should have returned to the Red Keep. He never skipped a day at the training ground. Wearing armor in such weather... His brother was essentially a bookworm but was determined to become a warrior. Viserys believed he was trying to protect everything in the kingdom, with a premonition that he would fight against some impending force—whether it be the White Walkers or fate. Viserys firmly believed his brother would be the ultimate victor.
The White Knife River shimmered beside the road. There were locals fishing on the frozen river. They worked hard to break the ice and cast their nets, and the catch was salted and dried for preservation. Viserys, following local customs, had eaten a lot of Northern smoked and cured meats along the way. His request to steam them and eat them in slices with bread was indeed a good idea. Today, Ned told the little prince, who was disappointed about the lack of vegetables, that Winterfell was only half a day away. The fruits and vegetables in the Glass Greenhouse would definitely satisfy him.
The Glass Greenhouse!! There were indeed descriptions of this thing in the books! It's just a greenhouse! Viserys immediately decided that when Lyanna married into their family, a set of the Glass Greenhouse had to be part of the dowry. Built on Dragonstone—so his brother, who loved fruits and vegetables, could enjoy the freshest produce at any time!
Finally, before a swirling, rolling blizzard descended, the party on horseback could see the largest castle in the North, Winterfell, standing at the end of the road. It was larger than the Red Keep, surrounded by the ancient godswood and built on a hot spring. The gray-black stone walls were thick, and a civilian settlement the size of a small town was attached to the outside—Viserys, riding past, found that there were taverns and brothels... Excellent, he thought.
The Duke of Winterfell and his family were at the North Gate, lined up neatly beside the towering, snow-covered pines, to welcome their guests. Viserys's gaze was fixed on the only woman among them.
She was a girl with long brown hair and the Stark family's characteristic long face, wearing a velvet coat embroidered with silver thread. Her gray eyes were the most striking feature: they sparkled with an intriguing curiosity, and were truly captivating! But good heavens! Viserys thought to himself, the problem was that she looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old, a young girl who hadn't even fully developed yet! Engagement at that age was acceptable, but marriage would be too cruel.
Viserys felt his inner musings about Rhaegar and his beloved bride's bedchambers shatter, at least for the time being. It seemed fate would have to wait a few more years... before it allowed his brother to fall in love with her at first sight.
Thirteen-year-old Lyanna Stark reluctantly followed her brother, ready to greet Robert Baratheon, who was to be her betrothed. She wasn't keen on marrying early, like the slightly older female companions she knew. What kind of life was that! From then on, they would be stuck in the castle, the lady of the house with so many trivial matters to arrange, relationships to manage, and, at least, one child a year. They'd need a boy to be praised and lauded for bringing an heir and offspring to the family.
Lyanna, who loved riding and hated restrictions, felt suffocated just thinking about it. Moreover, she had heard some rumors about Robert's affairs, this man—
"Hey, he's handsome, with bright eyes like sapphires! Isn't he?" her younger brother, Benjen, whispered to her. Lyanna elbowed him without hesitation, then adjusted her expression, putting on a polite smile, and looked up at the group riding in from the snow.
Her gray pupils widened instantly: how beautiful! How eye-catching! She saw a bright, chestnut-red pony in the crowd!! What a beautiful foal! Its four hooves moved steadily, its thick mane hung long, and its large, deep eyes were full of spirit, snorting! The snowflakes falling from the sky were just insignificant decorations; it was a rare and fine horse!
She then looked up from the stirrup with envy—the rider on the horse looked even smaller than Benjen. It was a boy who was taking off his fur cloak.
Lyanna saw a head of silver hair that shone brilliantly in the snow. The rider dismounted and smiled at her, his purple eyes curving. He was the most handsome boy she had ever seen.
Oh, the Targaryen prince. Currently Robert's squire, and the Crown Prince's only younger brother. No wonder he had such a pony. Lyanna had heard her father and brothers talk about the events at Riverrun. She thought that saving people in a tavern was a good thing, and the Crown Prince had also upheld justice in the trial by combat.
Viserys, who didn't know he'd already earned the first impression points for his brother, followed Robert. The two families greeted each other warmly. Viserys had noticed that Lyanna had been staring at his horse. He smiled and said generously, "My brother gave it to me. It's from the Dothraki Sea! If you like, I can lend it to you to ride!"
Lyanna, who was a good rider, immediately lit up.
Robert also looked at his fiancée with shining eyes: moving gray eyes, a high nose bridge, rosy cheeks, and a girl who could ride a horse. He thought her figure would be great in the future—she would ride on his "pony" and run wild! She would also give him a large litter of cute little cubs!
Robert looked at her chest, thinking that there was still a long way to go. He then looked at her fair and slender neck, and her proud chin. He greeted her and eagerly wanted to kiss the back of Lyanna's hand—this was allowed by etiquette!
But the little woman of the direwolf bloodline quickly withdrew her hand. Her long eyebrows raised on her lovely face. She wanted to say something—but Ned stood in front of her. "Alright, Lyanna, we should let the guests enter the castle first, and then we'll see them again at the banquet after a rest."
Robert then followed the etiquette arranged by the Lord of Winterfell and entered the castle through the north gate. Benjen fell behind. Seeing his sister still looking at the chestnut pony, he grinned and went over, "Sister, you must dress up, and be careful not to reveal your temper, and scare Robert away!"
He turned and ran, but he still couldn't escape. A large snowball came from behind and smashed into the back of his neck, sending a chill down his spine.
Lyanna, who had thrown the snow, still felt angry and depressed. She looked blankly at the gray, churning sky, at the white, vast plains and mountains of Winterfell—she didn't want to marry and go to the Stormlands at all.
Viserys stepped into Winterfell. Sure enough, on the side of the North Gate was the Glass Greenhouse that Ned had mentioned! Watching the water droplets that had condensed in the winter covering the glass walls, Viserys secretly praised its insulation and moisturizing effects! This winter greenhouse technology, he had to take it with him!
Passing through the courtyards, past the kennels, the armory, and the bridges, he entered the main keep. Viserys looked at the guest room prepared for him: sheepskin was laid on the gray stone floor, and the wide bed was covered with fluffy fox fur. The furnishings were grand but not luxurious; it was good.
Then he was incredibly surprised to find that, in addition to the fireplace burning fiercely, there was another source of heating in the room!
My god! Hot water pipes!! Boiling water was piped in from the underground hot springs and connected to every room!
Viserys immediately decided that this set of pipe systems, as well as the servants who knew how to repair and lay them, must also be part of Lyanna's dowry when she came to the Crownlands! It wasn't just for heating! With some modifications, it could be the direct water supply system for the castle, or even the city!