Chapter 3

Once more thank you to Shrine Keeper of Rei Ayanami who has Beta this chapter. You're great thank you.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-Lelouch – Winterfell - 287AC-

Six years, six very long years and more often than not degrading years. It had taken him nine months to re-learn how to walk once more and yet even after he could walk his Mother would insist on carrying Robb and him everywhere they went. Add on to that the fact that he needed to be breastfed and you could understand the living hell he had endured. He had the mind of a fucking 24-year-old for crying out loud. You'd think death would at the very least be kind enough to lock his memories away till he was older, so he wouldn't have had to go through that nightmare. Then there was talking, oh now he missed talking. Having to constantly whine and cry to get what you want is not a good way to live. It's no wonder he started to talk as soon as he could Lelouch thought to himself.

"Dammit, I lost again," a young voice yelled out.

Looking up Lelouch sees the unhappy face of his twin brother Robb as he looks down at Cyvasse board. "Come now little brother don't look so down, you did far better than the last time we played."

Robb glares at his older brother. Sure, he loves his brother, but he always has to remind him who was the older of the two of them. "Liar, you were only paying attention half the time we played."

"No, I was only paying attention one-fourth of the time but that is still better than when we first started. Seeing as I wasn't paying attention at all doing that time," Lelouch smirks at him in return.

"You're such an ass, Lelouch," Robb yells at him. Before Lelouch can say anything in reply his mother shows up.

"What is all this yelling about Robb," questions Catelyn.

Getting up and running to his Mother Robb starts to complain like all children do when they are not getting their way. "Me and Lelouch."

"Lelouch and I," Lelouch corrects him from where he sits but Robb continues as if he'd never heard him.

"Have been playing this stupid game all day and not once has he let me win, and worse he's not even paying attention when we do play." Robb cries to his mother.

"I am only not paying attention because you're not good a very good opponent. If you wish for me to start paying attention than just get better," Lelouch says in a dull tone.

"Lelouch stop it. Don't be mean to your brother and would it hurt you to at least take it easy on him when you play," his Mother questions.

Before Lelouch can answer back his father who has been sitting, watching them the whole-time, answer for him. "Cat, my dear, if Lelouch started to take it easy on him then he would never learn."

Looking down at his son Ned tells him, "Robb if you wish to beat Lelouch in this game you most start thinking a move ahead and not just reacting to each move he makes."

"Yes, Father," Robb answers joyfully then looks to this older brother. "Just you wait, Lelouch, one day I will beat you."

"I look forward to the day when you do little brother," Lelouch smiles at him, which just confuses Robb.

"Now both of you I believe you have lessons with Maester Luwin so go on," Ned tells his children.

Lelouch has to keep himself from rolling his eyes at this. Luwin or The Old Fool, as Lelouch calls him, is not his favorite person in Winterfell. Oh, sure he does not hate the man but, much like the order he belongs to, he thinks he knows best and does not question the information given to him by the order. This makes the man very closed minded and ignorant to new ways of thinking. However, unlike Robb, he does not complain and moves to obey.

"Yes Father, come, Robb, let us be on our way or do you wish for me to be better than you at studies as well?" Turing and walking off with a smile on his face Lelouch knows his brother will be right behind him. After all what little brother wouldn't want to show up his older brother.

When they are out of the room Cat lets out a sigh and looks to Ned. "Oh, Ned I don't know what I am going to do with them."

"Whatever do you mean Cat?" Ned asks her.

"Well just look at them. Whenever I find them together Robb is always yelling at Lelouch and Lelouch is away making fun of him," she sighs once more.

"Making fun of him. Oh, Cat I think not," Ned smiles at her and he sees the confused look on her face, so he goes on to explain. "If Lelouch is doing anything it is challenging Robb. By beating him so soundly and with so little effort he makes Robb want to try that much harder to beat him," Ned smiles just thinking about how good of a brother Lelouch is being.

"You think so, do you, Ned. Well, that seems like too much of a mature thing for a boy of six to be doing and how do you explain all the times I find Lelouch insulting Robb," she responds back.

The answer she gets is not one she is expecting. "Is he insulting him Cat? From what I can tell Lelouch is only telling the truth to his brother. When he said he was only paying attention one-fourth of the time and not half it was the truth. When he said that Robb has to get better if he wishes to beat him that was also true. By the Old Gods Cat when compare to Lelouch there is no one in all of Winterfell that can beat him in that game. Even Luwin is no match for Lelouch when it comes to this game."

