Chapter ten
Lord Eddard stark had remained stoic, trying his best to not show his doubts or fear, sometimes amusement, during the chaos that reigned the courtyard of winterfell.
Ned stark had never had been shocked so many times in one day. The one of the other startling reveals had diminished his thought process. On the other hand, watching Jon taking command of such a large number of skilled men and women had generated a great amount of pride and worry.
He would have to ask Jon about the part in which he becomes the commander of a deadly sellsword company. How had he came in contact with a Lannister, a Tarly and a Pirate would have an altogether different discussion.
Though, Ned feared what that would reveal. Today I had enough disclosures lasting enough for ten life spans; I don't need more from him.
Apart from the exceptional family -as Jon had rightly describing them- Ned was relief to see the glowing smile on his younger daughter. Arya for the past two days had become identical to the time when Jon left winterfell-sullen and angry toward the world.
Ned surveyed, trying to gauze the number of increased guest he would have to feed when Jon neared him.
"Lord stark, I would first convey my apologies of announcing ourselves at you doorsteps for shelter without any prior request." Jon expressed his regrets politely in a stately manner.
He was not the withdrawn, one and three year old boy. This was the lord commander of warriors, addressing another lord.
Ned had not ignored Jon passing the royal welcoming party in favor of him, as was required.
He should have addressed them first; they are again going to take this as an insult.
"There is nothing to forgive, my lord." Ned answered more bluntly than required, hoping that Jon to read his intentions.
"We are close to three hundred in numbers, half of them women and children. Most of our men would take shelter in Wintertown. Although, I would be to a great extent relived, if the women and children can have shelter here at winterfell. We have brought sturdy tents strong enough to survive storms with ourselves that can be used in the Godswood, to house them. The remaining grains we carried, should last for our entire stay here. Still, we can understand if you decline." Jon's straight forward request reminded Ned that he has not changed much. His practical thinking brought an unbidden smile on Ned's face.
Jon is still as undemanding as he was before.
What would I do to have all guests like him?
"No need to house your men in Wintertown, my lord. If we couldn't house them properly then you can use Godswood for pitching tents. However, I could use your offered grains, we are not short but we can never know an arrival of a snowstorm to hamper hunting. "Ned answered just as frankly to him as he would to any other northern lord bringing his own food.
"I would be honored to have guest like you", Ned added the last part as he offered his hand. Jon nodded, a small smile gracing his lips and linked his forearm to his.
"The honor is mine."
Jon latter asked for bread and salt for all his companions including the children-that had returned, supporting that dirty old man. Catelyn flinched at his side, when she saw the old man again. Ned hoped they would never have to talk about the things they have seen today, including this man exposed parts.
Jon first explained to his companions in common tongue and then in high Valerian, as one by one all of lined up to accepted their guest rights.
Surprisingly, after Jon, the first one to come forward was the huge direwolf. The girl carrying the Plate almost dropped and ran, until Jon came forward and gave Ghost a bite of bread with salt. Ned concluded it was a sort of customs for the sellswords, because after the beast, they readily completed the ceremony.
Until the time the last man accepted the guest right, Arya had brought Rickon with him. After most of them were housed, only a few northern lords that had arrived seeing the large crowd of man remained with the Princesses and the Starks. Few, likely attendants of Jon's also remained.
"What kind of cousin I would be if hadn't brought some presents form my time in Essos. If you will allow, my lord, I would like to present it to them." Jon asked.
Both Bran and Rickon exclaimed with surprise at Jon.
"Needless to say, I had to bring gifts for you. I knew the danger of finding horse dung in my boots if I hadn't brought anything from Essos for someone here." Jon remarked, smirking in Arya's direction. In response, she just rolled her eyes.
After Ned's nod, Jon instructed a young man having one leg in a hushed tone, sending the man on some errand. Latter Jon approached Robb, an exuberant smile on him.
"I promised you once, that if I ever traveled to Essos I would gift you the best breed of Dokhraki horse there is to have. I am ready to fulfill that promise, brother."
The one leg man brought a magnificent warhorse, the color of coal, with wild long mane. A delighted Robb rushed forward towards the beast, only to pull back after the animal almost kicked him. Robb laughed and tried again, refusing Catelyn calls of danger, this time successful.
"Gods Jon, he is beautiful." Robb said reverently.
