Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones, A song of Ice and Fire or Harry Potter. This is purely fanfiction and I do not claim ownership of any of these characters.
Author's Notes: First of all, thank you everyone for you love and support. I will be making regular updates on alternate days. As I have now slowly formed the initial chapters of the story, I will be posting bigger chapters from the next one. Now to clear up a few points to ensure that the immersion of the story is not impacted.
*Tourney of Harrenhal - 276 AC, so even Roberts Rebellion and all subsequent events occurred 5 years to canon. I have added more time between the Greyjoy rebellion and Robert's rebellion to just put some age into the characters.
* World Building will primarily occur post the greyjoy rebellion as there is a big period of peace between then and the starting of season 1 of GOT.
*Harry's powers will increase slowly as he unlocks them. I do not want to reveal more at this point.
* Pairing I am going to allow some more time to develop the story before I finally decide upon it. I will be mostly holding a poll for that.
*Reviews are always welcome.
Chapter 2
Winterfell, 289 AC, Harry's POV
Harry sheathed his swords as he moved across the courtyard intent on meeting his father in the solar. He had received intel and was sure that the Ironborn had started an uprising. As he walked across the courtyard intending to find out more, little Arya ran up to him and jumped into his arms.
"Harry" giggled the little Arya, "You were so strong and powerful, you beat them all" she said excitedly. Then with a big pout asked, "Big brother please teach me please? I want to be as strong as you when I grow up!"
Harry almost caved in. He laughed out heartily, as he pitched little Arya's cheeks. "I will sister, but now you are too young, once you are of eight name days, I will surely train you." he promised.
Arya pouted at not getting her way but happy that she got a promise from Harry. And she knew Harry always kept her promises. She jumped off from his arms, hugging him one more time before running after Bran to play with him. Harry smiled as he saw the little she wolf speed off after her brother.
He approached near his fathers solar and knocked.
"Come in" came his father's voice. As Harry walked into the solar, he saw his mother Lady Catelyn, Ser Rodrik Cassel and Maester Luwin in the room along with father.
"Father," Harry spoke, "I just heard some alarming news about the Ironborn near Bear Island, Blazewater, Flint's Finger and Sea Dragon Point."
His father nodded his head gravely, "Yes, Balon Greyjoy has declared rebellion against the King. I have been asked to call the banners and reach Lannisport from where we will sail to the Iron Islands to put down the rebellion." He looked at Harry and asked, "You have something to say?"
"Well, yes father" Harry said, "I will have 1500 Winter Wolves assembled at Winterfell by tomorrow morning. I will divide them into 5 patrols, 4 of whom will be fortifying our western coasts."
"What about the fifth?" Ned asked.
"They will be accompanying us to Lannisport, Father" I explain calmly.
"Absolutely not" , Catelyn stated firmly. "You are too young." Even Ned nodded his head. "Harry, you are an accomplished warrior, that is true, you have been dealing with the bandits and the outlaws quite efficiently and you have made an excellent investment in the training and deployment of the Winter Wolves. But this is war." Ned finished firmly. "There is no need for you to be involved in war unless there is no other option. And this rebellion will not be a long one, we have superior forces compared to that of the Iron Islands."
Harry listened to his father and mother intently before saying, "Father, Mother I do understand what you are saying and I would be inclined to agree with you if not for the facts what father told just now."
Ned, confused, asked Harry, "What did I say?"
Harry smiled. "You are right," he started. "This won't be a war really. A few battles here and there. Our main headache would be the reaving and raping the ironborn commit on the mainland. That is why I will have the Winter Wolves stationed at our western border to slaughter any ironborn with impunity."
"As for me riding out with you for war, Father, I completely agree that I should not be involved in war unless I have to be. But the Starks have been summoned. And this would be a great opportunity to meet the other Great Houses and sense their intentions towards the North" I said calmly. "As after the final Blackfyre rebellion lead to friendships and alliances that led to your fostering in the Vale and later on the alliance of the Arryns in King Robert's rebellion. So Father I request you to let me ride with you to Lannisport." Harry stated earnestly.
