Changing North

by mwykes

A war fought in the south, thousands of Northern men lost to avenge their fallen Lord and Heir. The South believed that the North would go back to go the wasteland they called home and never change. Not on his head, the north needed to change. A smarter Eddard Stark, inspired by the great works of 'Reborn into Wild Westeros' by Arkane 007 and 'Will of a Lady' by abbyzlife26.

Changing North

Prologue

'At Last' Eddard thought as he saw the grey land of his homeland rise up upon the horizon, for too long had he been away fighting in a war for the very right to survive. The Mad King had inflected more suffering on the North than any other with the loss of both the Lord Paramount and his first- born son coupled with the thousands of men who had marched south under the call of justice. 'Ha' Ned thought 'justice did the north get we brought down a 300-year dynasty just to put a man who would laugh at the death of innocent children'. Despite this the loss Eddard that bit at him the most was of his sister who had run to what she had believed to be her best chance of freedom but had still ended up locked in a tower a bit one in Dorne rather than the Stormlands as she had feared. "The gods can be cruel can they not my lord" Lord Howland Reed spoke from beside him at the head of the column men returning with their lord home. "Aye, they can Howland but we can only make the best of their will" replied Eddard. "Do you plan to tell your southern wife of your nephew or stick with your bastard son cover story?" asked the only other survivor of the Tower of Joy Lord William Dustin of Barrowtown. "If I have learnt one thing of this war Will it is that the south can't be trusted so she shall remain in the dark of Jon's true origins and so shall the rest of Westeros" Ned sharply cut back. Silence rained down for some time as the Army of the North marched closer and closer home before being disturbed with a question from the man to his right. "What do you plan to do with the north Ned, back to what to we have always done?" questioned his friend from the tourney of Harrenhall. The Lord of the North sat silent on his horse thinking of the question posed by his friend and closest bannerman. "The North can no longer rely upon the South as this war has shown, we survived Winter for over 8000 years before the dragons came and bought us all down to our knees forcing the North to suffer the harsh cold of Winter while sending men to die all of Westeros. It is time that changed" Ned replied in a voice that Howland could only describe as if the Kings of Winter had spoken through him. William exclaimed "you aren't thinking of independence from the Iron Throne surely Ned" "have no fear William that is not my plan, I mean to change the North's mindset for too long it has been solely on Winter now we must plan for more than that". 'Though, the being able to unkneel the north for my first-born son to stand as the first King of Winter in 300 years would be some achievement'

As the ride home to Winterfell continue Eddard dreamed of plans for the North, plans he knew his Father and Grandfather that hoped to complete before his Father got caught in his Southern ambitions. His plans were numerous with his mind constantly at work thinking of new ways to strength both his family position and the North as a whole. When he finally saw his home, he was kicked his horse into a gallop racing towards eager to see his son for the first and to catch up with Benjin, he was less eager to see his southern wife Catelyn but was hopefully of a warm welcome. HE rode beneath to gates of Winterfell to be greeted by a nervous looking Catelyn with a babe in her arms and a sad looking Benjin who looked as he had aged 50 years in the last year alone. No words were spoken as he dismounted before Benjin rushed forward to hug his brother. They shared a moment as Benjin repeated over and over "I'm sorry". The brothers parted with Lady Catelyn coming forward and presenting him with his son. "Your son my Lord, his name is Robert Stark, Robb for short" she said, nervous it appears to Ned about the naming the child without him. "A fine name my Lady, he will warrior and a leader like his namesake" Ned replied. 'May, he be like my friend Robert of the Vale not Robert Baratheon, first of his name. The man who laughs at dead children.' Benjin spoke "come brother there is much to do that needs your approval". "Ha already putting me to work Benjin, aye you are right there is much to do more than you know" and with that Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and the North strode forward into his castle to begin his great plans for a stronger, more powerful and in his wildest dream independent North.