Chapter 9

Eddard smiled as he looked over the latest reports in his solar. "Things are going quite well." he thought. His first priority had been to increase the productivity of his lands. This had been relatively easy to accomplish, as all it took were a few orders to increase production in things that were already being done. It was a simple matter to get trade operating smoothly, because the Starks were so highly regarded in their lands. Any order was followed quickly and honestly. After that had come the real challenge.

"But my Lord this is insanity! Eschewing the entire system of levies in favor of this new concept? It will destroy our coffers!"

Yes, the masterly houses under him had been quite resistant to this change. Yet he had managed to prevail upon them, for his idea for the new military arm of the Starks was no whim or fancy, but a well thought out plan. The number of levies the Starks alone could raise was around seven thousand, 2 thousand of them horse. He could not ask all his major lords to pool their forces into an army of the North. They would fiercely resist. Instead, he would simply reforge his personal forces. They would be capable of projecting his strength to the other lords, and by extension, westeros.

While the men of the North were fierce, they were still levies, and untrained in the arts of war. He had decided that House Stark would have a central standing force of 6000 men, with 2500 horse. This would be no ragtag band of smallfolk, but a deadly professional army. They would be trained to be professional soldiers by the best instructors, like Ser Caspian and others he had called. They would live simply to cut costs. Furthermore, a portion of the trained forces would go to Essos, to work as a sellsword company and send the earnings home to pay for the army. He had managed to reach out to the company of the rose, and they were willing to work with these forces.

"My lord, why would anyone ever join such an army? Most folk expect to be able to go home once the fighting is done. And where will the people for this new army come from?"

These issues were ones he had considered as well. The soldiers, once they completed twenty years in the army, would receive a comfortable retirement in the Winter City that was growing around Winterfell, with special residences built for them. As for the people, were already starting to flood in, once they heard of opportunities to move up in the north. He had sent recruiters everywhere, especially to the slums to king's landing, where many people in search of work were. The poor souls looked for any opportunity to rise above that filth. The new populace of the north was encouraged to adopt the old gods, though not forced. Most honestly did not care who they were told to worship or bow to as long as they had a meal at the end of the day. They also brought many skills with them, allowing Winter town to grow. Many of the young men were funneled into the new army of house Stark. The official purpose of the new force was to scour the North for bandits, but that was only an excuse so as not to draw suspicions.

Aside from the army, he had invested much more into the Northern economy, increasing export of timber and furs to other parts of the world such as Essos. The trade of the North was slowly increasing, and using the revenue from taxes, he could finance the rest of his plans. Since they were paying no taxes to the Iron Throne for at least three years, he had much more freedom to move.

He rose from his seat and went to the window of his solar. The room was quite high in the first keep, providing him a view over Winterfell. He could see that the makeshift town that usually formed outside the walls was becoming more of a permanent one, with sturdier buildings and more people. The only issue now was how to feed those new people come winter. The reach borderline robbed the North every winter when they tried to buy food, so he would have to find some other way for the North to produce. Deciding that it was enough paperwork for that day, he moved to leave the room.

A DIFFERENT EDDARD A DIFFERENT EDDARD

Every so often he would go in disguise amongst the citizens of winter town, or more of a city now, to listen to their thoughts and stories. It helped him understand his people better. Today he chose a tavern which was relatively close to the walls of the castle, and had a good reputation. He sat at a table out of the way and ordered some beer, while listening to the conversations around him. One in particular caught his attention.

"I'm tellin ya Karl, this man has the secret. He could have feasts in winter if he wanted to." The other man snorted and took a swig.

"Bullshit. Ain't no way to have feasts in winter. What does he do, eat the damn snow?"

"He's got some kinda special aurochs, that can survive in the winter."

"And who did you hear this from? Man's fucking insane if he thinks he can have feasts in winter."

"I swear it's true. My cousin lives near his him on the mountains north of the wolfswood. Man keeps to himself, but always seems to have good meat when it's needed."