"No Harry, you are too young," insisted Catelyn as she did not want her child to ride out for war.
Ned looked at Harry, seriously evaluating his words. His words did have sense and as the second son, him going would make a statement that the next generation of Starks had a leader and a commander who were brothers in blood. Harry was desperately trying to make the lives of northmen better. While Robb would be the lord of Winterfell while he was away, Harry would be able to make alliances and friendships with the other houses. Reluctantly he agreed to Harry's request.
Catelyn glared at him as he said, "Alright Harry, we set to ride in 2 days' time. We are travelling to Moat Cailin to join up with the rest of our banners before we proceed to Lannisport. "
Harry nodded and left the room, leaving the adults to discuss other important matters.
He went to his quarters, where he opened the drawer next to his study. Within the drawer was a medallion made out of gold.
The medallion had small alphabets which were there side by side and could be changed with a button on the edge of the medallion surface on the side. Harry sent a coded message and pushed another button. He felt warmth in his hands as the medallion heated up slightly and then cooled down eventually.
That night, hundreds of people from the villages across from Winterfell started riding towards the capital as they were summoned by their lord.
The Winter Wolves were on their way.
Village of Snow Crest, 289 AC, Alfyn's POV
He finished up his work for the day as he slowly went towards the recently made tavern in the village. The tavern keeper was an old battle hardened commander who had fought in Robert's Rebellion. White Beard Corren, they all called him.
Corren would tell them stories from the war, the story of the Ruby Trident, the sacking of King's Landing and even the stories from the tourney of Harrenhal. The ale was cheap and fresh and the food was heavenly. The cook Corren had at the tavern was one of the best cooks in the village and everyone loved the meat pies she made.
'The Leaky Cauldron', Corren had named or the Lord Stark had named the establishment as such, saying that because it would always overflow with ale. He was not wrong. The tavern became a regular go to place and even the women of the village could come to the tavern for their drinks. Corren served wine which came cheap to him and the ladies just loved their wines.
Alfyn looked down at the clothes that he was wearing. It was cotton and light and of such good quality. The clothes mill which had opened in the village where large wooden contraptions were used to churn cotton to cotton cloth which was then made into lightly woven clothes. The villagers all look well fed and well clothed and Alfyn could really say that their homeland was prospering.
He sent a silent prayer, thanking the Old Gods for the miracle that was the young Lord Stark. Lord Harlan was a young boy of no more than ten name days when he first came to the village.
************************************************Flashback************************************************************
Alfyn was a hunter then. He used to hunt the forests and used to bring back what he could for his mother and younger brother. It hardly used to be enough. But the North was a harsh place and going to bed without supper so that others could eat was a thing few had the strength to do.
He was talking to the village elder, he remembered, as the young boy lord approached him, accompanied by what seemed the Master-at-Arms and the Maester of Winterfell.
"My Lord", Byron, the village elder, kneeled. "It is fortunate that you have graced us with your presence, how can we be of help?" asked Byron. The Master-at-Arms looked at me with Alfyn with a stern look and Alfyn immediately kneeled, cursing himself for his stupidity mentally. But the young lord paid no heed to my apparent lack of respect.
"How does the village?" he asked quietly to Byron. Byron looks at the Maester nervously who smiles encouragingly at him. "My Lord, the people here suffer, with the land mostly brittle and and the weather too harsh, we fear many would not survive the coming winter."
The young boy lord listened to the old man with his full attention and then he said. "Do any of the folk here know masonry or has prior experience in making buildings?"
Byron, not understanding the question shaked his head and said, "We have men who can do hardy and laborious work but I am afraid my lord that we do not have many skilled workers here."
"How many men can you spare?" asked the boy lord. They will be paid 5 dragons a month, 2 for the first month as they will be taught at winterfell and food and lodgings would be provided for them.
Byron looked unsure as the offer seemed too good to be true. It wouldn't be right to raise the hopes of the poor and the hungry just so that a boy lord to play at being one. He was thinking of refusing but he saw the boy lord looking at him and somehow he knew that the young lord had understood his reservations.
"A fortunate thing indeed that I happen to have some gold with me." He took out a large bag and handed it over to Byron. The old man's eyes widened as he felt the weight of the bag. "Maester Luwin will tell you of the details." the boy lord said as he walked towards me.
"My Lord", Alfyn bowed my head and kneel, not knowing what a lord would want from him. "Rise and tell me what work is it that you do?" Lord Harlon said.
"Imma hunter milord. I scour the forests for rabbits and all tha'." he mumbled.
"You must be good at foraging and hiding in the forests then", the young lord surmised. Alfyn nodded.
"Come to Winterfell", the young lord said. "I have a need for guards, who can move as stealthily as a wolf while hunting their prey. " He took out another bag, and took out a handful of coins. He handed them to Alfyn and told him, "Bring them to Winterfell, the other hunters, I have provided the elder with the coin, this is extra for you for rounding a good number of hunters." The young lord smiled.
Alfyn bowed as he saw in his wealth he had never seen together in his life.
In a week's time, around 400 men, old and young, had taken the money and had reached Winterfell. 150 of them were hunters, Alfyn rounding up as many hunters he could find. The money was good and there wasn't much food nearby, to hunt. The rest were to be masons, builders, architects and weavers.
The builders left after a week back to Snowcrest as the training of the rest of the men started. Their lodgings were simple but clean. Their rations were enough to feed their hunger. The pay was as promised and always on time. The "Hunters" as Alfyn was used to calling his group were the ones who were drilled the most. Their training regimen was hard and their training masters were all the more hard on them. Discipline, Mental Fortitude, Stealth, Strength and Speed was drilled and honed and taught to them. As the days went by, Alfyn saw more people joining their group as even more other people joined other trades to learn at Winterfell and soon a year and a half had crossed and it was time for their final joining.
Many had quit or were removed from their group as some of them didn't have the resolve to see it through as the regime was exceedingly brutal towards the end. The final 500 members gathered around the Godswood that was here in the military district of the city. Lord Harlan Stark came striding towards us, with several of the "Hunters" of our group who had finished the regime before the rest of them. There were only 20 of them, but these men had proven to be the best warriors since the time of the Age of Heroes. They were called the 'Winter Wolves'.
The Winter Wolves and The Black Wolf as the young lord was becoming famous as these days were the dread of all bandits and raiders. The Young Lord was known to patrol extensively in bandit infested areas and would clear them out with brutal efficiency.
Lord Harlan Stark stood in front of the greatest weirwood tree and spoke, his voice brimming with hope and confidence,"This has been such a productive time. I am very happy with all the dedication and hardwork you have put in. Together we will strengthen the North." Everyone cheered at that.
"And now, I hereby officially induct you all into the order of the Winter Wolves." Lord Harlan spoke clearly, "Repeat the oath after me."
"We stand here as we become one with the North,
Our life and breathe in service of the realm,
For 'Winter is Coming' and it promises darkness and death,
As the swords and shields, the bows and arrows,
With which we hold the realms of men,
As we pray to the Old Gods and say, 'Not Today'."
Each of the members repeated the oath and Lord Stark gave them a medallion and asked them to drop a few drops of their own blood in it as they offered the medallion to the Old Gods and then wore them on their necks.
As Alfyn sliced his thumb to let a few drops of blood fall on the pendant, he offered a prayer to the Old Gods and slowly wore the pendant. Power coursed through his body and he felt powerful. The power surged through him as he felt the blessings of the Old Gods course through his veins.
The following six moons, Alfyn patrolled and hunted and killed bandits with impunity. He himself had changed much over the years and by the time he left for his scheduled leave of absence as each Winter Wolf served for a period of 6 moons before being sent home to attend the needs of the family and to help and raise the villages they grew up in.
When Alfyn returned to his village after 2 years, he could not recognize the place. Lush green fields were brimming with crops as the farmers tended to them. The previously sparsely populated village was now brimming with activity. There was a marketplace in the village where all items grown in the village were sold.