"Aye, just as much vicious. I had to fight three Bloodriders just to keep him. The man I won it from would not tell anyone his breed, so as to keep it a secret. I thought if you are to have a Dokhraki horse, you should have a ferocious one like this. You would need to work with him. He would not a rider he does not respect." Jon seemed well pleased with Robb's instant liking for the horse.
"Anyways, if you can't handle him, you can always give to bran or Rickon when they get older." Jon japed, making the children laugh with him.
An exited Rickon pounced on Jon.
"Really, can I have one, too? You said you fought bloodriders to win him, did you kill them? Have you killed a Dokhraki? Who are bloodriders?
Jon chuckled, ruffling the boy's hairs playfully.
"Wait for your turn, Rickon. You are the youngest, so you will get your gift at the end", Jon explained.
This time Jon beckon another helper, the helper carried a big cylindrical box, covered in rich leather. Jon opened the box, removing a similar shaped object from it. He pressed both hands his around it in opposite direction, somehow lengthening it and held it towards Bran.
"This is a spyglass. Similar to the lens maester luwin has but far more advanced. You can identify a man's eye color from a distance of five hundred paces from this. I had it especially made for you from the best Myr lens maker I could find. So now you can see further from the roofs you love so much to climb."
Bran held the spyglass gingerly, seeing through its eye towards the gate. He gasped as he moved it around the yard. Bran slowly raises his eyes towards Jon, in awe.
"How did you...know?" bran whispered.
Jon put on hand on his shoulder.
"Once I too wanted to see the world closely, bran. But I never had your fearlessness or foolishness to climb tower." The stark household chuckled at the remark, knowing Bran's climbing habits. Ned could already feel Catelyn anger boiling already.
Jon continued, "I had seen you once admiring maester luwin's lens, trying to find a way to improve it. I knew you climbed not only to feel the thrill, but to see from a greater height, and things you couldn't see from your window. When I visited Myr, I just knew what to get you. I knew you would love it."
Bran surprised both Jon and Ned as he suddenly threw his arm around Jon and hugged him fiercely. Bran's eyes were moist. It was rare nowadays for the young boy to show this much emotions.
Bran said no words and no words were required.
"Just be careful when you climb, and avoid climbing the old broken tower. I have some men here who have climbed tower thrice the height of great keep. Some even claim of climbing the wall. I could show them to you, if you want." Jon caressed the boy's back gently. Ned knew without Jon and Arya around, Ned himself travelling around the north, Robb busy in his duty for being the heir, bran and Rickon felt neglected. Bran felt more alone than ever as he remembered Jon while Rickon didn't.
And his youngest son didn't like to be kept waiting.
"Where is my gift? Do I get one of your swords? Bran says no house other that house Targaryen had ever held more than one valyrian sword. But they lost both of them. He says there has never have been a man to held two Valerian steel swords. You are the first and only, Jon. Can I have one of yours?" Rickon nowadays had become a master in faking innocence. He voiced his last question laced with forced sugar, widening his already big eyes. Arya had already taught some things to his little brother.
Ned stark had a pleased smile, watching his children enjoying themselves.
Jon tried to add his teachings. "It seems Arya had already started her 'wide eyes' training, but you must never overdo it. And never direct it towards someone that had already seen Arya do it." Arya at Jon's jape concerning her childhood tricks of feigning innocence playfully punched him on the shoulder, muttering a 'shut up, stupid'.
Jon then crouched down, catching the little boy's eyes with his solemn ones.
"I have already conveyed to tyrion and Sam that if something happens to me, he will return Longclaw to the Mormonts, where it belongs, and any of my stark cousins can wield Nightfall as long as the wielder is the best. You have to be better than Robb and bran to wield it, and don't forget Arya. She can be faster than all of us, and no one can beat her cunning. If you work hard enough who knows the Mormonts might give you the honor to have Longclaw, then you would be the second man to have to two Valerian swords."
Jon said those words not only to pacify Rickon, but to encourage him to work harder and be better. Rickon nodded emphatically, and pronounced he would be the best swordsman the realm had ever seen. However, a worried expression took hold of his small face.
"But nothing is going to happen to you, right Jon? You just have come back to winterfell. Father always says the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. You are part of our pack. You should stay with us, and then nothing will happen to you." Rickon said the last part with utter conviction.
Jon stood, a sad smile on his face, not saying a word. He saw the worry on Arya's face and changed the subject regarding his stay at winterfell.
"Now, as you are the youngest you be the last to receive a gift. Moving on…" He nodded to the lady standing besides Tyrion Lannister. She was the first lady to climb down from the carriages. She in turn called out to some maids. In the end, three big chests were laid on Sansa's feet. Throughout the arrival of the new guest, Sansa had kept a distressful face. Now, it showed confusion.
The chests were opened, and they were brimmed with extravagant silks and laces of multiple bright colors. Sansa eyes widened, she exchanged a glance with her mother and eyed Jon warily. The lady had an encouraging face in Jon's direction but he didn't answer. Finally the lady ended the awkward situation.
She giggled a little before recalling the story about the gift.
"Lord Commander asked me to buy the best dresses for his older cousin sister. When I showed him some, he just nodded, ready to leave. I had to ask him which ones to buy; he just shrugged and said, ' all of them?' I had never seen him so hopeless before." Her magnetic laugh had a good effect on Sansa as she now was paying close attention to the chest.
"You bought all of them for me?" She asked Jon tentatively.
"I didn't know your taste in clothes, just knew you loved them. So I had Sarah brought all she thought you would like. If you don't like them, it is fine. Many wives of my men were asking if they could have some. "Jon answered, trying to sound unconcerned.
"Yes, that is quite right. We had to guard them from my girls. You never know what a pretty dress could make a woman do." Lady Sarah grinned at Jon, the latter one hiding his smile.
"Yes, they are quite beautiful. Thank you Lady Sarah for choosing them, you have a great choice."
They all noted Sansa not thanking Jon. Once she would have never been so blatant in her dismissal; Catelyn and king's landing had truly changed her.
"She didn't buy them for you, Sansa." Arya's cold voice ringed around the courtyard. The sisters' childhood fights have taken an ugly turn.
"I know that, I don't need to be reminded that from you, Arya. I was complementing her..." Sansa rebutted Arya, irritation evident in her voice but before she could complete her explanation Jon had turned near another cart.
He brought with him a long double curved black bow. The material was unknown to Ned, though Arya recognized it immediately, running to him.
"A Dragonbone bow! This is amazing Jon. where did you get it? There are so rare. It is said a Dragonbone bow can pierce steel armor. This one is mine, right? Yes, I like it very much. Thank you!" Arya talked animatedly, answering her own questions and giggling.
"Even if it is not, would you return in to me?" Jon asked, already knowing the answer.
"No", replied a dead serious Arya stark. All stark children barring a still frowning Sansa laughed at Arya's antics.
For once Arya was behaving genuinely, thought a happy Ned.
Jon then turned to a jumping Rickon.
"Now, as you were only a wee boy of three when I left, I didn't know what gift to bring to you." Jon started, to which Rickon quickly nodded. He was distracted, eying the one legged servant of Jon, expecting him to bring his gift. Ned knew his youngest was not even paying attention to Jon's words.
"So I didn't bring any," announced an unperturbed Jon.
Silence reigned around the courtyard. No sound where heard for few moments. After a while when Rickon understood Jon's words, he could sense the courtyard holding its breadth for the evident tantrum of Rickon stark.
Seven hells!
Tears started welling up on the corners of Rickon eyes. But before he could wake the dead with his crying Jon laughed.
"Oh Rickon, I am sorry. But I had to do something after you made me parade you throughout Wintertown." Jon laughed as he took the shocked Rickon in his arms. He was ruffling the little boy's hairs and running his hand around his back soothingly when Arya shouted to him.
"You stupid… stupid… pig!"
This time Arya didn't restrain herself. She thrashed and scolded Jon, all the while trying to calm Rickon. Robb and Bran had joined her, too. Ned had to stop Catelyn from interrupting their children's light hearted movement, as Rickon was laughing as quickly as he had cried. Even Sansa was smiling with her siblings and cousin.
When was the last time he had heard his children's laughter in winterfell.
Ned could only hope this could be one of their many such moments to come.
In the end Rickon got the most gifts. Jon had gotten him a cart filled with wooden toys and playthings that could last three generations of winterfell children. Jon had sternly told Rickon to share it with the castle and Wintertown children, to which Rickon had readily agreed. The reason behind his unhesitant reaction was his other gift. Jon had also brought a pony for him of an exotic breed. The specialty of such breed was that the pony would only grow to a size of large dog. He called them Shetland pony, from the land of Leng in Essos. This kind of breed was best for teaching children horse riding. Of course, Rickon didn't really cared that his horse would never grow to an ordinary horse size. He just loved the horse's wild, long, shaggy multi-colored mane. After taking a few rounds around the courtyard on his horse, wrecking havoc, he pronounced his horse name while laughing gleefully.
