Before I get started I would like to say I appreciate all the support for the story.
Now several reviews and PMs have questioned me regarding the pairing and to be honest I do not have one in mind, only that it will NOT be Daenerys.
I feel that I am horrible at writing romance but will give it my best shot.
Other than that!
Enjoy!
After the revelation of Hadrian's parentage, the atmosphere in Riverrun was cold, for lack of a better term.
Hoster had taken to doing all he could to proclaim Hadrian a bastard of Brandon Stark. The elder man was also attempting to both subtly and outright convince Eddard Stark to take the lordship. Ned and the Lord of Riverrun have come to blows more than once.
Hadrian, however, had a meaningful conversation with Catelyn Stark the evening that it was revealed that he was Brandon Stark's son which started out in a surprising way. "Lord Stark." She addressed him at the evening meal. Had Hoster been there he would have made a good impression of a tomato and had Ned been there, he would have responded out of reflex.
However, Harry and only the Blackfish were there. Hadrian nodded and gestured for her to continue. She had acknowledged him as the rightful heir to the North. Whether she liked it or not mattered little to Harry and until he had gotten a feel for her attitude he would only allow her leave to call him Harry when she realized her place.
"I wish to discuss the bastard of my lord husband." She stated clearly.
While Hadrian would not allow, under any circumstances, the belittling of Jon, he would hear what she had to say but would stop her should she overstep. "Then let us discuss Jon."
"I do not want him at Winterfell." She said. "I do not want a reminder of my lord husband's unfaithfulness to be there."
Harry could see her point but gestured for her to continue. When she didn't Harry nodded and responded. "I understand Aunt Catelyn. However, I will not allow a babe, who is as much as a cousin to me as little Robb is, to not be treated unfairly. Do not mistake this as me completely accepting Jon. Should he overstep his status and attempt to take what is rightfully Robb's, he will be dealt with. I do not expect you like him, however, I would see you treat him fairly and cordially with your opinions kept to yourself on him." Hadrian paused to gather his thoughts. "Do this and when Moat Cailin is rebuilt and your family moved there I will consider keeping Jon at Winterfell."
It was several long moments before she sighed. "I can agree to those terms, my lord."
Hadrian smiled albeit not a broad one. "Please, call me Harry when in private." The Blackfish lightly chuckled and instead of speaking he continued to eat merrily.
However, needless to say, the Starks of Winterfell were none to pleased at the blatant power grab by Hoster Tully. Catelyn, after being redeemed through her attempts at being cordial with Ned and not overtly arguing with him, seemed also off-put by her father's aggressive attempt at political maneuvering.
So after a rather short and cold farewell two days after the revelation, the Northern party left Riverrun. Nothing of note happened during the two weeks journey to Moat Cailin. Hadrian had taken to riding ahead with about two dozen Stark men to scout out the Kingsroad for suitable stopping points and to hunt.
Considering Harry being incredibly good with a bow, he shot down quite a number of pheasants on the way, for his family and some for the ones in his party as well as Howland Reed, who joined them for evening meals. Lord Dustin preferred drinking with his men, not that he blamed him with the gold he had looted he had gotten a handsome storage of Arbor Gold.
While, when questioned that is, most of it would be going to Lady Dustin as a gift, he stated that it was best to taste the product first to make sure it was of good quality that is.
Harry would be lying if he said he didn't procure a wineskin to test the quality of the wine himself.
The five hundred Northmen stayed in the moving castle of House Reed where Hadrian had made a rather interesting discovery of the crannogmen. He had an idea, from what he expected of the swamplands in and around the Neck.
But nothing of this scale!
From what he had gathered and deduced from Howland was that House Reed had employed a set of rather ancient magics and from the most part that was the case. Ancient magic permeated throughout the living castle like a mist of water waiting to be used, that reminded him eerily of Hogwarts. The ancient magic was more like wards though, from what he could deduce at least only those of the Neck could even hope to locate the 'moving' castle and any with ill-intent would never find it. The inherent illusions and disillusionment charms made the ancestral seat of the Reeds into what appeared to be a primordial version of the Fidelus Charm.
After that, the Reeds and crannogmen were a rather interesting bunch. They had a small and humble feast for the Northerners as was the way of those in and above the Neck. Nothing too extravagant but enough to acknowledge and pay the proper respects to those involved, something Harry could get used to and rather enjoyed the event.
Exchanging thanks and farewells, the Northern party diminished in number but not at all in spirit.
They came to stop at Moat Cailin. Here Harry was able to wrangle a duo of stags for dinner which were locked in a heated exchange of blows. Harry and two others watched the exchange with diluted interest until Harry grew bored and quickly loosed an arrow that pierced the eye of the younger buck while the young marksman quickly drew another and plugged the elder stag in the eye.
Harry thought nothing more of it while walking back and the Northmen were certainly glad for the meat.
