The lords gathered and Lord Stark stood up from his elevated position on the high table. „Lords, Ladies. Before we begin our traditional meeting I have one duty to fulfill. Thomas, Son of Theoden, First Paladin of the Order of the Silverhand, step forward."
I rose from my seat and stopped five steps before him.
„Kneel" I did. The gathered lords and ladies began to whisper.
„Thomas, two years ago I send you on a quest. A quest to improve the whole north. I had my reservations, despite the expectations I had for you. You exceeded my expectations and brought forth the truly first time since hundreds of years, where we, the people of the north are no longer depended of southron foodimports." The gathered people cheered, but Lord Bolton and Whitehill. „You have done a great service for the North and for House Stark. To acknowledge your deeds in my service I elevate you to masterly house and allow you to rebuilt your order in your lands. You will be responsible for the western coast, from Seadragonpoint to the northwestern part of the Rills." He took Ice from my shoulders and I stood up.
„What will be your name?" He asked me, still loud enough for everyone to hear.
„Lordaeron. I will be henceforth be known as Thomas of House Lordaeron."
„Your House Words?" He asked me again.
„Fortune favors the Bold" I said with a smile.
„Fitting words, indeed!" yelled Lord Umber.
„Do you have a banner?" asked Lord Stark with a quieter voice.
„Yes, but it is not finished, yet."
„Do you want to say some words?" I nodded.
„My Lords and Ladies. To the North!"
„TO THE NORTH!"
Not many of the lordly houses had talked with me, after initial congratulations.
Lord Whitehall and Bolton were openly hostile, while many of the smaller lords and masterly houses congratulated me and thanked me in equal measure. Almost all of them had worked with us intimately during my tour and they were glad I was „rewarded" for my „meticulous deeds". All of them looked healthier, since I last saw them. After the meeting was concluded I knew why they were so invigorated. All of them were about to become wealthier and I was baffled as I could not detect deceit or false pretends for their praise.
Lord Reed and Mormont spoke to me in private, to visit them, too. This was postponed for a time, as I had to visit my new land first. Instead half of my „followers" went to Lord Reed, while a handful went to Lord Mormont. I would personally visit them later. The sad part at the end were the news, that Jon Umber needed to return home. His father thanked me with his typical load voice and Jon almost cried as I told him in private, that he no longer needed my promised me to concentrate further on his meditation and martial skills. „As long as you stand true to the values I imparted in you, you will have the Holy Light to call upon." His father saw him healing a farmer, who broke his arm just a moon ago and we both were immensely proud of him.
Despite being the Heir to Last Hearth, he wanted to be join the Order of the Silver Hand officially. His father was against it at first, until I alleviated his concerns.
I gifted him a Banner and officiated his Oath infront of Winterfells Hearttree in the godswood. As it happened, every Lord and their entourage were in attendance.
It was around noon. The air was free of snow and a slow breeze could be felt. We had gathered in the godswood. The banner Jon would take with him stood besides the Heartree. I stood infront of Jon Umber, as he knelt before the Hearthtree. His father and Lord Stark stood at my side as witnesses.
To the gathered lords I spoke of his deeds during our travels. How he proved to be a great Paladin, despite his age. They learned he showed wisdom and compassion beyond his years. I highlighted some points, like the counterattack against the Ironborn and his healing of injured and ill. After my monologue I made a step forward and held his hammer with both hands for him to pick up. It took me two days to smith this hammer in preparation. As I had imbued it with the Holy Light during forging, it glowed with the Holy Light. He grabbed his hammer and we both took a step back. With a deep voice I spoke:
„Jon of House Umber, Heir to Last Hearth. Speak your oath and be henceforth known as Jon Umber, Paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand."
He placed his Hammer infront of him. Together we spoke the oath as one.
"We are the leading edge of the Light's vengeance. We are the bastions who stand firm in the face of evil and tyranny. We bear freedom and forgiveness, we bear justice dealt swift. We are paladins of the silver hand, and we vow to protect this sacred land."
A small flash of light and it was over. Jon became the second Paladin in Westeros.
He needed a moment to wipe his tears away and I proudly patted his shoulder. He would be a good Paladin, I was sure of it. Lord Stark shook his hand and his father embraced him. The lords were impressed, too. Jon nearly came in his pants after I told him the Hammer was a gift for him and later cried out as he saw his destined warsteed. The steed was fully equipped and waited in the stables. We needed to do a small ritual to bind the steed to him, as I told him every Paladin needed a Charger, as it was tradition. The Hammer, as well as the Charger were his lifeline as a Paladin and an extension of himself.
Two days later I sat before my desk in my room in the keep and began to outline my plan to improve my land. I tried different ideas from earth, but somehow nothing seemed right.
Not even Hogwarts, despite being an ancient castle and my first home, ever. Standing up, I made my way to the library. Rickard had allowed me to ransack his library and records to plan out the stony shore. No one was currently there, as the Maester was otherwise engaged. Tipping my fingers on the hard wooden desk I let my mind wander.
Uther had told me about Stormwind, where he had lived before the Orcs destroyed it and how the Northshire Abbey had been his home in his early years. I looked over the maps of the stoney shore and tried to envision such a city there, but felt it not right somehow. First there were not two mountain ranges nearby which could encase it and the storm lands existed which stole the thunder so to speak. Pictures of my wife and our time before the scourge resurfaced. Eastweald had been such a beautiful place in my youth.
Instead of following the positive thoughts, I remembered the culling of Stratholme and how I left Uther to venture into the city. I made my way through the flames with as many people as I could before the prince set it completely on fire. I saw it in my mind, the beautiful port city burning, as left and right people fell victim to the plague. The cries and horrors non of us were prepared for, as soldiers and knights killed the living and dead.
The grand sacrifice should not be forgotten. Stratholme should not be forgotten. Was that the answer? The city of Stratholme rebuild at the Stoney Shore with its mighty port and big walls? Maybe a mix of earthen, azerothian and westerosi style? Stratholme had been expanded naturally over the years and was not very orderly with many alleys and hidden nooks and crannies. Hmm..yes I see it, now. The theme of different parts like Stormwind, a honeycomb structure for expansion with modern earthen infrastructure.
I was so fired up afterwards, I did not sleep the whole night. Several candles burned through the night and instead of sleeping I wrote several papers full of information and ideas. My occlumency exercises helped me immensely to remember all the information I needed. It would be a massive undertaking, but I would build Stratholme anew. I wrote down the materials needed, the manpower required. The stone, the ingredients to make bricks, concrete, the sand, dirt, metal and glass I needed to make Stratholme a reality.
Jumping up in fright, after a maid knocked on the door to inform me breakfast was ready, I nearly collapsed. Realization hit me about how much material, people and gold I truly needed for my plans. Stratholme was built over decades, after all.
The sewers I had planned would bankrupt a kingdom, let's not talk about the rest. Damn!
I totally forgot! Lordaeron used mages to do all this shit! I touched my heart to calm down. My thoughts lingered in remembrance of the geomancers, gnomes and dwarfs who helped engineer anything worthwhile in Azeroth. I needed master builders. And magic.
My hands clenched into fists at the thought. I never wanted to use them again, as the last time I used them…as Harry Potter I had used them regularly.
The cloak I had used almost every day. To flee from the fans, the general populace, to catch criminals, to wander around Hogwarts and hide after the death of Hermione.
The stone I had used only four times. First at Hogwarts before Vman „killed me".
Second after my marriage self-destructed. Third after Hermione died and lastly just before my own demise. The wand however I only used two times.
First against my ex-wife, after I walked in on her breaking her marriage vows and second to kill Hermiones murderer. They travelled with me to Azeroth and sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I used them. The magic in the air was so…overwhelming in Azeroth, that I was frightened what would have happened If I used them. What would have happened if the scourge caught me? I would have been worse than the blasted prince. Fiendfyre consumes and everything it consumes makes it stronger. In Azeroth? A planet full of magic? It would have destroyed everything, even the damned dragons. Maybe if I had been born a few years earlier, I could have spared the Alliance the pain and trouble they got and instead would have just firebombed the outlands. I sighed.
No matter. It seems I needed to play wizard again. Maybe raise some funds on the way?
Locked in my room after breakfast I materialized the elder wand and began to cast spells all around to get a feel of magic, again. From first year transfiguration, to diagnostic spells, to charms, to more exotic ones I learned later in life.