His name was such that caused the Ned to laugh so loudly, he attracted curious stares.
His youngest son had named his shaggy horse, shaggy.
Jon also gifted him a quarterstaff, made from the wood of dead Weirwoods. The staff had etching of old tongue around it with direwolf head at its ends. A women from Jon's entourage, which was probably a Wildling, would latter teach him to fight with it.
Ned stark knew he would have a long night of bickering with his wife.
Still, he would enjoy this occasions with his children.
WhenJon caught Ned contented face, he approached him.
"Uncle, I have something for you, would you accept it?" Ned caught a small amount of apprehension in his voice.
After Ned gave his permission, Jon produced a wooden replica of a three row oared galley. The elegant replica was well crafted with smooth curves; it was about a size of a small cat. The galley was of a design unknown to Ned stark.
He accepted the replica from Jon, despite not gathering the meaning behind giving him such a present.
"I had to make Tyrion find a good craftsman to make it look identical to the one docked at white harbor."
Ned stark stared at his nephew in astonishment. He must be japing, Ned thought.
"It is high time the north has its own fleet of ships, a northern fleet uncle. I believe this one here could be capable flagship to the northern fleet. I had named her the ' winter queen'."
Maybe it was because he was tired of looking dumfounded to all of Jon's surprises. Or maybe it was because his nephew had just gifted him a ship named after his tarnished sister, in front of the royal princesses and northern lords. That he could not control his reaction.
"What?"
Jon took a deep breath, apparently he expected such reaction.
"She was built in bravos by some of the finest shipwrights on the order of the previous Sealord.
She has three levels with each level capable of thirty oars. Her main deck is two hundred steps long, with capability of two sails. She needs hundred men alone to man it. It took almost three years to design and built such a ship. When completed, she set sail to travel through the jade seas and back. Her voyage was successful, and she returned before time.
Although she is built for long and hard sea travel, after I got my hands on her I had some changes made in her design, to make her into a ship worthy for flying the Stark banner."
Jon ended his brief explanation, drawing his lips in a tight line. Ned knew Jon was not telling him everything about this ship. Nevertheless, the warden of the north could fathom the caliber of such a ship.
By the Gods, to have such a huge ship capable of waging war. Jon is not being mere speculative, he was being intentionally secretive about her battling power.
A ship built for the north, for the direwolf banner,
For Lyanna.
Before Ned could say anything, the heavy figure of lord Manderly thumped towards him. After the lord asked permission to hold and see the replica closely, the man nodded his portly face in approval. Lord of white harbor then stared hard at Jon and spoke.
"My son informed me of a huge ship similar to this one anchoring at the outer harbor. So large, it could barely fit. He mentioned the odd combination of travelers with children on that ship. The ship also carried carriages and Dokhraki horses. He said he only allowed them to dock after one of them got out to be a moneylender from the iron bank. They mentioned of having some business at winterfell. I didn't broach the subject to you my lord, as I thought you already knew about them, because my son mentioned the banner of a white wolf on that ship."
More questioned aroused from lord Manderly's report than answers. Still one thing was proved.
The ship Jon described existed.
It would mean the north had one of a kind warship. Not one ship in the Royal or Redwyne fleet came even close to her in terms of size. The bravoosi were renowned for their shipwrights, so the capabilities and strength of any ship they built were unquestionable. However there was one big question on every one's mind
"How did you get her?" Ned needed to have answer to at least this question.
"The Sealord of bravos gave me a boon. I asked for her and he obliged." Jon answer was so simple, it couldn't raise any doubts. Ned nodded his head numbly. The boy was as trustworthy as ever.
"You can change her name if you want." Jon eyes said more words than his mouth.
That name would shake Rhaegar's court to the core, but it seems the 'Winter queen' was more than just a ship's name to Jon snow. She was all Jon wanted to remember her mother as.
There could only be one answer to that, thought the Warden of the North.
"No."
At that moment Jon's Stark gray eyes held something Ned stark couldn't define in mere words.
Ned seized his sister only son, a piece of her soul, in a fierce hug. They both tried their best no to shed tears. For both of them, her memory brought so much pain; they always tried to shy away from it. But there were moments like this, they accepted her wholeheartedly, reminiscing her glory and failures.
Just as she would have like to be remembered.
"You did good, son. I am proud of you." Ned whispered to his son, voice heavy with unspoken words.
"Thank you, father"