The guards assigned to escorting Harry to his tent were dismissed at the feast as they were in friendly territory now and Harry loudly proclaimed any bandits wishing to try their luck here would be squandered and would face the might of the best of the North. Many voiced their agreement and Harry spied a proud glint in his uncle's eye.
Harry internally preened at that but quickly subdued it. He may have been starved of attention in his early years of his previous life but right now he needed to focus and not act like a child.
But the reason why he didn't need guards posted outside his room is because he would be beginning his plan, here at the Moat, where builders and stone masons were already working hard at rebuilding. They would stay there for a week and that was more than enough time to do what he needed to do.
As soon as Hadrian knew that most of the Northmen here were asleep, he snuck out of his room after casting a quick disillusionment charm on himself and silencing charm on his feet. He would first need to find a rather large boulder in a small clearing.
After about an hour of searching he found one protruding from the ground. This will do. Harry thought to himself.
The young Stark walked the perimeter of the small clearing and with a gesture here and there, exactly three rocks about the size of a head floating in a triangle formation. He muttered an incantation and a sizzling fire began carving into the three rocks. He continued to chant quietly as another fire erupted on the large stone in the middle of the small clearing. The sizzling stopped a few moments after he had stopped the incantation, several perfectly carved symbols swirling around the large boulder while the three rocks floating around in the perimeter looked like miniature replicas of the same.
Harry approached the large boulder and placed the palm of his hand against the oddly cold surface, considering mere moments ago the entire rock was ablaze. A blue aura engulfed in his hand and eldritch energies in the form of lightning sprang from his arm and began striking the boulder.
After several moments of this contact, Harry would've collapsed had he been not using the boulder as support, he had expended that much energy and magic.
With wide gesture, a gust of wind was swept in the forest, not hard enough to warrant a lot of attention but enough to send chills down the spines of everyone in and around Moat Cailin. The ambient magic was beginning its beneficial work.
He shook his head and his tunic was doused in sweat as was his forehead. He gathered his thoughts before looking at his handiwork. He nodded before with a gesture of his hand several permanent wards sprang to life. Powerful disillusionment wards and confundus charms that anyone who stepped within fifty feet of this clearing would not only see an incredible thicket of trees but also have the urge to turn away from it with a powerful sense of dread, he doubled the confundus effect and for good measure tripled it from there as it wouldn't do for some adventurous soul to wander here.
Given that it was decently out of the way from the Moat and away from major footpaths, it was unlikely anyone would find it in the first place.
Three floating rocks with fire-carved runes and a large boulder that looked like it just went through the ringer with a dragon would garner some unneeded attention.
He wearily stumbled back into his tent and collapsed in partially magically induced exhaustion. It helped that he didn't suffer it fully as he would be as useful to anyone as a wolf with no teeth was useful to its pack.
He rested on a nearby chair and small wooden table, where a small tray of dried venison and a tankard of water sat.
He thought about the runic array he created. It was actually several rune schemes he learned while traveling with wizards in Greenland. The farmers used this and it had allowed them to warm a piece of land enough to melt snow, and to make the soil incredibly fertile. As the Statute of Secrecy was in place they couldn't just warm the entirety of Greenland but they did it enough to create comfortable communities with the help of similar charms on Diagon Ally and other major wizarding districts.
For the North it was much of the same concept but on a much, much grander scale. Hadrian's plan for this was to go to major houses ancestral seats' and creating the array and then connecting them all to a ward stone at Winterfell so as that they would all work in conjunction with one another.
Studying runes in with Egyptian scholars turned out to be a blessing. It was almost like learning a second language and after coming with the sudden inspiration of combining multiple ward schemes into a massive boulder while using a three stone runic stabilizing array, he realized that essentially he was writing orders on rock. Creating the runes with fire, with the element being a purifier and the symbol of a hearth, allowed the earth warming effect to take hold.
In essence he was creating an magical ley line network that had the express purpose of climate control. Not only would harvests be able to be done two to three times a year but as well as double the yield. He thanked his lucky stars that his aunt had forced him to garden and to make her flowers, vegetable and fruit garden to not only make them look immaculate but also give good yield thus in turn forcing him to read on agriculture, otherwise he wouldn't have a clue as to what he was doing.
He would have to go every night that he was here to imbue the stone with more magic and on the last night finish it off with, not only a binding ritual but also a ritual that would essentially allow it to remain active indefinitely so long as it wasn't destroyed. Hadrian finished the small meal that he had taken into the stone tower with him and then silently fell asleep.
For the next five days Hadrian found himself in the clearing as much as he dared without drawing attention to himself. He wanted to make sure it was safe and continued adding the eldritch energy within himself to the massive runic stone whenever possible to not only strengthen the array but to also experiment.
After attending each lesson of the North with Uncle Ned and sometimes Lord Dustin, one in etiquette with Aunt Catelyn (as she wanted to know what he had learned thus far) and drilling with several soldiers who sparred with him.
Seeing as how he had learned some underhanded Dornish tactics that caused some bloody noses, he won some spars against a few of the younger men, which only meant good things in the future regarding his skill considering he was only six name days old but looked like a boy of ten.
