AN: I decided to try out something new. POV chapters! I may need a few chapters before I get into the hang of writing this way. This also means a massive reduction in chapter size.
So give me support and feedback by reviewing. If it ain't good, I will revert to my old style.
Dawn of the whiskered Dayne
By mushy guillotine
Eddard
Saints, priests and common folk alike say that justice shall always , true to its teeth in the strictest, narrowest of interpretations and in even the comprehensive ones. Then why men do turn to evil?
There before us lay the insular city of Leafhaven. Belted round by crenellated fortified walls on one side and coniferous forests on the other, as snow does my own Winterfell. Even miles away it could be discerned that commerce surrounded the city with her gorgeous shawl.
The rosy picture was but ruined by a precariously situated hill beside us, which if captured by hostioes would surely mean the fall of the city.
Though I, Ned Stark didn't worry too much about it. Naruto told me that was the location of his military barracks. And so I set foot into the city of my estranged first son for the first time.
How glad was Ned Stark, when his estranged son came and pleaded me to accompany him to Leafhaven?
Naruto cited his mother's stubbornness as the reason. So oft I set out with my northern party to the much talked about grounds of Leafhaven. A city whose tales of opulence had even reached the frigid bogs of the North.
Sailors from White Harbor now ply tinted glass from here as the next best thing. Merchants sell the gold ornaments made in my son's fief was the latest fashion. The desperate lads of the countryside hope to work in the mines near the city.
I was a happy father when I realised that my son had made his father's influence superfluous.
As I rode on, towards my destination my mind wandered to the distant possibility of Naruto ruling the whole of the North. If this is what he turned a previously arid land into - imagine what he could do with more land?
Not all things in life can be made true but. I fear my eldest has little love for his Fatherland. Nor for his father. I buried the pangs of pain beneath my ice demeanor but its stings were still scalding to my soul.
"Is that marble, Son?" He didn't notice or didn't ming me calling him 'son'. That I gathered from his lack of bristly annoyance to my words, only manly pride exploded from his being. Anyone would be.
The gate-arch was entirely made out of snow-white marble. Not of the pauper's stone nor of squalid wood, but of luxurious marble. Everything seemed to be made in that same mould when I made my first gaze of the city.
All roads, paved with cobbled stone lead us castlewards, the Dayne Manor. Traveling on these roads were made all the more enjoyable by the statues of bronze and marble, littering most squares. Posted like silent sentinels, these statues of great men lay witness to a dream being made true.
Starry-eyed honest lads from the countryside, in their flared trousers and starch-crisp shirts sought for a job here. For the city was sure to swallow you up, you only had to make sure she didn't spit you out. The city even boasted of an amphitheater the likes of which were sure to be found in Oldtown, Lannisport or in the Free cities.
This certainly was not a frugal Northman's city.
If not for its meager size this could be the heart of the world. But the sheer splendor of the city provoked another question from my side- Where did the money come from? For the Daynes certainly didn't have that much to throw about.
Perhaps my question was obvious on my face. Or maybe it was because he had to answer it many a times before. Naruto answered my unsaid question with his characteristic disdain towards me,
"The Sept, the Martells, the Whents and some other of Uncle Arthur's old Kings guard buddies. All of them partly funded this fair city whenever I needed it. The First two I haven't paid back fully. Hence the need for this visit." He looked over my face so that we were face to face when he uttered the next words, "I didn't want to have your company willingly you see. It was necessary."
His answer certainly punctured a hole in my heart.
"Any problems you have with the Martells?" Maybe a helping hand would pave my way into his good books.
For eighteen years he grew away from my watch. Unknowing of my love for him. And Ashara. Maybe a small helpful gesture from my side would help in thawing out the leagues of the frigid Sea between father and son. Not wholly, but at the least the surface would be scratched.
"Maybe. I have some people you may want to meet. It is of utmost importance to your new job."