"I guess that is true but still Lelouch could stand to be a bit nicer to Robb when he does lose. You know, maybe say, good job, or well done to him and not just tell him to get better." Cat responds.

Rubbing the bridge of his nose Ned can see a nagging coming from a mile away. "If it will make you feel better I well talk to Lelouch about being a bit nicer to Robb from now on, but you know Lelouch, from the time he could first talk he has always been this way."

-With Lelouch after his lessons-

Stagnant, to be still, to not move. Is there anything worse than that? Lelouch would think not and it was one of the main reasons why he killed his Father and Mother in his old world. After all who would wish to live in a world where nothing changes and nothing different ever happens?

Apparently this sad and pathetic world he found himself in. The technology and innovation of this world had long since come to a halt, with no real changes happening in the last one thousand if not more. While there were the Citadel and the Maesters who were very well educated in their own pathetic way, they had not changed much with the passing of time as well. They were so close to the Renaissance that if they could just get away from their faith and learn to accept new ideas they would get there. Sadly, it didn't look like that would change anytime soon.

Then there was the North itself. At first, he wondered why Death would send someone like him to a place where honor and loyalty were held in such high regard but after a couple of years of living here, he could see why death would do this. The North wasn't a very rich land but that was not due to the lack of natural resources. It had more to do with their lack of proper tools and people to use them. That could easily be fixed with his knowledge of advanced metalworking gained through years of working with Rakashata Chawla on improvements to the Knightmare Frames. Then there was the food shortage problem that needs to be addressed. Farming in such a cold environment would always be hard but with the four-way system of farming and a couple of cabbages and potatoes that could be improved as well. Sure, the North would still have to import other foods, but they wouldn't have to be so dependent on others after they started to grow some food. After a lot of thinking, he could say that all the problems the North had where a good thing for him. Do to all the problems, the rest of the Seven Kingdoms often overlooked the North or just plain looked down on them, and when people look down on someone else they often don't pay them any mind. Well, at least not in till it was too late.

'I wonder if I should give the North gunpowder,' Lelouch thinks to himself.

"Lelouch what are you thinking of so hard," asks a voice from behind him as he looks over the wide fields surrounding Winterfell.

Looking over he spots his so-called half-brother Jon Snow. The Bastard of Winterfell as people have been known to call him. Not that Lelouch believed that Jon was a bastard. Sure, he may have been born out of wedlock, but he knew he was not his brother no matter what his father said. "Hello, Jon. I didn't hear you come up. I was just thinking about how much I love this land and how much I want to make it better for all the people in it."

With a serious look on his face that does not belong on child his age, Jon says, "Lelouch you're always thinking of things like that. Have you ever thought about just having fun and playing with others like normal?"

"No, not really but then the games I like to play most don't like to play with me." He smiles as he thinks of how he beat his younger brother Robb earlier.

"That's because you never play nice Lelouch. You always beat everyone in less than five minutes and never take it easy on anyone," Jon responds back with a matter of fact tone. "Why don't you be nice for a change and come and play with me and Robb? We are going down to the yard to play knights."

"I would love to play knights with Robb and you." He waits till he sees his brother's face light up with the hope of playing a game he knows he can beat Lelouch at, "As soon as you can last five minutes in a game of Cyvasse with me." He laughs as his brother's smile falls from his face and takes on the upset look that all children get when they don't get their way.

Just as Jon is about to say something back Lelouch hears his Mother call for him and sees his brother tense up. She has never liked Jon due to her belief that he is his father's bastard.

'I'll have to do something about that before it has a negative impact on Jon.' Lelouch thinks to himself.

"Lelouch where are you?" Cat calls once more.

"Over here, Mother. I am just talking with my dear little brother Jon," he calls out, so she knows that Jon is here with him. Like many others, his mother had long since learned that he would not put up with people disrespecting Jon.

Once she rounds the corner she looks at him before her eyes lock on Jon's and give him a hard stare before looking back to him. "There you are my little wolf. Your Father has been looking for you. He wishes to speak with you."

"I see. Well, I had better not keep father waiting too long. Jon, I will meet with Robb and you in the yard later, so we can play. Maybe you can teach me what you have learned about the sword when I get there." When he sees Jon's face smile Lelouch feels more than a little joy in his heart. Giving his brother a small hug, he then walks off with his mother to go see what his father wants.