Ned had told him that he took after both his father and grandfather in that regard. Hadrian also figured that his Dayne blood, who were naturally tall people, also gave him an advantage.
He was rather able to hold his own for a little bit against the more veteran men but was ultimately knocked down to his ass a couple dozen times.
Ned had spoken to the Master Builder on the specifics of the Moat, which were immediately smoothed over. From the estimation the Moat would be able to be lived in by the end of next year at the earliest and one and half years by the latest if no major difficulties arose. The Moat and the outlying town would be completed in almost double that time.
On the last day, Hadrian Stark soon found himself in the clearing again examining his handiwork. The grass in the circle was already thick, around five inches tall, and a healthy green with some flowers mixed in.
Harry, with a cutting spell, had cut some wood off nearby which was also browner indicating its health and incredibly strong. He also noted that the floating stabilizing stones were giving off a dim reddish almost orange glow around them. He nodded to himself, satisfied with the work and committed the place to memory should he need to apparate here to make alterations to the scheme.
After all, he was going to make it a dozen, if not more times and each one would need to be able to work with the other.
It was already midnight when he begun the final touches to the ward scheme. He was up examining the large boulder before nodding to himself content with his work. He withdrew a small steel dagger and swiped it across his palm.
He quietly hissed at the sharp and sudden pain but held his bleed hand over the three major runes that were formed in a triangle. An amplifying rune, a locking rune and a strengthening rune. Hadrian let his hand bleed seven drops over each rune.
As soon as the last drop fell and made contact with the strengthening rune, he felt the ambient magic in the air grow tenfold and the three stones, their glow being a dim hue now a bright lantern before dying down back to their original brightness. Harry genuinely smiled and almost leapt in joy as his childish mindset took over. He composed himself, however, but still let out a child's giggle. The young Stark quickly healed his hand with a healing spell and left the clearing, his work here done for now.
The ride back to Winterfell was one filled with anticipation. Lord Dustin had left a little ways past Moat Cailin for Barrowton but not before extracting a promise from the young Lord Stark that he would soon visit.
Hadrian promised he would see him soon when he toured the North with his uncle as company which would be held for the beginning of the new year. The harvest feast still needed to be held.
The young Stark garnered a surprised look from Ned but nothing more was said.
Hadrian would later find out from admission that Ned hadn't thought that he would want to tour the North until he was older and so hadn't thought much of it.
Hadrian, after entering Winterfell, quickly took stock of the treasury and the journals of the previous Lord Starks. It wasn't until the end of the end of the week until his uncle approached him.
The young Stark was sitting with his legs dangling from the walkway into the open air with his arms wrapped around two support beams while reading a journal from the Bloody Wolf that was Cregan Stark. The Hand of the King and what became known as the Hour of the Wolf painted a gruesome and respectful picture of how ruthless a Stark could be when provoked and took his duty seriously.
The Northmen that stayed behind were used as spies by the Lord of Winterfell under the guise that they did not want to burden their families during the winter! That had surprised him. Apparently Starks played the game while leading the others to believe them to be incapable due to be too savage or remote to even know of it. He figured his grandfather was the only one to do so.
The man became known as the Bloody Wolf from then and cemented his place into the history of Westeros. Apparently, since the Lannisters had fought against the 'blacks', many spies were sent to the Lannister mines to see the status of their wealth and while it was still incredibly abundant it was slowly but surely running dry.
It was only a matter of time before the Lannisters ran out of what made them powerful.
Hadrian's progress on the central ward-stone was coming along slowly. He needed at first to find a suitable host for the runes that would be engraved on it and it needed to be in Winterfell, preferably inside the central keep so as to maximize the effectiveness of the stabilization wards. He first thought about have the heart tree inside Godswood but he knew that having engravings on the sacred tree would trigger an outrage and he couldn't very well use disillusionment charms on something this large.
It didn't help that it had to be something that was as much as tune in the land and people as well so as further stabilize the massive undertaking of the changing the climate. Wouldn't want the whole damn thing to blow up the entire North. The reborn wizard added mentally as he continued to read the journal.
"Harry." The Quiet Wolf spoke deeply in his baritone voice as he laid his hands on the railing. The older Stark watched as two Stark guardsmen sparred. The raven haired boy looked up at his uncle who captured the Stark brooding look in spades.
"Yes, uncle?" Hadrian closed the journal to give his uncle his full attention.
"I think it would please you to know that Benjen has chosen not to take the black." Ned spoke as he met his nephew's gaze. "I think you guilted him enough into staying."
Harry looked away at that and explained himself. "Our family should stay together as much as it can." He paused. "The entire Stark line was almost wiped out in the rebellion, uncle. As much as I would've loved to have Benjen make a name for himself. The Wall is not the place to do it, at least not in it's current state."
Eddard nodded at that. "I've sent what builders we have left to establish a holdfast for him in the Northern Mountains." Eddard gathered his thoughts in what he said next. "The envoys my father sent have also returned with news."