"Who?" His face was grave and his tone was too. Whatever he wanted to show me was then grave too.
"A consortium of representatives of the people. Builders, farmers, bankers, smiths, shipbuilders and the lot. They, not me will reveal the danger to the throne."
I kept silent, my interest peaked. He showed some papers at the gate and only then we're we allowed in. That notion of his that not even the lawful rules should be above the law. The passion with which he explained that logic to me, over the journey was commendable.
I agreed with him. The law exuded honor like a sailor's wife does of expensive perfume when her man is in the sea's bosom. Her terrified mind consoling her that her man would at the least follow the scent of her perfume to reach home.
A sailor wife's superstition. She has a trove of it too just like her husband. The only drawback to that, is unpopularity.
By the time, my mind had finished with this train of thought we had reached our destination. A three storied mansion built in the style of Free cities. That Liberation style characterized by fluted columns, raised stepped plints and neat manicured gardens on the outside. A brass plaque on the outside declared for all intents and purposes the nature of the meeting which has was about to commence.
'Forum' was what was written on it. It was a premeditated meeting.
How many times did he deliberate before he decided that he ought to help his father? I pondered..
Silently and efficiently, I was led into a room of ten men. This small council type meeting intrigued me. In my North, all decisions were made by me or Poole, the rest merely followed through. Grumbling and ranting yes, but they obeyed.
Here, in the capital I had to make demands of people who may refuse even my heartfelt requests. Men like Tywin Lannister, Mace Tyrell and Randyll Tarly who were my equals or betters. They were to be made compliant to me and my liege's will. Both I had come to believe held little currency that mattered between them.
Introducing one by one the men inside the room, Naruto kickstarted the council.
"Lord Stark, that is Riley Morewood one of the peasants who came with me from Starfall. A two acre farm of wheat, turnips and barley is his. He will be the first to speak."
Now there needed to be said something of the farming practices here. Dorne for centuries had little arable land. The soil was unforgiving not the climate unlike my country's case of woe. Whatever tilled land they had was owned by the local ruler and he leased it to his subjects on an yearly basis.
As Dorne was the only land which peculiarly had winter rains, this system could be followed even in the winter. But in here, this city enjoyed a surplus of arable land. This problem too was easily solved by the people.
They had brought in something called as crop rotation.
"Tis my first year here, my liege and I have to say I've been never happier. I have already harvested twice tis year. Tis crop rotation thingy that Lady Gwenhyfar brought from across the seas is really a godsend. I managed to have cart loads of produce each time." spoke the sun tanned, now revealed farmer. The gloating of the man was pronounced. Maybe his good fortune had still not sunk in his psyche.
Winter was coming. And whatever he harvested won't be for long. My mind wanted to say those words and puncture his pride.
But I didn't as hope too would get deflated in the process. As a Northerner, I knew that many a times it was hope for a lark's cry of coming spring that ensured the small-folk saw the next day.
"Can this be sustained with winter rains?" My son continued to question him.
"Sure why not, it may suffer a little bit. But I am sure it would be enough to make a Reachman boil with jealousy."
"I am afraid, milord will have to face the ire of the Tarly and Tyrell for the foreseeable future." A hefty man with a face that screamed moneylender joked.
"As they say, things which don't kill you only make you stronger." a good natured quip from my son's side was relieved with boisterous laughter. I was instantly reminded of my own meetings.
Drab, rigid affairs overseen by Poole. I never remember an occasion where anyone laughed or even joked other than Umber.
"Well they have to be, we can now harvest in abundance in winter just like the Reach, but outside." the farmer proclaimed.
And my head started spinning. The sheer possibilities and grievances that this may cause gave me a virtual migraine. No wonder the Reachman didn't get along with my son.
"Say Riley can the city sustain a bigger population without decreasing of the food supply?"
