AN:- I have worked on the story plot all of yesterday and let me thank you all for all the wonderful reviews you have left. I will continue to write this story so don't worry about abandonment. This chapter will begin with our faithful Stark in Moat Cailin and his family. So let's begin without further ado.
Moat Cailin,The North (298 AC)
"Get back here you little troll." Robb Stark shouted as he chased after his most troublemaking sibling.
"You will never catch me alive." Arya shouted as she raced through the yards of the Moat.
"Arya if you don't get back here now mother will be very angry with you."Robb shouted as his sister took off in the direction of the stables.
In her thrill of running from Robb, Arya failed to notice the man in front of her. She collided with him and fell down on her back.
"What's going on here Arya, why did you run into me?" Ned Stark asked as he looked down at his daughter amusingly who was starting to get up with a smile on her face.
"Robb was chasing after me because mother told him to look for me." Arya said still smiling as she was picked up by her father and carried around in his arms.
"And why are you running from your mother?" Ned asked already knowing the answer.
"Because she will make me do stupid things and force me to be more like Sansa. I don't want to be a lady, I don't want to sit with septa Mordane for hours learning how to sew and sing when I have no interest in these things. I want to be a fighter, like you and Damien." Arya complained. Her mother could be a little annoying but she loved her all the same.
"You can be a warrior Arya, you can be anything you want. Your cousin made sure that every woman of the North had the freedom to choose what they want to be, just as any man. He and Jon also sent you your twin daggers, if I remember right. " Ned told his daughter as he made his way towards Robb who was looking around for his sister.
"Yeah, Dami and Jon are the best. They wrote to me that they will even forge a sword made of Damascus steel for me when we go to Winterfell." Arya said as excitement shone in her eyes.
"That's all good Arya but for my sake and your mother's sake too, please continue with your lessons with septa as well. It will help you in life eventually." Ned said as he saw Robb approaching them.
"Thank you for catching her father, mother would have eaten me alive if I didn't return with her." Robb said as he took his sibling from his father's arms.
"Yeah your mother has a temper. Go on then, and Arya, please behave." Ned asked his youngest daughter as she smiled at him.
As Arya and Robb walked away towards the castle, Ned went straight towards the Godswood. The weirwood tree of Moat was not as majestic as Winterfell but it is still a place where Ned felt at peace. As Ned closed his eyes and started to pray he heard footsteps approaching him. Ned opened his eyes to see as master Luwin approached him with a serious look on his face.
"What has happened Luwin, is it something bad?" Ned asked with trepidation growing inside of him.
"No my lord, a raven came just now bringing news from Warden of the North. Your nephew has ordered all the Lords and the half of the Winter Legions to assemble at the Wall within 3 weeks. He has asked you to bring Robb with you as well." Luwin informed dutifully.
"What could have provoked my nephew so far? This message can be interpreted as the declaration of war on the wildlings." Ned asked as he stood up and started walking towards the castle.
"I am afraid I don't know, my lord. Whatever Lord Stark has in mind will be revealed when you meet him at the wall." Luwin replied
"Very well, call Robb and Catelyn and tell them to meet me in the Lords chambers." Ned commanded as he watched Luwin moving away.
A few moments later everyone assembled in the lords chamber. The mood was sombre and silence prevailed in the room until Robb broke it. "What has happened father? Why have you called us here?"
"We have been commanded by the Lord of Winterfell to assemble at the Wall in 3 weeks. You will be coming with me Robb." Ned declared
"WHAT? Why do you need to take Robb? Are you going to go fight for your nephew again?" Catelyn asked frantically.
"I don't know what my nephew plans to do, but I will do as he commands me to do. Robb, start packing. We will move out in the evening. Luwin, leave us alone please. " Ned said as he walked beside his wife.
Everyone moved out of the room except Ned and Catelyn. Finally Catelyn exploded. "Why do you have to take my son Ned. Aren't you enough for whatever reason your nephew calls you? Robb is just a boy. Moreover your nephew made it pretty clear how much he cares for Robb when he legitimised your bastard and placed him after himself in the line of succession, above Robb. He took our sons birth right away from him and now he wants him to fight his wars too?"