Hadrian perked up at that but allowed his uncle to continue and he did. "Their clan leaders are coming to treat with us here."
"All of them?" Hadrian skeptically asked.
"All of them. They come within the moon. I expect you to be able to treat with them effectively." Eddard said.
"Don't worry uncle. I won't let grandfather's planning go to waste." Hadrian stated, after all the younger wolf was a pivotal asset to that plan. There was a content pause before Eddard spoke up again. "Catelyn is still angry with you. Would you tell me what that is about?"
Hadrian actually chuckled at this which caught Ned off-guard. "She may be furious with me all she wants but I won't allow a sept to be built in Winterfell, one is enough in the Moat and White Harbor and she can worship privately in her room until you take your leave there."
At Ned's questioning look, Harry explained himself. "We would lose respect with other northern lords if we were to allow a sept here in the ancestral seat where the Winter Kings once ruled. For thousands of years the Starks have kept to the Old Gods and will continue to do so. I won't allow a southron lady dictate who we choose to worship."
"Were you not raised to worship the Seven?" Eddard ventured. Harry had a feeling his gloomy uncle was testing him.
"My mother knew I would be going to Winterfell as the heir to the North and knew that worshiping them here was taboo. It was not like she kept to them much herself. Sure, she and I prayed but that is about the extent of what we did and mostly it was to the Old Gods and not the New." Besides, Harry now knew the only god that really mattered was Death and Death couldn't care less whether one worshipped him or not.
Eddard nodded but asked no more as sighed once again. His nephew Hadrian, had already put together plans on increasing the production of food and had come forward to him on rebuilding the Northern fleets, that it was merely the first week that he was at Winterfell and a boy of six baffled the Quiet Wolf.
Not only were these plans plausible but Ned saw them for what they were. A way to get the North more independent than ever before.
And Ned Stark also appreciated that he was also acting like a boy as well and not taking his lordly duties to the extreme as he had expected when he began conversing with Ned about the private plans Rickard Stark had for the North through both Brandon and Hadrian.
Ned often saw him sitting as he was now, a book in hand or climbing to some obscene place and reading there without a care in the world.
Granted, Ned knew that many of the books he read were from Maester Luwin's collection as well as Winterfell's own library and as such didn't carry that much of fantasy or play writes but more academic and historical information.
Now Ned would've had him playing with others as well smallfolk or not so that he could interact with others his age but seeing as how the harvest was about to come in, all hands were on deck to get it gathered.
It didn't help that Hadrian was also born at such an awkward time as well. There were hardly any his age and the only young two he could think of was Smalljon Umber and Alys Karstark, both of whom were a year younger than Hadrian.
He hoped Hadrian didn't close himself off from people.
Hadrian sat upon the slightly raised dais with his uncle as regent to his right and maester Luwin on his left.
The younger Stark didn't know how to feel about the order of the maesters. First, Harry knew that the centralization of knowledge could lead to horrible things and secondly, the selfish pricks that were archmaesters were probably so senile and old that their ball sacks were dragging along the stone floors with an undiluted self-importance.
Hadrian figured that he had the right to hold a particular grudge against senile old men who had nothing better to do with their lives than control information and manipulate others.
Harry was at least assured that Luwin was loyal to the Stark family as he held no familial ties to anyone of import and only had joined the order during a winter so as to have a constant source of food, the manipulating fools thought they sent someone that was loyal to them and only them when the old man knew to appreciate where the food on his plate came from. He didn't specifically tell Hadrian that but with the use of a bit of legilimency, there wasn't much to hide.
The younger Stark shook his head of those thoughts. Now was the time to bring the mountain clans into the fold and not think of murderous thoughts of the grey rats.
Around him were only four pairs of the household guard (as Ned would not allow any less with a probable hostile people coming to meet with them considering the subject they were going to speak to them with), their round shields and spears and grim facades bringing a reassuring feeling to him. While the northern clans and Starks of Winterfell have always been on good albeit cool terms, he was presenting something no other Stark, that Hadrian knew so far, had attempted before.
Sitting in front of him were various papers detailing information of the clans of the north mountains and the small incomplete journal of Rickard Stark, along with his own which he had already made a few entries.
Ned was informed that the clan chieftains would be arriving that day, who were eager to meet the new Stark of Winterfell. While the Ned would've wanted a feast held in their honor, Hadrian vetoed the idea immediately stating that 'I have a feeling that they would appreciate it more if we got straight to business before eating.'
Harry was legitimately guessing at this as he was going off of northern ideals. He knew he hated feasts already as his grand-uncle Dayne insisted on having one at least one every two moons and he had attended several before even arriving to the North.
He hated the idea of standing on ceremony everywhere he went but he knew the benefits of such a thing severely outweighed the consequences.
Luckily for him, such a thing really only mattered only in the south. Here in the North, lords and just about everyone above the Neck only respected strength and wisdom.
