Winterfell

After going through the tombs of Winterfell with my best friend, Robert, every time I go back into the tombs, it brings back bittersweet memories of the past about my family. Father, Brandon, Lyanna all rest here now. Robert, my friend, has given me a massive task for me to become the King's hand after Jon Arryn's death and the marriage between Joffery and Sansa. I have a lot to think about with me becoming the King's hand, and I must talk about this with my wife, Cat. She won't be please with me going to the south. Many people say that stars do well in the south, considering what happened to my father and siblings.

As we walked up the stairs to leave the crypts, Robert was going on a real hunt in the natural countryside. Robert always said that he wanted to go on an actual hunt, saying that hunting in the Kingswood is too easy and that he wants a real challenge instead, so he was looking forward to going north. After arriving at the top of the stairs, I saw maester Luwin walking towards me with a scroll in hand. Robert and I stood still for a couple of seconds so that maester Luwin can get to us. Maester Luwin said to us, "Lord Cerwyn has sent sirs a raven."
I reply, " Well, what does the message says, maester Luwin". Luwin looked back at me with serious eyes and said back in a quiet tone, " The information on the scroll has very sensitive information. we should speak in private, my lord and king".

I looked at Robert and said quickly, "Let's go quickly to my solar to speak in private". I then ask two of my guard to accompany us towards my solar. I, Robert and Luwin started the walk to my solar it took us a couple of minutes to get there. When reaching my solar's door, I open the door for Maester Luwin and Robert to walk in. I then looked at two of my guards and said to them, "Make sure no interrupts or listens to the conversation in the room". They both nodded their heads, and I close the door behind me. My solar itself wasn't anything special it had a simple desk with a chair on both sides, and the rooms are filled with inks m quills and ornaments of the past from my family.

After I went into the room, I looked at maester Luwin and asked, "How important is this information on the scroll that we needed to have a private talk, maester Luwin".
maester Luwin looked back at Robert and me and said this "Lord Cerwyn had received strange visitors from lands that I don't know off from the known world. From all the maps I have around the world, I do not recognise the country. He received these new strangers just a couple of days ago. The strangers say they're from the kingdom of Bretonnia and are from the Dukedom of Quenelles. Many of them, numbering about 1000 people, are residing near the castle Cerwyn with their lord among them. The Title given to their lord is Duke and their Duke is Jerrod d'Asareux". He stops for a moment to catch his breath.

"The strangers say they're from the land of chivalry and honour. So far, the strangers have been an excellent guest to Lord Cerwyn. They speak of tales from their lands about the world containing magic, and their world has many fantasy races that we never heard of in our world. They have been exchanging information with Lord Cerwyn. Lord Cerwyn hopes to send these visitors to Winterfell but with your permission Lord Stark".

Maester Luwin then showed the letter and its contents to me, and Robert showing Lord Cerwyn wax seal on the bottom right of the letter.
Robert and I were stunned for a few seconds. New people that we have never heard of before, the men of Bretonnia and one of their dukes, is in my lands. Robert then said, " I know your northern Folk don't Lie, but this tale seems far fetch don't you think".
With what Robert said, this seems like a fairy tale that Old Nan would tell me about Duncan the tall and Dragons of the past. But I know that none of my lords would send a message lying to me about these new people.

I then said to Robert, " Lord Cerwyn wouldn't like to me, Robert. House Cerwyn is one the most loyal houses in the north, and he has put his wax seal showing this is an official letter from him.
Robert barks out, " Well, if that is the case, Ned, if this information is true, I would like to meet these new people, and maybe their Duke is someone like me" As he laughs after this.
I did a small chuckle and said, " Robert, I don't think anyone can be like you with all that weight you gained as I point at his body." Robert looked at me, stunned for a second, but then he laughed it off.
Robert then said, " I missed your type of honesty Ned, None of that in the King's Landing, just a den of vipers with people vying for power. That's why I need your northern honour to help me out. Come on one, Ned, let's meet this Duke and see what he is like."