"We are mostly stocking the good now. I am sure we can, if you lease some more land. The forest can be cut on one side, can't it be? "
"Thank you Riley. Your part is done. I think you will be pleased to know that your wish is being fulfilled. Starting next week leading will start. Spread the message. Hawthorne you're next."
This Hawthorne guy I guessed was the crafty banker. His genial smile, soft fingers that looked like they had never seen manual labor and rich clothes otherwise seen draped only on nobility screamed so.
"I am a humble banker, Lord Stark." He started. My suspicion was right. Only a crafty banker calls himself a humble banker.
"It was with a sense of alarm that I watched the throne pile on debts. I dunno if it was the old age senility or general incapability but the throne has dug itself into a monetary quagmire."
Not minding the slight insult to my good-brother, I balked at the mention of the humongous debt. Where was the austere and miserly Jon Arryn that I knew? I still remember those days in my childhood as a squire under him, when Jon used to burn the midnight lamp and count all his expenses. He had lost his wife a few years prior to that and he foolishly believed that doing those jobs which she used to, his memory of her would be all the more stronger.
Memories faded but the habit persisted. It was from here that Robert got his dislike for 'counting coppers' as he terms it.
Whatever happened to that good old Jon?
"Please, explain your views Hawthorne. Don't hesitate to explain why you would rather lend to a beggar of King's Landing than the Iron throne of King's Landing." The Dayne Lord of the meeting pressed on. Eager to show to me, whatever he wanted to show to me.
What came next from the mouth of the small man made me realize the grave nature of the job that I had taken.
"Aye. Forgive me Lord Stark if I offended your mind with my words. But the throne has debts bigger than the whole banking business of this city. To quote your family's words Winter is coming. If the throne goes into winter with debts it will sink through the debts during the winter."
The cold wind from the north was unforgiving to the Northerner and Southron alike.
"So whom are you bankers, lending nowadays? "
" The Martels and the shipping companies down south."
"Thank you Hawthorne, while departing please visit the registrar. There are a set of new rules and guidelines for you bankers. I have relaxed on some criteria." Turning about, Naruto seemed like he was looking for someone. "Talbot, where are you? You would think aan of your size would be seen from a mile yonder."
"Here." A brunette hulk bellowed. "I am running out if time. I still have a lot to deliver. To Sunspear, Highgate and the Lemonwoods. Is this the time to upgrade your armaments?" the frustration on his face told me a very interesting story.
The Martels were not restocking. They were equipping new ones. They were mustering forces for a war. This was what Naruto called me here for.
"Talbot, good Sir. What are all the orders you have received?" I asked enthusiasm clear to me as well to him. The blacksmith waxed on the prospect of Noble support.
"Armored Saddles, girdles, shinplates and chest pieces. Though surprising I didn't get orders for shields. I guess they asked your Forresters for it. Lord Doran has got rich lately."
Highly unlikely, but I decided to play along.
"I will send a man to give my orders. Make them of the finest quality." I mumbled.
"Sure. There is no one better in the whole of Westeros. Jim Talbot makes the best cuirass and mail armor. Ask anyone with half a brain and you will know."
"Shut up Talbot. Unlike you I have real matters to discuss with Lord Dayne." This was an unpleasant my brain supplied. Thin lips curved into an unpleasant grimace.
"My issue is with Lord Dayne. New houses you have ordered us to build, but to whom shall we sell. The people on the street. We builders are not running a charity, mind you. We need our honest wages."
The curses and complaints of the presumed builder didn't seem to affect Naruto. The Dayne coolly gazed at thean and asked if his work was finished, "When will they be ready? The cheap housing for the mine workers."
"Two months. I want to be paid. I dunno if you are bringing people from the North. I don't care my Lord. I just don't want to be broke. I sold my wife's jewelry to start this business."
"Rest assured, it won't be the couch for you."
Though the face of my son was joking, only hard facts were gleaned by me. I gleamed in an hour in a small room, gossip enough to fill an old wives' meeting. Nothing was trifling news but. It is often said that help came from unexpected quarters when you least expect it. And it had rung true here.
After parleying with the dignitaries for one more hour, we retired for the day. The aroma of freshly baked bread from the dining hall was warmly welcomed by me. With me, faithful as ever was Poole my steward, Rikard Karstark and my Castellan Roddrick Cassel. Neither had been acknowledged by my son till now.
Accompanying my son, like the three dragons of the Targaryens were his three chief officers.
Janus Vardley with whom, I had the pleasure to chat for awhile. He struck me as an enterprising lad. A good head above capable shoulders. He was said to be one of the Generals of the Dayne Army of Leaf Haven. But surprisingly, not of respectable birth or background.
Broad shouldered but not of distinguished height. An elfin nose made all the more ridiculous by a large set of ears. His soft golden curls didn't help his image at all. But I would not disregard this man of his achievements even on my deathbed with Tywin Lannister holding a sword to my temple.
This man was a survivor. It was written in his eyes. You don't survive into your thirties as a former miner without learning the crooked streets of life.
The next one was the man who I found unpleasant earlier. His physical features though bordering on the larger side, was only riddled with lard and blubber. Narrowed, ice pits of coal black eyes he possessed. Crowned with a graying serpentine trail of brows with a little more emphasis from his pronounced hooked nose. This was a macabre man. A slimy man who wouldn't balk away from making a profit of his own death.
A kind of man I had previously only attributed to Paetyr Baelish.
The last, it was not necessary for the chain of locks to screw his profession. The intelligence on his face shone it to one and all. This was a Master much like my own Luwin.
No name was offered nor did I ask for one as unlike the other two, this one didn't actively try to seek my favour. Nor was he appreciative of personal glory.
A dinner of bread, pork, bacon and eggs was brought from the kitchens. For the vegetable side of things, this place had only a cream salad of beans and a dish of brinjal to show off.
Naruto just like the host that he was, had a cursory glance through all the seated ones. Only after he was sure that we had all dug into the food and liked it, did he start,
"Now that we are settled for the day, we can face the ground realities. Father any comments?"
"Thank you, I guess." I sheepishly offered after I was out of the blue put on the stage. Never did I like the spotlight. The shadows of the cold North always seemed dearer to me than the backstabbing politics of the South.
"I do understand why you brought me here. The Martels are rebelling. But you can't stop them as you owe them a lot of money." The evidences shown were so obvious that my ten year old Brandon could decode it. Running along the walls of Winterfell, his mother shouting the evidences to him from down below. That's how obvious they were.
I sighed as I remembered an old saying of Jon. "Fruits of other's labor are never wholly sweet, my lad." Just like old Arryn used to say to me, I said to my son. Alluding to the fact that debts have a tendency to kick in the arse when you least expect it to, just like a stubborn mule.
"Yes, you are right, father." The way he said father was slow and measured as if he was testing waters.
"Go on son." I gave him the required impetus.
"But I don't want it to happen. The war I mean. This land can't take any more wars. Not in summer and especially not in the winter." Naruto sighed and tan a hand through his hair which shared the peculiar gloss that all Stark hair did. "They asked for an army and I will have to provide it. My debts to them can't be repaid to them at the moment."
I agreed with my son that another war was not welcome. Even the last one, courtesy of the Greyjoys Rebellion was not welcome to me.
"I will try to stop them. For my eldest son, I could at the least do that I suppose." Another shake of his head, let me know that this wasn't the entire problem. Something else he had found out. Troubling his very conscience.
"I dunno how to say this to you father. But Jon Arryn was murdered. I am sure of it."
"What makes you so sure?" Truth be said even I had suspected it all along. Jon Arryn even in his old age was strong as a bull. Only last year, I heard he participated in the jousting event.
"Before we go there, I want to ask a personal favor from you."
"I can't give you the whole of North. Sorry." I quipped remembering his earlier statement he made in Winterfell.
"That was before I saw the North for what it was. And before mother talked to me." Ashara!
Ashara disciplined him!?
The only memories I have of her is of her smile. A secret one holding a plan of intense daring. Much like the ones Lyanna and Brandon used to have. A wave of nostalgia passed over me. And it hurt.
For there was nothing of me in him, I regretfully came to see. Not in his features nor in his demeanor. Apart from the nose which was slightly like mine and the texture of the hair, there was nothing in his exterior that screamed of my contribution.
For all intents and purposes, you would believe Arthur Dayne was his father. Which made it all the more bitter because that was what Naruto believed in the back of his mind.
"I have been constructing cheap houses on the outskirts. I need people to fill them and work for me in the mines."
"And." I didn't know where he was going. Though it looked like it had to do something with the Rills. That house was almost destitute in the face of winter. Their only source of income during the harsh winter being trade of bearskin. Their men could be desperate enough to work in mines.
"The Rills, Mormonts and Flints. I want their allegiance transfered to me. Them and their people most importantly. I can't afford to let Martell men emigrate here. That only adds on to my debts."
Though it looked like a big request, it was actually a trifling matter. The three mentioned ones were the smallest houses of the North. The Mormonts so few in number that their total subject counts would only be in the thousands.
"What would I get in return?" I wanted to see what he offered.
"Among other things, Safety." The words were purposefully cryptic to boggle my apolitical mind. I exhaled a deep breath and thought calmly.
The three mentioned ones were all neighbors of the Umbers. Who anyone would agree were the most loyal to me after the Manderlys. Maybe the Dayne wished to increase the land in the Umbers' possession.
"Clever." I complimented his plan. A smile broke out on his face. Appreciation of one's success and intelligence was dear to everyone no matter from whom it was showered.
"Send the destitute Lords to me. Three villages lie outside my city acting as a feeder to the city. It will be theirs to govern to their liking. I reckon even a village here would be much more than what they have or are going to have. Their men can work in the marble and granite mines here."
Each long winter produced some ground-breaking change like this. One winter the Manderlys crossed the south and came to us. One winter Aegon Targaryen decided that the pastures of Westeros were greener than what he had. One winter Rhaegar decided that Lyanna was more beautiful than Elia Martell.
"You could also perhaps give your Castellan, Roddick Cassel here a castle down south of Dreadfort on the Kings' road. With that the trade could be diverted away from Dreadfort and Roose Bolton would find his coffers empty in a couple of years. But don't think of me as a cheapskate. I would drain the marshes of the Neck for you. My builders are sure that with the right aqueducts it could be turned into the grain bowl of the North."
Eddard Stark, called Ned by his friends the Lord Paramount of the North never got any saner advice on the issue of Roose Bolton. Tears of joy threatened to shame me by barging through my eyes uninvited. Rice already was growing in the wild in the neck. The marshy land being its next best friend after sagged fields.
"Any more advices you can give this old man?"
"Beware of Cersei and Paetyr Baelish. Something fishy is going on in the capital. Maester please explain. "
"Maester Pycelle confessed that Jon was delirious and in pain after he was given the Milk of Poppy, softly mumbling that the seed was string. Which can only be caused if he was poisoned by a specific poison. We maesters call it the Tears of Lys, it is also commonly known as the choker." The Maester measured each of his words before he said it. As they were incriminating in their very nature. But to whom. Pycelle? Lysa? Pycelle's original masters, the Lannisters? Who was the question that my mind wanted to answer.
And the Maester readily answered my mind.
"Look up these names in this tome. They are a bunch of names of lordlings who had both Lannisters and Baratheons as their sires. You can see that none have blonde hair or green eyes of the Lannisters. The seed of the Baratheons is strong and can't be undiluted. Orys Baratheon, their founder had the same description as our King today." The Maester's voice now attained a lecturing tone. But my mercury only rose. Even though I was a model student in my youth.
"Father please calm down."
"Cersei poisoned my friend Jon!" I shouted in rage.
"No. I don't think so. That is not her style. If she wanted to harm him, Jon would be dead through a horrible hunting accident or killed on the street by a mugger." His eyes twittered to and from until they settled on Garrick, the merchant. A silent message passed between them.
"This looks like a frame. By the Littlefinger I suspect."
"You don't have any proof do you?"
"Nope. Other than this tome, nothing to prove Cersei's adultery and none whatsoever to prove Baelish's corruption. The latter I and Garrick can find out of given time. The first one you will have to."
"Yes I will and I will reveal it to Robert right away." My enthusiasm wasn't well received but.
"And what? Create another war? I don't want one. Nobody wants one other than King Robert Baratheon, First of his name." My son roared. I kept quiet letting him explain himself. "Mother was right. You are a hopelessly true man."
I really hated that accusation. Justice should always prevail. Nothing should change that.
"Do you think that Tywin would just sit by while his daughter is executed by you two. Don't you think that the Tyrells will support Tywin? That is more profitable for them, aye. What about the Greyjoys? They will again find raving convenient when you eventually have to descend southward s to deal with the Westermen."
A Virtual chess board was set in my mind and had started playing. The White King Robert and the Black Tywin. Robert opened the game by killing the White Queen. His own. And in her place came a Knight-myself.
Tywin converted his pawns into Tyrell Knights. The Black King in a swift manoevour eliminated one of the castles with a Bishop, Balon Greyjoy.
"You didn't mention the Arryns." I began. But was immediately stopped by that Janus guy. Unaccustomed to a man of common birth interrupting me, I was taken aback.
"Forgive me for the interruption but wasn't Jon Arryn her husband. Do you think you can trust a woman who runs away from her husband's murder scene without even planning some kind of revenge. Any two bit Master could tell you right away that Lord Arryn was poisoned. She had the means and reason to find out the perpetrators without harm befalling her. But did she?"
"Well said Janus. You forgot the Martels though, father. They would be landing Dothraki screamers here in the meanwhile. If they do land, I fear nothing can stop them. Prince Doran would have more than what he bargained for."
A new side came up on the board, a yellow side. The yellow army turned the whole board red. With crimson blood.
Was it a premonition of things to come or just a non-sensical play by an idle mind? I refused to take chances. My family should survive this winter.
"Naruto. I know you definitely don't like me." A solemn declaration from my side started my request. "But please come with me to King's Landing. To that pit of vipers. I fear it. Name your price I will pay it."
"I don't want a price. I want a prize. A castle to be more exact. Harranhall. " He named his fee.
"Whatever you want, we will have to discuss with Robert first. We shall take the journey tomorrow. I think I should meet your mother before I go. I missed her."
"She missed you too." Naruto said with a grimace. And in that moment I realized I had been the cause of many a fight between mother and son.
"Some things can't be avoided. I wanted a lot of things from life. It was not ready to provide it but."
"I don't wanna talk about it." was his frosty response. One step ahead, two steps backward was my case with him.
Maybe I will have to work out some time to mend my bridges with him. He was gaining strength too quickly. Without a solid ground at ion such growth can only wilt under pressure.
But still I think he knows the second part of the thought I was thinking when I was entering this city. Because no way was everything here, achieved only due to the straight and narrow.
Justice shall always prevail. But Evil never loses.
The End
So how was my first attempt at writing in the first person? Decent?
I am still undecided.
So you guys have the moral responsibility to let me know your thoughts through reviews. Hmmm... The things I have to say to get a review.
Please review guys. Make a neat guy's life happier.
The chapter was a little cerebral. Simmering but not boiling over. I promise action in the next chapter. Very much unlike the previous chapters and not everyone's cup of tea.
Be patient Mushy shall aways deliver.
With Love,
Mushy
An impatient writer.