He was correct in that regard as several rough looking men came in escorted by a herald who quickly announced Harry as the Lord Stark and Ned as regent and afterwards named all the clan leaders quickly and efficiently.
If Hadrian remembered correctly, which he did then there was supposed to be forty clan leaders. Here there were only six. The young Stark knew this to be more of a convenience than anything as they probably picked the most influential and strongest of chieftains to represent all their interests.
It would only help the Wolf of Winterfell.
"Welcome lords of the Northern Mountains." Hadrian started as he stood up and stepped down the dais to their level, surprising Ned and startling Luwin with the abrupt and unplanned movement.
Even at Harry's tall stature for his age he only came up to the shortest clan lord's sternum. The wolf still looked to them with respect but not fall to the stone gazes that met him on even ground. Chieftain Wull grunted in amusement as did the other older men as they continued to measure Harry.
"I am going to get straight down to business. I am sure scouts of various clans have seen the work of a holdfast at the base of the Northern Mountains and that it may even be intruding on some land that is owned by the clans." Harry began. He accomplished a few things with this greeting. One, he acknowledged their own prowess in gaining knowledge and indicated that they were not at all stupid. Two, Harry made himself not one to waste time on pleasantries and three, the younger wolf acknowledged that they also had claim to the lands they were using.
The Chieftains barked a laugh and the Wull spoke in a deep booming voice. "I like this Stark of Winterfell. Balls of solid steel you have. Not many would stand up to me like that much less a small whelp like you."
Hadrian smiled as well. "I invited you all here to Winterfell to discuss a new era. One where the North will rise above all others. We are all descendants of the First Men and all adhere to the Old Gods, you and your people moreso than others. I want your people to be part of this era of prosperity. One where winters aren't the heralds of death and famine but survival and heartiness. I offer new towns built of stone for shelter in your land, means for your families and people to survive the harsh winters so that all may live, steel weapons and equipment to defend yourselves with. All that I ask is that you pledge your fealty to the Starks of Winterfell and fully commit to fighting just wars alongside us."
"You ask us to bend the knee to you. A boy?" The chieftain of the Norreys exclaimed.
Hadrian faced him. "I could give two shits about if you bent the knee or bent your arm. All I ask is that you give loyalty to us so long as a Stark is alive and in turn receive prosperity. Your word is good enough for me."
There was a pregnant silence as they thought upon his words, Hadrian standing firm under the stone gazes of the chieftains. It was several minutes of such silence until Wull nodded and grunted in acknowledgement. "You speak honestly and bluntly, little Stark." He sighed. "I can not see reason for you to deceive us. I am honored to say that so long as you fulfill your promise, the people of Clan Wull will henceforth agree to your terms."
And one by one the clans of the Northern Mountains became apart of a North that has never been so unified.
The night of Hadrian bringing the Mountain Clans into the was fold was one worth definitely quite a few pages in his journal. joys the many new lords of the North, Hadrian, Ned and Maester Luwin went over the final details of their plans.
Builders, miners and just about anyone looking for work would be sent throughout the Northern Mountains to build the holdfasts, castles and towns for their people. Considering the amount of labor and work to be had, Ned said he would write to Robert to send whoever looking for work in King's Landing to Winterfell and placed a double order on the amount of foodstuffs from both the Riverlands and the Reach so as to feed the newcomers. It would put a significant dent in Winterfell's coffers and push back plans for a Northern navy on the west coast a year until the gold mines began churning out the profits but it would be worth it to cement the loyalty of the clans should any conflict erupt.
The harvest feast would be in two months and Hadrian Stark had a lot of work ahead of him.
The harvest feast was a loud and boisterous affair.
And Hadrian enjoyed himself immensely.
Here Harry met Alys Karstark and her three younger brothers, two of whom, Harrion and Torrhen, being twins and Eddard being the youngest. He interacted more with Smalljon Umber who was, amazingly, slightly taller than Hadrian himself.
Considering that, they both sort of dwarfed Alys in that regard but Hadrian knew she'd grow into a beautiful woman. Still though, she was awfully cute when she crossed her arms in a pout when both young boys patted her head in affection and her midnight colored hair often got in the way of one of her eyes.
Hadrian and Smalljon both missed the light pink coloring her cheeks though.
The younger Stark, however, was more nervous than before. He would be meeting with all the lords and he was busy setting privacy wards. His mother had expressed that no matter how safe you think you are or how private the conversation is, whoever wanted to manipulate the North would learn of it.
That is to say if Hadrian Stark would allow it.
No one needed to know the strength of the North nor the plans of upliftment he had in store for it. At the very least the Northern lords needed to know but even that was tenuous at best. He knew Roose Bolton was definitely untrustworthy. His cold and cunning demeanor along with his malicious silence just sent warning bells off in Harry's mind. The Ryswells were a sort of wild card in his regard. While Barbrey was wed to Lord Dustin, who was loyal to House Stark, Lord Ryswell also had a daughter once married to Lord Bolton and considering Lord Ryswell was known to always attempt to advance his house's standing, should the Starks appear weak they would definitely back the Boltons.
Other than that everyone was loyal. The Dustins and Umbers being adamant supporters of Ned Stark and the Karstarks being a cadet branch of the Starks themselves guaranteed their loyalty should a power play be sought. The Mormonts were almost zealous in their loyalty to the Starks and were absolute with the tie through Benjen and wherever they went the Glovers and Tallharts followed. The Manderlys had nothing but gratitude and appreciation for the Starks since the exile from the Reach and where they went the Lockes quickly scrambled after them.
Considering the loyalty the noble houses of the North had for the Starks, it was no wonder the saying of 'Wherever the Starks go, the North Follows,' became a thing.
Hadrian was shaken from his thoughts when the Quiet Wolf cleared his throat and banged his reasonably sized fist against the wooden table garnering all the lords' attention. "My lords, there is business to be discussed. I will not waste anymore of your nor my own time dallying."
"Aye, Ned! My wife misses my company!" Greatjon boomed with a chuckle.
Dustin was quick in his retort as he stood with a broad smile across his face. "Aye! Lady Umber has been missing it for many years!" He was met with a chorus of laughs as Greatjon laughed along. Hadrian smiled at the interaction. Had his grand uncle Beric been told that, blood would have been spilt that very night or the insulter would have met a very unfortunate accident.
Hadrian caught a glance at the Lord of the Dreadfort and saw no hint of amusement in his eyes. The young wolf would chance a bit of legilimency later.
He needed to know whether he would need to…cut the stem so to speak of House Bolton, now or later.
"My lords!" Hadrian stood, his voice easily carrying across the great hall of Winterfell. He had gestured openly, doing a wandless weak compulsion to make them quiet down. He allowed his aura to take an uncomfortable but commanding effect on those present. "I know it is my first time standing before you in assembly. Had the Targaryens not slighted House Stark then I would've been raised in the North alongside you all, however, the dragons responsible are dead and justice is had and for that I thank you." He spoke clearly. Harry received a booming cheer.
"This Stark of Winterfell owes a debt to all of you for avenging my family and the Lannisters are not the only ones to pay them. My honor demands it." Harry began and sudden silence gripped the lords as they listened with enraptured vehemence at the tone he took. "Plans are in motion to make the North what it has always been destined to become. Already the mountain clans of the Northern Mountains have been brought unto the fold and mines of gold, iron and silver are underway to being built with the supervision of the newly minted House of Goldstark under the head of my uncle Benjen Goldstark." Hadrian gestured to his uncle who stood and slightly nodded to all the lords present and sat again.
There was a few murmurs of excitement at the thought of gold being found.
Harry was quick to silence them as he began speaking. "I call upon Lord Umber and Lord Bolton to step forward."
The two men did so. The Greatjon towering over them all already while seated. Roose took a more hesitant gait to approach the young boy. When they were both side by side Harry began once again. "I have reason to believe there are vast deposits of jewels within the Lonely Hills. I have surveyors with the knowledge to take you to them so that you may begin mining these precious gems. Sell them, make your houses rich and do with them what you will. I only ask that you do so slowly. Ramp up your meat and fur productions as a mask."
"I-I Thank you, young Stark. I will heed your caution." The Greatjon rambled in his giant of a voice. The Lord of the Dreadfort gave a measuring and calculating gaze of Hadrian, who took this as a chance to mind-read him a little bit. Inside the mind, he found that he wasn't surprised that the Bolton Lord still practiced flaying but only on wildlings in secret.
While normally, Hadrian would have been disturbed by such a sight, he didn't think anything of it.
Hadrian, honestly, didn't care how they treated their prisoners so long as they wasn't someone of importance. The war of his past life taught him the importance of the act of garnering of information and he had to agree, albeit begrudgingly, that in these medieval times it was rather effective.
Not near as effective as Harry's performance of legilimency but effective nonetheless. The young Stark would keep a further eye on the Boltons and so long as they continued being on the edge of loyalty and not outright conspiring, he would keep the level-headed lord and his house alive.
The two men stepped away and with bated breath seeing what else the young lord would reward them with. "Lord Manderly and Lord Karstark step forward." The two lords did so, almost bolting to stand before the young lord. "Both of you have something in common. The plague of sea scum, the wildlings for the Karstarks and the Sistermen for the Manderlys. For the Manderlys I grant you leave to build the newly commission Shivering Fleet of the North. It is about time the North is granted dominion over the sea again and expand our trade routes to beyond the shores of Westeros."
To anyone else, that might've been a slight to their house for having to spend their own money to build a fleet of warships and trading vessels but all of the North knew of the Manderly's love of the sea considering that their own sigil was a merman. To them, when Brandon the Burner had forbidden the rebuilding the Northern fleet or any significant naval presence was seen as a massive blow to them. Before, the Manderly's had trade routes throughout all the known world and were one of the richest houses in Westeros and due to Sistermen scum that constantly raided what merchant or trade ships, they were really adept at waging war in the sea.
For the Manderlys, to be given leave to build a new fleet was like being handed the Iron Throne. They yearned for the sea but could never fully take to it and now they were able to dive straight in like the Mermen they were.
Every lord present laughed loudly as Lord Wyman's eyes became as wide as saucers. Even the stoic Lord Bolton and regent Ned Stark cracked smiles at the trembling posture of excitement that emanated from Wyman who almost fell at the clap on the back of Rickard Karstark.
"Lord Karstark, I believe it is time to bring the scum that are the Skagosi that have plagued your lands and shores for centuries if not millennia to heel. Maybe some Northern might from the best the North has to offer would show those of Skagos the err of their ways. Perhaps if they do not learn," Hadrian began with a knowing look in his eye. "Skagos and Skane will be in need of new houses and I can think of none better than your blood to begin their own houses on those lands. See my uncle Regent Ned and he will gather a thousand of Starks finest and aid you in battle for those lands."
Rickard Karstark was openly gaping at reward he was given. It was better that no one would actually miss the Skagosi people (even the honorable Ned Stark had agreed that the wildlings beyond the wall were more civilized) and they weren't as numerous as many were lead to believe, especially after their trash of a rebellion during the First Blackfyre Rebellion and even without Stark help, the Karstarks would be able to take the large island with relative ease and double their own holdings.
They both gave their thanks and while Rickard was able to make it to his seat just fine, Wyman had to be guided to an open spot since he was still sort of in a daze.
"Lords Glover and Mormont." He announced and the two immediately stepped forward. The young lord, that was Jorah and the elder Lord that was Galbert both stood proudly, if a little obtusely.
"Your houses have done House Stark a great service and it is my honor to allow Sea Dragon Point to become a new seat of nobility known as House Glovemont to specialize in the procurement of fish and the defense against both Ironborn and wildling threats. I would like to believe that Lord Manderly would love to assist in building a decently sized fleet." There was a round of laughter at that but otherwise Hadrian continued whilst smiling. "That is not all. Fish is abundant all around the Point and winters are harsh doubly so for House Mormont, the Point will become for the North on the west what White Harbor is on east. I hope not to make a habit of meddling in the affairs of my lords but I suggest a marriage to begin the House of Glovemont."
They both nodded and while Jorah was more expressive of his excitement, Galbert was the opposite and quickly thanked the young lord but the glint of gratefulness shone in his posture as he straightened out. Sea Dragon Point was always a contested region for both noble houses and while Glover outnumbered the poor house, the Mormonts were rather… violent in combat. Hadrian would have to see to it that Jorah didn't get any ideas about the Point either as already he looked eager to impress others with his newfound wealth. Galbert looked to be an easy choice as a steward of the Point seeing as how it would be good for his brother to take over the lordship of House Glover and he would be able to help those who would claim the Point as their seat.
"Lords Tallhart, Ryswell and Dustin please come forward." The trio did so. The boisterous Lord Dustin almost strutting while Ryswell, being seated near the door had to rush forward as did Lord Tallhart.
Hadrian began his tone carrying across the hall easily. "Lord Ryswell, its come to my attention from your good son that you breed the finest steeds above the Neck as a hobby."
At the confirming nod, Harry continued. "I would like to make you Master of Horses of the North. Now I know the North cares not for titles but I am willing to put forth a hundred thousand gold dragons into funding your house to become the main horse breeders in the North and eventually Westeros."
"T-Thank you my lord!" The thin man that was Rodrik Ryswell stuttered out.
"As for Lord Dustin. I see that you have had a taste of the world of alcohol." That was putting it lightly and the laughs that echoed in the room only added to the fact. While not a glutton at all, everyone knew that Lord Dustin had a thing for the inebriating beverage. "I am allowing leave for you to make several breweries and the funds to build them. I have a feeling you can become a fine brewer yourself."
"Aha! I knew I liked you Lord Stark. The Dustins will be known throughout the world for their strong drink!" He barked out a boisterous laugh as well.
"And last but not in the least bit important than others, Lord Tallhart, I hear you employ the finest smiths the North has at their command. That is why I am granting several mining locations of both charcoal and iron in the Barrowlands. Make the best steel Westeros will see in millennia." Hadrian commanded. The Tallhart Lord nodded and looked incredibly pleased with the outcome.
He was always having to import iron due to not being able to mine enough and considering that many did not like deforestation the mines of charcoal would be better used as well as them being able to burn without the ash which would typically lower the quality of the steel.
The trio of lords went back to their seats in the great hall. As Harry once again stood upon the dais to gain a little bit more height. The young Stark Lord took a sip of water before continuing.