Alfyn looked around as he saw the house which had been fortified, the new tavern that was bringing customers. He saw people in the villages happy and healthy. As he stood there in wonder, he saw his house which stood in its corner. The house had changed. The previous ramshackle hut was completely replaced by a building made of stone and wood.
Alfyn approached the house and his mother outside the house tending to the clothes that were washed. She looked hale and hearty. She looked up at him and smiled and came running hugging him tightly.
That night as he went to sleep, thanking the Old Gods for all the good that happened to him, he made a solemn vow to serve Lord Stark forever, as he had not only saved his life and brought prosperity to it but also did it for his entire family and the village.
********************************************* End Flashback ******************************************
As Alfyn entered the tavern, he could feel many eyes were upon him. Raymund and Darry, two other hunters who were fellow Wolves greeted each other warmly. Food and ale poured aplenty as the time went on and the bard kept singing one song after the other.
It was close to night when Alfyn reached his home. He felt slightly tipsy but nothing to worry over he thought as he clumsily entered his room. As he lay on his bed and was about to doze off, he felt the pendant in on his neck grow warm as he heard instructions to be ready for Winterfell.
Alfyn and 50 others left their village the next morning, riding hard towards Winterfell.
Much like Alfyn, Villages, towns and holdfasts across the North, the wolves started to move towards Winterfell and the ones close to Moat Cailin, made their journey there.
Winterfell, 289 AC, Ned's POV
Ned saw Harry leaving and let out a deep sigh. His son was sometimes entirely too good at refuting arguments. It was difficult to tell him otherwise when he usually suggested the most pragmatic course of action.
Rubbing his temple, Ned asked Maester Luwin both Robb and Jon and the Maester nodded before leaving his solar to collect his sons.
Catelyn was looking angry and resigned at the same time. Ned shook his head. His thoughts went back to his second son.
***************************************** Flashback **************************************************
During Harry's fifth nameday, upon being asked what he would like as a gift, he told me seriously to buy him three taverns in Winterfell, Barrowtown and White Harbour. I was bemused and paid no heed to his words, thinking the idle words of a child.
As the day approached his end, he approached me and asked me when he would be able to see his gifts. Against my better judgement of what I felt at that time, I went ahead and bought him those three taverns. How wrong I was.
By the time of Harry's seventh name day, the three taverns had already made Harry quite a lot of money. Money which I thought he would spend frivolously as would any child. But not Harry. He slowly started off pouring more money into the trade caravans and the merchant guilds in the North.
As the Trade of the North prospered, so did the people, As I went across the land to meet several lords, I saw the barren and desolate land of my forefathers changing, slowly but surely. As the years went by, the bandit infestation decreased as Harry made his personal company of rangers, the Winter Wolves he called them, hunt down bandits with impunity.
Each year, the small folk prospered, which led them to paying more tax, which indirectly enriched the lords of the North. Harry's knack for creating and stabilizing ideas into reality was something that the North was grateful for. The smallfolk loved his son. Harry was a pride to the Starks in every way.
******************************************* End Flashback ********************************************
He was broken out of his reverie as Robb and Jon entered the room with Master Luwin.
"Father," spoke Robb ,"You summoned us. Is everything alright? Where is Harry?"
"Me and Harry are leaving in a week's time for Lannisport, The King has summoned his banners. We will be travelling to Moat Cailin to meet up with our bannermen before we head to Lannisport." Ned stated.
Robb looked mutinous and Jon looked but Ned raised his hands. "No, stop, there always has to be a Stark in Winterfell and with me gone, you will be the Lord of Winterfell Robb." Ned stated firmly. He looked at Jon, "Harry did not say about taking you with us and I would not have agreed also, but I think he does have some work for you with the Winter Wolves."
Jon nodded, eager to contribute for his brother.
"Good now let us all go to the Godswood and pray that this war ends sooner than later" Ned said gravely as they all went towards the godswood.
As they entered the Godswood, Ned saw his son Harry, sitting within the branches of the weirwood, with a flute in his hand, made of weirwood. As Harry started to play the flute, the most melodious, melancholic and heart wrenching notes escaped the instrument.