I know Robert like to put caution to the wind. But it looks like he wants to meet new exciting things, but he is the King of the seven kingdoms, but he needs to be careful he is the King of the Seven kingdoms now. I would also like to meet these new people and see these people myself. The letter says their people from the land of chivalry and honour.
"Robert, you are the King of the Seven Kingdoms. Perhaps it's best to slow down a little and have someone else meet them," I said to him.
" Piss on that I am the King, and I get what I want, Ned. Let them come to Winterfell to meet us, and we get to see what they like," reply backed to me. I guess the King gets what he wants.

I then looked at Maester Luwin and said, " send a message to lord Cerwyn with a message saying that these new people have the permission of the King and me to come to Winterfell to talk. They need to come as quickly as possible, write that in a letter". Maester Luwin nodded his head and left the room, leaving Robert and me alone.

Robert then looked at me and put his hand on my shoulder firmly and said this in a loud voice "Well Ned, your first job as the hand of the king is to meet with these new people and to find why their here and how they appeared in your land."
"Already putting me to work to hold your kingdom together, Robert", I replied jokingly. Robert laughed back at this and said with a joyful tone, " Well, Ned, your first day on the job and its momentous occasion with you meeting people from a new land. No other hand of the King in the history of the Seven kingdoms can say that"
"Well, Robert, I hope the letter contents are true, and they are a kingdom of honour and chivalry. But Robert, please don't make an arse of yourself when we meet them. I rather not want to deal with a diplomatic incident because of your actions." I said to him in a severe tone.
"Don't worry, I will be on my best behaviour when we meet these people, don't you worry, Ned", He barked out to me. I hope that is true, Or else I'm going to get a headache with the incident if it does happen and my wife will yell at me because of Robert actions.

"Okay, well, I'm going to leave and tell my wife about this so she can prepare the rooms for these guests when they arrive in Winterfell, and so you can prepare more food for them for the feast that's going to happen," I said to Robert.
" I was going to say do you trust her, Ned. But you have Cat is a lovely woman unlike my wife Cersei who is a snake of a woman" He said to me and he Cersei name with a negative tone.
"Well, it's time we leave my solar, Robert. We have other things we have to do for the rest of today," I said to Robert. Robert Nod his head and left his room to do his duties which are most likely to drink and eat.

I then went off to find my wife. She is most likely in the kitchen or grand hall preparing for the feast that will happen the next day. After walking a couple of minutes through Winterfell looking in the kitchen, she wasn't there, but then I found her in the grand hall. She was instructing the servants in preparing for the feast until she saw me and started to walk towards me.

I started to walk towards her. As we got closer, she then said in a surprised tone. "Ned, I didn't expect to see you so early. I thought you would be still with Robert in the Tombs,"
I put my face close to her ear. I whispered to her," Well, I just received an important message from Lord Cerwyn on the letter he speaks about new visitors from a strange land called Bretonnia where they have honour as high a Northman, but they hold chivalry values like the people from the south. These new people wish to meet with us in Winterfell. In the letter, they ask permission to visit us in which Robert and I have both agree to it. Maester Luwin will be sending a letter to Lord Cerwyn that they will be allowed to visit us. I know I'm asking a lot right with you preparing for the feast and trying to think about this information I told you, but could you prepare more guest rooms for these visitors, Cat.
After a couple of seconds of silence, she responded in a quiet tone that only I could hear.
"Well, Ned, I will prepare these rooms for these new guest and allocate in the great hall for seats, but if they cause any trouble, Ned. I'm going to give you a stern telling off". She said back to me, affectional.
I reply, " Thank you, Cat, but you shouldn't need to worry about the guest if the letter contents are true. When both go to bed later in private, I will give a more detailed story about these people."
"Well, Ned, I have more work to do now with what you told me. I need to prepare more seats and food to accommodate these new people," she said as she began to leave to tell the servants that they need to prepare more seats and food to prepare, which they did without question.

With that in hand, I left the grand hall of Winterfell and went to the Godswood to have a moment to myself. I pray to old gods that nothing else as big will happen this year with Robert making my hand of the King, crown prince Joffrey marrying Sansa and these new strangers on my lands. I hope their Duke Jerrod d'Asareux is a good man, but I won't know until I meet this person. After a troubling morning, I decided to relax for an hour or so by resting next to a godswoods. Hoping the future is bright and nothing bad will happen when I go south to hold Robert realm together.

246vili - Later on, I will be making small stories regarding the surrounding lands reaction to Quenelles appearing out of nowhere. So you will see their reactions.