-2 years later - 289AC - Winterfell-

Word had come down from the Iron Islands that Balon Greyjoy has named himself king and has started a rebellion against the crown. Fool, even with his early victory at Lannisport and his raids at the Sea Dragon Point it wouldn't make any difference. His loss was decided long before he had even started this foolish war. His father had already sent out the Ravens to call on all the Lords of the North to muster their men. This war, if it could even be called that, would be over before the year was out. 'On a good note, however, it will give me time to start up the spy network that I couldn't with father here.' Lelouch muses to himself.

"Lulu, Lulu! Are you paying attention," a young Sansa Stark asks him? "You said you would help me understand my numbers and now you're not even paying attention," she states with a pout on her face.

With a small smile, he looks at his baby sister. At four years old she is so cute and reminds him a bit of the sister he had left behind in his old world. Shaking his head, he puts that thought out of his mind. No, she is Sansa and thinking of Nunnally will do me no good. 'After all, Nunnally is fine and peace has been brought to her world and will stay that way once his job here is done.' His new sister is like a smaller version of his new Mother and day by day she becomes more like her. "Sorry sister dear, I was busy thinking of other things. Now show me where you are so I can help you."

Puffing up her cheeks she points out where she is stuck and then starts to complain. "I don't see why I have to learn this Lulu? Septa Mordane says that a young lady does not need to know things like math and stuff. She says all I need to learn is now to be a proper young lady who knows how to look her best, hold her tongue and take care of the children she has once she is married."

Looking her in the eyes with a look that unnerves even his lord father he says in a cold voice, "Yes, well, Mordane is an old fool who you should never give serious thought to and any man who only wants a silent wife is not worth your time or your attention. Take Father and Mother for example. Mother is hardly silent with Father when it comes to her opinions about anything and Father wisely heeds her council."

"Yes, big brother," Sansa responds knowing her brother is right like he always is and goes back to her studies.

Smiling at his sister as she goes back to her studies Lelouch thinks back to how much has changed over the last two years. After talking and complaining some to his father he was finally able to get him to agree on starting some new farms around Winterfell which would grow cabbage and potatoes. His father had his doubt but when they succeeded he was easily able to convince him to allow him into the forge. Well, that was only after he agreed to work harder on his swordsmanship and promised to be nicer to his brothers when they played games of Cyvasse.

Not only was that a success but after getting his Father to allow him into the forge after promising to work harder on his swordsmanship and to be nicer to his brothers after playing a game of Cyvasse he was able to make a newer stronger steel. When asked by his Father how he did it he just told him that it came to him out of the blue. Not only was his steel lighter and stronger but it cost less than the average castle steel did. All it really took were some minor changes to the forge and adding some other metals to the mix. It took forever to convince Father not to give out the way to make the steel to the whole of Westeros however. The best thing that came out of all his that success was that his Father was more inclined to listen to him and what he suggested should be done about some things.

Still, the thing he was happiest about was not the farms or the steel, but he had succeeded in getting his mother to treat Jon better. 'God that was a headache,' he would not like to have to deal with that ever again he thought. Just getting his Father to admit that Jon was not his son was a pain and a half.

- Two years ago - 287AC-

It was late at night in Winterfell as Lelouch sat in this Father's office waiting for him to arrive. There were spies here, even if the rest of the kingdom didn't care what happened in the North they were still here none the less. That was why he had to talk to his Father about this so late at night for you'd never know when the wall's had ears. Soon he would take care of those rats and for some of them if they were lucky he would let them work for him. As his Father walks into his office he gives his son a serious look before he addresses him. "What is this about Son, and why am I having to sneak around my own home?"

Making up his mind to not beat around the bush with his father Lelouch asks him a question. "Father, who is Jon's real father?"

The look of complete shock and disbelief on his father's face is only there for a second. One would question if it was ever there at all but Lelouch saw it. From the age of four, he had suspected that Jon was not his real brother but to have it confirmed was another matter entirely. Now the only question left was who Jon's father and mother were. Lelouch had a good idea as to who they were, however. "Lelouch, what are you talking about? Jon is your brother as much as I am ashamed of myself for being unfaithful to your Mother," Ned says, hoping his son believes him.

Looking his Father dead in the eye, to the point that Ned feels like his very soul was being looked upon Lelouch says. "Father, do not lie to me. You are the type of man any son would be proud to call his own."