All of us stood there, captivated by the melodious tunes which threatened to make you cry, but were so beautiful. Ned's worries for his family, the future, his sons and daughters, Jon all seemed to melt away as Ned felt being one with the tune.
As the song came to an end, Harry slowly ended it on a high note and then opened his eyes and Ned could see his green eyes looking at him. In that moment, Ned realised that Harry had eyes which would mostly belong to an older person. The weariness, the sadness, the resigned acceptance that would flicker by.
Sometimes Ned wondered how their fourteen year old son had eyes which seemed more tired and weary than his own. He truly wondered.
Author's Note: Hey Everyone, I realise that the last chapter and in the ones before there have been some atrocious speclling and grammatical mistakes. I will be more careful henceforth for the future chapters and as I finish part 1 which would be until the start of season 1, I will correct the grammatical mistakes. I honestly cringed myself reading some of that. So I do apologize. I also thank all of you for the love and support.
I have initiated a poll for the pairing, it will be open for sometime as not a lot of romance will be in Part 1. I guess the Story will gradually end up becoming M. Also I have decided to post guest reviews as well and well as long as I am not receiving spam, I see no reason to not post them as of now.I do have a few replies to some of the questions asked so here goes.
George Cristian810: The tourney of Harrenhal happened in 276AC and the subsequent rebellion occured after that. The GreyJoy rebellion happened in 289 AC so adding 15 years of Robert's rule. Please dont assume the age of any characters as it will be mentioned in the story going forth. World building will happen, albeit at a slower pace. I am looking and researching in ways it could actually be done so yeah world building is a big part of the plot. I can't answer your third question, you will have to find out. *winks* Also I thank you for pointing out my several mistakes in grammar. I would love to have a chat with you so please feel free to DM me! As for the offense part, I would say that it would be dishonorable to take slight for the deed that you have done for me! My thanks to you!
qwertypous: on this I say, ask no questions and I shall tell no lies. Harry wont be God Tier. God Tier for me here would be like when he is equal to strength of a Dragon. More i cant say at this time.
zoom99: I have to say that you will have to find out my friend!
Sakra95: Like there is no other option if I am looking to build a Powerful North. I am trying to think of a different way to make it happen, have to be careful as there are a lot of stories with similar tropes, so I will certainly put your suggestion to much thought. Thanks again!
jhsilver123: Well she certainly didnt slap Jon after that. I understand you dont feel she would have slapped Jon but that is where we would disagree. Like there are a bunch of reasons but like cant write it here, so DM me maybe if you wanted to talk about this. This wont be Catelyn bashing or bashing of any character in particular. if some hate a person, others may love him. Thank you for your input though.
Siegrain-Black: No I promise you age wont mess up anything. Do not presume any ages my friend, I shall tell it to you in my story. However, for clarity, Tourney of Harrenhal happened in 276 AC
Abi: I agree, Olenna, Oberyn, The Sand Sisters they are an interesing bunch. Lets see what we have in store for them.
Moi: The point of the flute scene would be explained later on. Rhaegar reference? Why on earth would you assume that? Harry is not a bastard, he is playing a flute. Rhaegar is hardly the first character to have an interest in music. I will explain more as I said as the story unfolds. Grammatical mistakes, yes my friend I will be fixing them. Lastly, i am sorry but i have to disagree with you. Tropes or concepts can be similar. Elves are there in so many stories yet they are popularized from Tolkien. Mithril, another from creation from Tolkien has been used in various games and stories changing its appearence but providing the name. Even Merlin is there in Harry Potter. Similarly, this is a HP GOT crossover, I have limited options of making that happen without ushering super magic. I have tried to keep the interactions with metaphysical entities to a minimum. But there is a point for the same happening as well. That does not make this a copy. This is fanfiction, so a lot of elements will be derived. As for the personal remark which I believe you tried to make at the end, well all I would say is that I would let my readers decide and I will not be riled up by a mean comment. Cheers!