Eddard leaned in spite of himself, intrigued. "Perhaps I should pay this man a visit." He asked the two men where he might find this man. They were cagey at first, but eventually the sceptical one told him. One they had told him the location and he had made his visit there the next day, with Maester Luwin and a few guards. It was a hard journey that took almost a fortnight, as the man lived in a very remote part of the Northern mountains.

"Absolutely amazing my lord. This long fur on the beast is more than enough to keep it alive in winter. If we breed these cattle, we could have enough food to last through winter easily!" said Luwin. He was examining the animals in the pasture while they waited for the man to return. Finally when the owner came back, he was quite surprised. "Lord Stark, what brings you here to my little home?"

"I hear you have something interesting here my good man. I would like to buy these beasts, and use them to give the North enough food for winter."

"Names Marcus my lord. But how will only 20 or so of them feed the North?"

"I will breed them and gift them to various lords of the North. It will be a great boon to our people."

"Alright then my Lord. I am an old man, so I only request that you leave me a few so I may stay with them here till the day of my death."

"Very well."

At first he had tried to pay the man with dragons, but Marcus had no use for them out in the mountains. Instead he told Eddard that easing other's lives was good enough for him. Still, Eddard promised to send some builders to build him a proper home and a few other things to make Marcus more comfortable. Afterwards Eddard set off towards Winterfell once more, another piece of the puzzle falling into place.

Marcus had also told them that there were rumors of a few herds of these wild in the North, and beyond. A few years ago Marcus had been lucky enough to find a few. Eddard hoped that soon he would be able to feed his people through the coldest of winters. The strange thing was, he could not imagine why these cattle hadn't shown up before. Perhaps the old gods were favoring them, finally making things better for the north.

A DIFFERENT EDDARD A DIFFERENT EDDARD

Catelyn shook her head a bit as her husband rode back into Winterfell with strange long furred aurochs of all was getting stranger these days, with all his plans of improving the North, and building the army and economy. He was like a man possessed, working nonstop. He probably hadn't even noticed Catelyn taking over most of the running of Winterfell with how busy he was. She had begun to manage everything from the servants to the petitioner to the suppliers. She recalled when they had met on the road, and the few days they had spent riding together. It had seemed they were developing a connection, but he had thrown himself into his work as soon as they returned. He barely made time for Robb anymore. At least Robb had a good playmate in Jon, the knight's son. "No more." she thought. "I will confront him about it today."

Her husband was in his solar as usual, looking over the reports with a gleam in his eye. He glanced at her briefly and smiled. "Catelyn, come in. No doubt you've heard about our new livestock! With it Winter will be far easier to survive."

"What's the point of surviving winter when I'm already a ghost?" she said. Eddard looked at her again, but this time his eyes were in the present not his glorious visions of the future.

"What do you mean my lady? Are you not comfortable in Winterfell?" he said. She sighed. Eddard was kind, but could be incredibly dense.
"No my lord, it is not Winterfell, it is you. It is like I am merely a guest in your castle, for all the time you spend with me. Even though I have taken over the running of your household, I hardly ever speak with you, really speak with you. We cannot continue a marriage like this."

Eddard looked away, unable to hold her gaze. He stared at the fire, as if asking it for answers. He tried to remember the last time he had even spoken more than a few words to his wife. Catelyn saw the shame on his face and knew she had gotten through to him. "I don't ask for much my lord. Just spend some time with me."

Eddard nodded at her. "You are right. I have been remiss in my duties as a husband. Come with me. We shall take a walk through Winterfell." Catelyn smiled. "I would like that my lord."

Over the next few days, Eddard managed to show Catelyn the glass gardens, first keep, and godswood. Catelyn and he had bonded, as they were really the only people of their station in Winterfell. Bejen was gone, Caspian was busy training the troops, and Luwin and Cassel were the only ones that were truly their friends. However on their latest walk through the godswood, a problem had arisen.

"Ned, I am hoping to have a septa come North to educate our children. They must learn as is proper for their station."

"I don't understand Cat. What need have they for a septa? They will be Starks, and Starks follow the old gods. Luwin will teach them about their station and histories."