Ned remained stoic as he let his wife finish ranting, after she was done shouting he replied." We both know why he legitimised Jon and why he has altered the line of succession. Jon grew up in Winterfell with Ashara and Damien learning administration and politics. He is a fighter of unimaginable prowess and has a strong mind for politics and warfare, just like Damien. Even Robb showed no sign of resentment for Damien's decision, in fact he supports his logic. Why you are still at odds with the idea, I will never understand."
"He legitimised my greatest shame, he stole my son's birthright and you ask me why I am at odds with the idea?" Catelyn shouted.
"My decision is final, Catelyn. Robb will come with me to the Wall. You should let your resentment of Jon go, he is the heir to Winterfell now and its past time you stopped hating him for something that was not his fault." Ned said as he walked out of the door leaving a fuming Catelyn alone.
Ned knew his nephews logic was sound and this also added a layer of protection around Jon should his real heritage come to light. He was excited to see his nephew again.
3 weeks later at The Wall, The North (298 AC)
When Jeor Mormont was told that an army of 40000 men and all the Lords of the North will be coming to the wall he knew something big was going to happen. After his son betrayed the North by selling men into slavery and then escaping justice, Jeor went to the Wall to atone for his sons sin and soon became the Lord Commander of the Nights Watch. Lately he had heard terrible tales from the wildlings that they captured, that all the clans were uniting under Mance Rayder to march on the wall and to run from the ancient enemy, whatever that meant. Maybe this was the reason all the Lords of the North were now assembled in the great hall of Castle Black. Whatever was about to happen, it was going to be big.
"I have called you all here for a very specific reason. Beyond the wall an army of a hundred thousand wildlings has assembled for some unknown reason." Damien said as the Lords started shouting in outrage.
"We should ride out in force and kill those fuckers." Greatjon roared.
"I will have peace on those terms. These craven cunts have been raiding our lands for thousands of years. Its time we kill them all, just like those damned Greyjoys." Rickard Karstark shouted as he got a huge support from the assembled Lords and men of the Nights Watch.
"ENOUGH! That's enough out of you all. I have called you here and told you that the wildlings amass in force and your solution is to kill them all? I thought we were better than Tywin Lannister. Those people beyond the wall also have the blood of the first men running through their veins. They are our kin and for thousands of years we have killed them and we continue to do it. This cycle of never ending hatred will never stop unless we make peace with them and that's what we are here to do. How many more of our own kin will we kill before we come to the sad realisation that there is no winning side in this battle?" Damien said as all the Lords quietly stared at their warden.
"You expect me to make peace with those cunts? They stole from us and raided us for centuries and you want to make peace with them. I will never consent for it. Have you suddenly turned craven or are you a traitor." Greatjon roared.
"One more outburst out of you Greatjon, and I will impale you where you stand. You question me and my motives? Have I not done right by you for all these years? Have I not delivered on my promise of making North the greatest power in all the known world? I say this is the only way because it is the only way. Who among us is ready to kill thousands of innocent children and women? Because if we don't do that then they will attack us in the future eventually to avenge their dead. Who among us is ready to make war for centuries to come, with people who have the same ancestors as we do? If we don't make peace now this war will never end and thousands will die until we finally come back to where we began, which is right here. We now have the power to make peace with the people whom we have fought for thousands of years or we can continue fighting with them for thousands of years to come." Damien said passionately as he took his seat at the head table.
Everyone looked on in silence as they contemplated what had just been said. They knew it was the right thing to do but the years of bad blood between them and the wildlings made it difficult to accept this change. Finally Maester Aemon stood up slowly.
"I agree with everything that Lord Stark has just said. We are never going to stop fighting until one of us extends a hand of friendship towards the other. No better opportunity will come in the future than now. I urge you all to see reason so ridiculously obvious that even a blind man like me can see it." Maester Aemon said as he sat down again.
After a few moments of silence Lady Mormont finally got up and declared. "I have always had faith in you, my lord. You changed our lives forever and I will be damned if I don't let go of my past to look forward towards a bright future. I will stand with you."
"As do I nephew." Ned declared as he and Robb smiled at Damien who smiled back.
Soon everyone followed suit except for Greatjon. He was odly silent and at last he stood up and said. " I don't know if it's the right thing to do or not but I have undying faith in you, my lord. If you say this is the way, then I will believe you."
"Thank you everyone, your faith in me will not go unrewarded. We will make peace with the wildlings and we will put an end to this thousands of years of war between us." Damien declared as cheers followed his declaration.
Everyone came together to decide what had to be done and it was decided that a ranger will be sent with the terms of the parley to Mance Rayder. In a month, the ranger returned with the message that Mance Rayder was ready to meet them at the Fist of The First Men one month from now. He had put forth the condition that only 7 members will come to the Fist with only their swords and no other weapons and they themselves would do the same. It was decided that Damien, Ned, Jon, Robb, Maege, Greatjon and Rickard will go to the Fist and they set out on the following day with a ranger guiding them only until the Fist. As they reached the Fist they found 4 men and 3 women waiting for them there. They dismounted from their horse and went to meet with the wildlings.
"Mance Rayder, The King beyond the Wall. We meet at last." Damien said as he extended his hand which was gracefully taken by Mance.
"Damien the Impaler. Your reputation precedes you, lord Stark. Why have you called for this parley my lord, and who are your esteemed companions?" Mance asked with caution.
"Let me introduce you to my people Mance. This is my uncle Eddard Stark, my brothers Jon and Robb, Greatjon Umber, Maege Mormont and Rickard Karstark." Damien introduced his companions.
"Here are my companions, my Lords. Tormund Giantsbane, Styr-Magnar of Thennes, The Lord of bones Rattleshirt, Val, Karsi and Dalla my wife. Now, you haven't answered my question Lord Stark. Why are you here?"Mance asked again.
"Word has reached the North that you amass great numbers Mance, an army of 100,000 if my information is correct. My question is why amass such an army. Answer my question and I will answer yours." Damien said as he looked impassively at Mance Rayder.
Mance and his companions were shocked to hear that the North had already heard of them and started to panic but kept a straight face on.
"We amass in such numbers because we are running Lord Stark, we are being hunted down by someone or something that we don't know. We are running out of food and we can't raid the North with your standing army patrolling the wall and manning all the shores and the 19 castles of the Nights Watch. We are desperate, my Lord and in desperation we came together in our last effort for survival. I have answered your question, now you answer mine." Mance said fearlessly.
"I have come to make peace and offer you and your people a place in our lands. This war has gone on for far too long. We are kin, all of us. Blood of the first men runs through our veins. Sure you are a little rough and immoral but that is just the way of your life. I am not here to change that, neither am I here to conquer your kind. I ask you to come to my lands, live by my rules and call me your friend and lord and abide by my laws. You can get all the benefits of being in the North. We can help each other so much without a single loss of life. We will make peace for all the future generations to come." Damien said passionately as he watched the shocked expression of all the people assembled before him.
"You have been killing us for thousands of years, and suddenly you come here talking about making peace. What has changed? Why this change of heart about us? How do we know that it's not a trick? Val asked as she defiantly stared at Damien.
"The change, is that I am the Lord of Winterfell now my lady. I am ready to give you everything you ever dreamed of and all you have to do in return is come under my banner, become my people and live by my laws. Its a fair trade don't you think?" Damien as he smirked at Val who looked away slightly blushing.
"We do not kneel Lord Stark. That's the way of our life. Our freedom is everything to us." Tormund said.
"I am not taking away your freedom, I am saying that somethings are morally wrong like rape and pillaging etc. and you don't do it in my lands. You can do as you like, be with whom you like just stay under the laws of the Nation which brings you peace and fulfilment. Presence of order doesn't mean the absence of freedom." Damien replied.