"There is one more thing, my lords." Hadrian began garnering all their attention once again. "I propose to that we make a standing army." Before the lords of the North could input anything the young Stark quickly continued. "I won't lie. The rebellion cost the North and we paid in blood. The idea is that the North would be able to respond to any threat at any time while we continue to muster supporting forces. Ten thousand men-at-arms with a thousand cavalry to be ready at all times dedicating to protecting Northern interests. We will not instantly implement this, however, as we neither the time nor resources to do so but I would wager by five years we would be able to this."
Hadrian let the lords stew on this while his thoughts wandered to when he first brought this up to Ned, Benjen and Maester Luwin.
This particular topic was highly contested by his uncle and the maester. If not for his uncle Benjen and the fact that Harry had made some rather exceptional points then he wouldn't have relented.
The controversial subject in question was the militarization of the North.
Ned and Maester Luwin had argued that with the new regime there was no need to be skeptical of a war to brew. Luwin, wasn't necessarily against it as he was more against the fact that it would cause great strife with the other noble houses of Westeros and that the realm didn't need to be embroiled in petty conflict.
Benjen had argued against Ned that throughout the entire Targaryen regime there was rebellions as soon as they lost their dragons as that was just about the only reason that they first came into power and conquered the whole of Westeros.
Hadrian then tagged off of him and played off of his uncle's dislike, or rather, hate of the Lannisters. Seeing as how Robert was set to marry Cersei Lannister, the blondes of Casterly Rock were attempting to control the Iron Throne as Tywin wasn't known to just idle about. He also said that should Robert need the North, to only be able to muster twenty thousand at a moment's notice wouldn't be sufficient to combat the Westerlands or the Reach who could easily muster a hundred thousand.
Benjen then moved in with another argument that almost had Ned looking incredibly sorrowful. Had the North been more powerful, then Rhaegar may not have abducted Lyanna. Apparently, the younger of two brothers had thought about this as well as the newly minted Goldstark thought that the Targaryen prince probably viewed the North as savages and poor and could easily wave off whatever slight they took offense to.
Hadrian, on a roll, continued saying that the Ironborn were always known to take advantage of any instability of the mainland and could prove to be immensely troublesome if they start raiding the North. The young Stark further supported this by saying that there may be a time where the wildlings beyond the Wall may unite and they would be the first to feel those effects and would need to rapidly mobilize, fight and get back to living and not have to draw out a war should it break out.
Hadrian, Benjen and eventually Luwin supported the idea of beginning to get the North up to speed with the rest of Westeros and to do that they could not be weak whilst doing so.
His thoughts were broken when Lord Bolton spoke up, well more like quietly said while everyone strained to hear. However, Hadrian heard just fine. "What about the harvest? These men would be needed to bring it in. You cannot feed an army without the food."
The young Stark nodded. "The standing army would be on a rotational basis around the harvest. Five thousand would be the standing army for six months before the harvest. Afterwards, the next five thousand men would start their rotation till the next harvest and so on and so forth. This way, not only will he have a quick reaction force, so to speak, but an experienced military that could be brought to bear at anytime."
A few murmurs of agreement were heard and eventually everyone also voiced their agreement though Roose only nodded, his thoughts thinking how he could use this.
Hadrian would definitely have to keep an eye on the Northern schemer.
It wasn't until the late evening when the Lords of the North ended their meeting as they began to iron out the details of both the standing military and consolidated their holdings. The following year would be a busy one indeed.
They had a hearty supper and quickly mobbed the poor maester of Winterfell to send ravens left, right and center with various orders. The Karstark lord waved off the offer of support from Hadrian who was rather bummed out that he wouldn't be able to fight.
It was a rather lame attempt to shed some blood.
Hadrian, contrary to what the other lords had done, had taken to wandering the crypts of Winterfell.
With one gloved hand carrying a torch the young Stark Lord, wandered aimlessly throughout the expansive underground area of Winterfell and read names off plaques of the former Lords of Winterfell and Kings of Winter.
Harry waved his hand for what felt like the hundredth time to remove a pile of rubble that blocked an entrance into a deeper part of the crypts. Immediately, he noticed something different.
This wasn't like the normal rooms of the crypts where usually two neat rows of silent stone men flanked both sides of the room.
It was different in that it was circular and dome-like. A circle of stone direwolves outlined the dome like vigilant guardians. In the center of the room atop a pedestal was what caught his attention, however.
Atop the rather simple pedestal was a open circlet of hammered bronze incised with runes he did not recognize and surmounted by nine black iron spikes in the shape of longswords. He caught his breath in reverent awe at the sight and dared not touch it.
His focus was what was directly across the opening of the entrance. A large throne with runes inscribed at the base and with obsidian direwolves chiseled into the pommels of the arm rests. The large seat was inlaid with a grey darkened metal that looked eerily similar to Valyrian steel but missing the trademark smoky and rippling marks. The top of the back rest was what caught his attention, however, two obsidian greatswords flanking the head of a stone carved Direwolf.
Something clicked in Hadrian Stark's mind at that moment. His catalyst that is connected to the land as much as its people.
The Throne of the Kings of Winter.
Until Next Time!