"What are you talking about? They will be raised with the faith of the seven! I know the old gods are important, but the faith teaches how to live a virtuous life."

"I have read your book cat. That kind of rigidity may work sometimes in the south, but the code of the Old Gods is what is needed in the North. They will not have a septa and that is final."

"Have you no respect for my beliefs my lord?" she said. Her face was a drawn tight into a stern mask, no sign of the beautiful smiled he had come to love. Her addressing him so formally stung more than he expected.

Yet Catelyn had been adamant. Her faith was one point where she would not compromise, as she was raised with strong beliefs. It had created a rift between them.

A DIFFERENT EDDARD A DIFFERENT EDDARD

"My Lord? My Lord?" Luwin sad. Eddard glanced up abruptly, looking at the maester.

"Ah, apologies Maester, I am a bit distracted."

"Quite alright my lord. As I was saying, the herds of cattle have proven easy to domesticate, and the trade is really picking up. Soon, we will need to build those roads for the trade you were talking about." Yet as he talked he could tell that his Lord was once more distracted. He frowned slightly. Though he was a great Lord, Eddard was only one and twenty, a young man. He did not know how to deal with many things.

"My Lord, may I ask if something is the matter? You seem quite troubled."

"It is nothing Luwin. Just a small disagreement with my Lady wife."

"Clearly not my Lord. Most of the household has noticed it by now. You cannot carry on like this. It will encourage rumors."

"Has it become that obvious Luwin?"

"It has My Lord. If I may enquire as to the nature of the dispute?" Eddard sighed, and thought a little. Luwin was a trusted man, and far wiser than he. He was born in the North, but grew in the south. Perhaps he could help him understand how to get through this issue.

"My lady wife and I disagree quite strongly on matters of faith and how to raise our children."

"Ah so that is the trouble my Lord. You must understand that faith is quite different in the south. There it is a more present thing, with rules affecting all aspects. Your faith is more spiritual, allowing each man to seek his own answers from the gods. I do not know what works best, but perhaps these two need not be mutually exclusive."

Eddard began to feel a little hope. Perhaps, if he managed to convince Catelyn, they could compromise on a few things. The children could know the faith of the seven, but would also know the values of the north and the old gods. Though he had personally seen evidence of the old gods, that did not mean the seven were false. If anything, it made it more probable, as he had already been told that many powers existed in this world he was unaware off.

"You are correct Luwin. Perhaps I have been to inflexible about my own convictions. I shall go speak to her as soon as we finish today." Luwin smiled.

"Very good my Lord. Let us return to today's tasks. Oh it appears we will soon have a visitor at Winterfell."

A DIFFERENT EDDARD A DIFFERENT EDDARD

Catelyn was watching the training of the army of Winterfell. The men looked quite ferocious as they drilled various formations together. If this kept up, they would be able to contest fully fledged knights in the battlefield. Ser Caspian had asked her to watch over the training as it boosted morale for the troops. Catelyn admired that man's dedication. He watched over his son as if he were a sworn sword to him. Even now, a servant had the boy on the near the training field, holding him so he could watch his father.

Still, even with the distraction of the hustle and bustle of Winterfell, she could not shake the dullness over everything. Her and Eddard's fight had ended the growing affection between them, and she did not know if she could fix it. Though she was more comfortable there, the godswood still felt strange, like she was not truly a part of it. She looked up, and almost dropped her jaw..

Riding towards her around the courtyard was a very familiar figure. The emblem of the leaping trout was on his armor, though it was the color of obsidian. He stopped near her and dismounted, removing the helm he was wearing.

"Uncle Brynden! How are you here, so far to the north?"

"Well I was going to go to the vale originally, but I figured I would visit you first. You are my darling niece after all."

"It's so good to have a familiar face around here Uncle. Come let me show you to your rooms."

A little while later, they sat in his rooms after he had settled in.

"Cat I wanted to ask you, face to face. Are you happy here?'"

"If you had asked me a week or two ago, I would have said yes without a thought uncle."

"Why, what is the trouble? Is Eddard not good to you?"

"No Uncle he is a very kind man. Yet we have differences now. I feel them insurmountable at times."

"What was the reason for your quarrel?"

"Eddard and I were discussing which faith to raise our children in and he flatly refused to have the seven here. He even rejected my request for a septa to teach them!"

Brynden snorted, the curving of his eyes giving away amusement. "Smart man."
"Uncle! Not you too. Don't you care about your faith?"

"Cat, I am just as devout to the seven as any other man. That does not mean I respect all the septons and septas who preach for them. "

"What do you mean uncle?"

"Septons and Septas teach a life that cannot always be followed, and sometimes should not be. The seven only care that you are a good person and pray to them. I believe it is men who have made all these restrictive rules. And they themselves are often hypocrites who do not follow what they preach. A septa is not a good person to raise children, especially here in the north. The seven should be taught but perhaps your approach is wrong."

"But Uncle, Septons and Septas teach us values to live our lives by. They are more devout than us all."

"Cat, as they say here in the North, I have seen more winters than you. I know more about the nature of people. You have only seen those in Riverrun or surrounding lands. Trust me when I say your husband has the right of it about the septa. I suspect he has little issue with the seven themselves, just the consequences of following them so rigidly. Now tell me, do you really follow every single edict in that book, or do you adjust as life demands?"

When Catelyn thought about it she did realize that she did not necessarily follow the seven pointed star word for word. She began to see the point. "Thank you so much Uncle. Perhaps there can be a compromise after all."

They chatted a bit more, and during that time Eddard came into the room. "Lord Brynden, I apologize that I could not…" He trailed off as he saw that Catelyn was also in the room.

"It is quite alright Lord Stark. However, i think you and Cat need to have a talk." So saying he left the room.

"I'm sorry about…" They both started at the same time, and laughed. Catelyn smiled and gestured for Eddard to speak. "I'm sorry I was so stubborn about this Cat, but I have seen how restrictive life under the seven can be when I was in the south. The North is a freer place. Perhaps we can raise the children in both faiths, if you can agree to the lack of a septa, or strict adherence to the book."

"I was also quite insistent Ned, and that was wrong of me. I did not attempt to understand your side of things enough. Now that Uncle had cleared some of my misconceptions, I agree with your plan. We will take future challenges as they come."

"Perhaps we can retire to our shared chambers today? I hope we have resolved all the ill feeling between us."

She laughed at that. "Yes Ned. It will take some time,but I have hope once again that we can make this work." Afterwords, they said goodbye to Brynden and retired for the night.

A DIFFERENT EDDARD A DIFFERENT EDDARD

A few weeks later they lay together in their bed, relaxing. Eddard smiled as he thought of the day before. Finally, he and his wife had resolved their differences. For once he had decided to stay in bed, and leave work for a little later. Catelyn had done the same thing. Their contentment was not to last however.

The door opened, and Luwin walked in hurriedly. "Apologies my Lord, but I have an urgent message for you."

"What is it Luwin?"

"I believe it's better that the messenger tell you himself." Another person walked into the room. He had a light stubble, and was tall with broad shoulders. He looked much older than his 18 years. Eddard almost didn't recognize him.

"Benjen?"

"Yes brother. I see married life is treating you well. Hello Catelyn."

"What is this urgent message?" asked Catelyn.

"An army of wildlings has bypassed the wall under a new king. It is time to put that new army of yours to the test Ned?"

"How do you know this? I told you explicitly that you could not join the Night's watch, though I let you travel." Eddard replied.

"There will be time for explanations brother, but first arise and prepare. For war is upon us."

_END_

AN: Not much action this chapter but its coming. About Catelyn, I know she's controversial, but I've decided to give her a chance for this fic, plus I don't really do bashing. As for Benjen, you'll see what he was up to next Chapter.

If anyone has ideas for this fic or a premise for a different fic, but don't want to write it themselves, please msg me as I would be happy to try and write them. I like other fandoms such as Naruto as well. Also, I sincerely thank you all for the reviews. They are what keeps this story going.