"And what if we refuse and attack you to conquer your lands? What then?" Rattle shirt asked with a bloodthirsty look on his face.
"The North is the most powerful nation in the world. I have a standing army of 80000 men and I can call on half a million levies to fight for me in a few weeks. We have the best and deadliest weapons in the known world. Do you really think you can fight me?" Damien asked with an amused look on his face.
"No we can't fight you head on. It seems we have no choice. We want to survive and you want to have peace. You swear on your honour as a Stark that you will not interfere in our way of life, if we agree to follow your rules and call you our Lord?" Karsi asked as she looked at Damien.
"I swear on my honour as a Stark of Winterfell. Will you and your people swear to follow me and my laws?" Damien asked as he put his hand forward, which Karsi shook. Slowly but steadily Mance shook his hand too along with Dalla and Tormund. When Val came forward to shake his hand Damien caught her hand and kissed it making her laugh and blush.
"We will not accept your truce lord Stark. My men need only me to be their leader." Styr declared as he and Rattleshirt walked away.
"I am beginning to fucking hate the Thennes." Damien said with a deadpan voice.
"Everyone does pretty boy." Val said. She pushed him slightly with her shoulder as she smirked at him and walked back to Mance, confusing him a little. He only did what his mother asked him to do when he saw a beautiful girl. Why was she pushing him around and why did she call him a pretty boy? The Northern Lords and Lady looked on with deadpan looks and barely contained amusement at their Lords confused face. Jon and Robb were not even trying to hide their amusement, laughing out loud.
"My navy will be at Hardhome in a week. Get your people to settle there in a week. I have a fleet of 500 ships, I can transport 100,000 people at a time. We will get you all settled in the Gift by the end of 6 months where you will live till the end of your times, happily." Damien promised.
"My people are already at Hardhome Lord Stark. We will wait for you." Mance said as he extended his hand which Damien shook and then he, Dalla and Tormund walked away.
He was suddenly caught by his collar by Val as she spoke in his ear. "We will meet again pretty boy."
She suddenly locked lips with him kissing him deeply for a few moments as Damien stood there with his eyes wide like a buffoon.
As she smirked and went on her way, the entire Northern party lost it and started laughing at the dumbfounded look on their Lords face. Everyone made fun of Damien but as they were departing Damien turned serious.
"Uncle Ned, you, Jon and Robb will ride towards Winterfell and assemble the fleet and meet me at Hardhome in a week. I will wait at castle black during that duration. I have some businesses to take care of here, North of the Wall." Damien said as he mounted his horse.
"Are you sure nephew, these are treacherous terrains. What if something happens to you?" Ned asked worried about his nephew.
"Don't worry, I have to do this alone, you go ahead." Damien said as he started galloping towards the north direction.
The Cave, North of the Wall (298 AC)
As Damien reached in front of the cave that he had seen countless times in his dreams he slowly dismounted from his horse. He had got this feeling since he began his journey North of the Wall, that something incredibly important was going on here. As he approached the cave he was shocked beyond belief to be greeted by one of the fabled Children of The Forest.
"Come, he waits for you." The Child said as she moved inside the cave and Damien followed her.
"You are one of the Children of the Forest aren't you? Are you the one who has giving me these visions in my dreams for almost 15 years now?" Damien asked as he reached the centre of the cave.
"We came here before men yet the first men called us children. Anyway, I am not the one giving you dreams, he is." The Child said as she pointed towards a man who had a tree growing all over him, he was incredibly old and Damien was shocked beyond belief to see him still alive.
"Who are you? Why have you brought me here? Why do you keep giving me these dreams." Damien asked as his hand moved towards his Valyrian steel sword.
"I am the three eyed raven, Damien Stark and we meet at last. We have much to speak about Damien the Impaler, for the game has changed with your arrival. You need to know some things. Some things that are inevitable, somethings that have already happened . Will you listen to this old man?" The three eyed raven asked as he looked at Damien. When he nodded his head and relaxed a little the three eyed raven continued. "Then let's begin."