He sees the smile on his father's face at his words but keeps speaking before he can say anything. "You are strong, wise, fair and just, what more can a son ask for in a father. That is how I know that no matter what you say, or how many times you say it, I can't believe you would ever be unfaithful to mother. Please, Father, tell me the truth," Lelouch asks with the pleading eyes of a child his age. An act to be sure but a great act for Ned can feel himself not wishing to keep lying to his son.

"Son, even the best man in the world can find himself falling to temptation," Ned makes one last attempt to assuage his son's questions.

"Yes, father but not all men can remain unharmed by fire. I saw Jon get a small burn from a candle when he and Robb where playing. Jon didn't even feel it. In fact, it didn't even leave a mark on his skin." It is a lie for he had never seen such a thing, but he must put this to rest once and for all. If this keeps up, Jon would most likely turn in to a bitter and angry young man down the road. Lelouch would not have that happen to someone he considered his brother.

"Damn fire and Targaryen blood," Ned curses under his breath.

Making up his mind to spare his Father anymore pain Lelouch makes up his mind to not push for any more answers. After all, the rest of the story was inconsequential. "So, he is my aunt Lyanna son. Damn Rhaegar Targaryen to all the hells for what he has done," He pounds his small fist on the chair as he plays out his act.

Ned not seeing the act his son is putting on goes to his side and looks him in the eyes. "Son, you are a smart child, smarter than most grown men and you see so much more, but you know what it would mean if this ever got out."

"Yes Father, I do, and you have my word I will never tell a soul." With his son's word given Ned lets out a deep breath of relief. "However, father you should tell mother. Don't let her hate Jon over a lie. He deserves better than that and so does she."

"I can't son if your Mother were to tell anyone it could spell doom for the North and our house," Ned responds.

"Father, Mother is a smart woman, she would never tell a soul if you explain things to her. Please, think about it before it's too late for things to change between them." With his peace said Lelouch stands and takes his leave.

-Winterfell - 289AC-

Lelouch was not there when his father talked to his Mother about Jon, but he knows he had. With her not talking to him for weeks on end and the uncountable number of times they ate dinner in complete silence told the whole story. On the bright side, she does treat Jon better than she used to.

"Lelouch, Sansa, come your father is riding out soon." Cat calls out, breaking his train of thought.

"Coming Mother," Sansa calls back as she gets up and grabs Lelouch's arm so as to drag him along knowing he would just take his time getting to the front of the door if left alone.

- Outside on the step of Winterfell-

Everyone was saying their goodbyes to Ned before he left but other things were on Lelouch's mind right now. Like how to go about making the North stronger for what is to come. Firstly, information was needed and for that, he needed a spy network of his own. With his father going away to war it gave him time to set things in motion. He really should thank the Iron Born for their foolishness someday. Maybe if luck was on his side King Robert would wipe them off the map altogether so he wouldn't have to worry about them.

"Lelouch, you're the acting Lord of Winterfell while I am away," Ned says to his son.

"Yes, Father and you have my word all well be fine when you return at years end," Lelouch says with absolute certainty.

Not shocked at his son's words knowing that Lelouch has no doubt of victory over the Iron Born he takes this moment to remind his son that not all will go well. "I know you have no doubts of victory son but remember our house's words."

"Yes, father I have not forgotten. Winter is coming." Lelouch replies. He knows that his father means them to be words of warning for their house but Lelouch can't help but think of them as an ultimatum. 'Winter is Coming,' but not for House Stark. No, it was coming for those who were their enemies.

Nodding his head knowing Lelouch does not need to be told any more he hugs him even though he knows Lelouch dislikes to be hugged and says his farewells. As he rides off his brothers and sister look to him with worry in their eyes as Robb ask him a question. "Lelouch, do you really think Father will be okay?"

"Why yes, Robb I am sure of it." He sees his brothers and sister relax at his words. "Now I must be off, I need to see a man about a horse." His sibling looks on with confusion as he walks away. Finding his way to the castle stable he quickly locates the stable hand he is looking for he walks up to him. "Excuse me, may I have a word with you?"

Turing around the man sees the young Lord of Winterfell and it takes him by surprise, not expecting his Lord to come to talk to him.

"Yes, my lord how may I help you," he says as he bows.

With a disarming smile on his face, Lelouch looks him right in the eye as one of his eyes turn to show a crimson bird that scares the man right down to the bone. "You can help me by telling me who hired you to spy on my family," Lelouch asks as his smile turns completely evil.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx