JON POV
After traveling on horseback for four days, through town and villages that dotted the domain of Winterfell, they have finally now spotted the wall and tower of Wintercity. This means that it would only take them fifteen minutes the most, for them to enter the city and then into his childhood home, Winterfell. The capital of the North is quite a big city, not as big as the city in the South or even the free city but it is the second-largest city in the North, just behind his own city of, North Star. The city is protected by a massive and tall wall that his grandfather name ''Brandon Wall'' in honor of his dead father, to reinforce the protection of the city, towers would also be added to it at regular distance.
The city is called the grey heart of Westeros by both Northener and foreigner, because the city wall, building, roads, and even its building roof are made from grey color material, with the building using grey stone while the roof use grey slate. The city is build using the city planning technique that is known as grid planning. A technique in which they would lay out the streets at right angles, forming a square grid, with the roads being equal in width and length. This technique of city planning is invented by the Valryrian and thankfully is able to survive the doom, since this technique of city-building is quite well known in the free city, especially to the Volantenes, who would be the ones who help build the city.
His grandfather would also add a dozen gardens and four Godswood into the city. The most famous of these would be the Winter rose garden, a massive Godswood with a fountain statue of his deceased of his grandmother and aunt. There are four gates that lead into the city, the direwolf gate which is located on the southern side of the city, the children gate that is located on the western side of the city, the giant gate which is located on the eastern side of the city, and the last of the gate, the god's gate which is located in the northern side of the city. All of the gates are protected by thick ironwood doors, portcullis, and guards.
''I think it wouldn't be long for us to reach Wintercity.'' A black-grey-eyed boy said to him from his position next to him, the boy is wearing a red boiled leather over an iron mail shirt, with a crow and a direwolf symbol in the front of the leather, and a sword is strap into his side. The boy's name is Rodrik Stark, name after his late great grandfather, the oldest son of his Uncle Benjen and his wife Lyarra Stark nee Glover and also his oldest squire. The clothing that his cousin wears is the armor that his army uses.
His army or better known by their monicker the red army, because of their red armor, was established after he took control of Skagos from its former ruler House Magnar. The army, in the beginning, is made of veterans of his guerrilla war in Skagos, before expanding into included other people. The army is both well equip and well trained, with them being train in hand-to-hand combat, weapon combat, and most importantly in discipline. While they are also armed with Skagosi steel making them better equipped than even the army of the south. Skagosi steel is a steel that is forged in Skagos, that is lighter, sharper, and more durable than any other steel with the only one being able to eclipse them being Valyrian Steel. The Steel was invented thanks to the doing of the alchemy guild.
The alchemy guild is a very old guild, with them claiming to be older than even the maester, but they have been losing their influence for hundreds of years now. With them only being able to have a bit of their influence increased during the Targaryen reign, especially after the dragon disappears. But after King Robert ascended the throne their influence has become nonexistent. Since with them being a supporter of the Targaryen, the king would ban everything that they can do, finally putting the final nail in their coffin.
That where he would come in, during his visit to kings anding after his war with the Tyroshi and their pirates, and Dothraki allies. He would offer them passage and funding if they move to Skagos, something that they would agree, knowing they couldn't survive anymore in the South. At first, he was only interested in their knowledge about wildfires but they have proven themselves to be able to create many more, with them able to create weapons of war, like flamethrower, repeating crossbow, and ballista. And also ordinary things like ceramic and glass, making Skagos the only other place after Myr that people could go to get glass, and after the destruction that he conducted in freeing that city. It would still take a long time for them to catch up to the glass-making production that happens in Skagos. Making him able to get a lot of profit, especially since the glass that the Alchemist created is on par with the one the Myrish make.
''Yeah, probably a couple more minutes.'' He said back toward his cousin
''are you glad to be home, Jon?'' A black hair blue eyes woman asks from next to him, the woman is wearing armor with a bear sigil in front of her armor and a direwolf sigil is on her right shoulder while a raven sigil is on her left shoulder side of her shoulder, with a Skagosi steel mace strap into her side. The woman's name is Dacey Mormont and she is the current commander of his army, but Dacey isn't just the commander of his army, since she is the mother of two of his children and current ruler of the winter isle, an island that is next to Skagos.
''yes, it's been quite a while, since I return home.'' He said with a smile toward the woman, who would return his smile.
''I couldn't wait to get my hand on some Akvavit.'' A massive bearded man, with a massive sword strap to his side, said this man is Smalljon Umber, the current heir to Last Heart
''of course, you want to get drunk as fast as possible Umber.'' A blonde hair blue-eyed woman said toward the heir to Last Heart, The woman is wearing the armor that his army wear, with a sword strap on her side, her name is Val, and she is the current commander of his Varangian guard. The word Varangian is from the old tongue word of ''var'' meaning pledge. The reason why he chooses this name for his personal guard is that because, he would make them take a blood oath in front of a heart tree, where they would pledge their life to him. He did this because most of the members is made up of slaves that he free during his campaign again Tyrosh five years ago and also the free folk that came from North of the wall after he defeated there latest the kings beyond the wall, Mance Ryder.
The latest king beyond the wall would lead a massive sixty thousand strong free folk, combined with hundreds of giant and mammoth to come to the wall. But unlike the other previous occasion, the intention isn't to invade the south. Instead, they wanted to join the North, something that isn't out of the ordinary, since his grandfather has been allowing the free folk to go south of the wall, for almost thirty years. The reason why he did this is simple, the North needed the workforce to work in the mine and farm, and his grandfather didn't like Andal. So in his mind, it would be better for the more civilized free folk to be allowed south of the wall, after all there blood and custom is relatively similar and this would also help to lessen the frequency of free folk attack into the North.
But even though Mance Ryder wanted to join the North, there are some of his people that aren't interested in doing it, making them have what the bard has now called the last fight of wolf and savage. The battle it selves is quite massive with almost ten thousand free folks attacking the wall. Yet like usual the free folk force would be defeated by his army. After defeating them then Mance Ryder would surrender the remainder of his force to him.
The addition of Mance Ryder free folk is something his grandfather appreciate since they always needed more workers for the mine and the farmland. But it wasn't the addition of the free folk, that would make his grandfather happy, instead, it would be the addition of the giant and mammoth. His grandfather has been for years try to have these two being to go south, but he was always unsuccessful. So he is very happy went he found out that he finally get these two being south of the wall, Especially the mammoth, since the mammoth could be used for many things, with it could be used as a working animal with them being able to work an entire field by themselves, a source of wool and food and the most important a living engine of war.
Because of this many Northern lords would try to get a mammoth for themselves, but because of the limited number of the mammoth and with the giant being very protective of them. Only his grandfather and he that is able to get mammoths. His grandfather would get fifty mammoths with thirty of them being sent to moat caillin to help work the field there, and the other twenty being used to work in the field that is near Winterfell. While he would get about twenty mammoths but would gain an additional hundred mammoths, after he is able to get some of the giant clan to move to Skagos instead of living in the long lake, since his grandfather would give the land in the long lake, to the giant clan.
The addition of Mance Ryder free folk wasn't something that the rest of the southern kingdom care about since the way they see it, the North is a place for savage and barbarian, so it isn't surprising that they would allow other savages south. As long as the free folk didn't go south of the neck and attack southern land they don't care. But went it was revealed that the North has gained giants and mammoths, the southern realm would finally care, especially the more zealot member of it.
They would at first send a raven to his grandfather demanding him to slaughter the abomination but they would be ignored. Then they would go to the King and demanded him to order the Northern to kill those abominations, and like what his grandfather did, the king would also ignore it. After being ignored by both his grandfather and the king they would decide that they would take the matter to their own hand and would stupidly try to march to the North, to kill the two creatures by themselves and also bring the light of the seven to the North. Almost thirty thousand people would join this war, with many Reachmen, Valeman, Riverlander, and Westernlander joining it.
They would gather their men in the Riverland before they would march toward the North through the Neck. But like their idiot ancestor that try to invade the North, all those years ago, they would also be broken in the Neck. With thousands of them being killed by the Cranogman went they passed their territory and went the survivor reach Moat Cailliin, the combine Northener, Freefolk, Giant, mammoth, and Skagosi would welcome them. The battle that would take place would be called by the bard as a feast for wolves since the battle isn't a real battle but instead a slaughter for the invading Andal. They would be broken in the front of the ancient wall of Moat Caillin, and after that, he would create a forest of their impaled corpse in the Neck.
''There isn't anything wrong in wanting to drink, Princess.'' The Umber said with a grin toward the scowling blond hair woman when she hears what he called her.
''what do you say, Umber,'' Val said while taking out her sword, a Valyrian steel longsword, the Valyrian steel sword that she wields is name ''winter rose'', the sword is a gift that he has given her after she is able to become the commander of the Varangian guard. He was able to get that sword during the sack of Tyrosh, but he didn't just get that sword, since he is able to get about twenty more Valryian steel swords during the sack and another ten during his sack of Myr. Making him the only person to have more Valyrian steel weapons in the world. He would gift one of the swords to his father-in-law, Wylis Manderly while another he gifted to his uncle Benjen.
''you hear me, princess.'' The umber said back while also taking out his massive greatsword preparing to fight her
''enough.'' He said with a shake of his head, they would of course obey his order even though he could see in their eye, the reluctance of obeying it.
It is very often that he is needed to mediate the two of them since they often fight with each other. The reason why they often fight with one another is quite simple since it is because of the hatred that the free folk and Northerners have for each other. This hatred that they hold is very much something that is hard to fight against, after all the Northerners and the free folk have fought each other for thousands of years. So a few years of them interacting peacefully with one another haven't really made either forget about the losses that they have to suffer in each other hands. This is why the free folk that comes south would be put into Stark land since the other Northern lord didn't want them. Of course, because of this, the Stark has now even had more men to work in their field and mine and also making them able to even have a larger army.
''we are going to my home, so if you both or any of you fucker.'' He shouted toward them and also to the rest of his entourage ''try to kill each other, I would fucking gutted you, myself, and I would take your fucking corpse and feed it to ghost and the other direwolf, do you fucking understand, me.''
''yes.'' Both smalljon and Val said in unison and went they noticed this they would send a glare toward each other.
''I can't fucking hear you.'' He said toward them went he noticed the glare that they both sending each other
''yes.'' They shouted
''The rest of you.'' He asks toward the rest of his men
''yes.'' They shouted
''good.''
The rest of the journey would be in silence, since his men weren't really interested in interacting with one another, after his proclamation. Like he expected it didn't take long for them to reach Wintercity, they would enter the city through the direwolf gate and went they enter it the population of the city would line the street to watch them. This isn't something that is out of the ordinary for people to do after all, his Varangian guard along with the rest of his army is quite well known across the known world. Even with the city pack with watcher it still wouldn't take them long to reach Winterfell and went they arrived there his family would be waiting to greet them in the courtyard.
''Jon.'' His grandfather said to him after he dismounted his horse and would then hug him
''grandfather.'' He said while hugging him back, his grandfather would have the classical Stark look with a long face and grey eyes. His grandfather is someone that he is very close to, after all during his childhood, he would be the one who personally teach him and take care of him.
''you grew taller and bigger.'' His grandfather said after releasing him from the hug and looking him over
''that's what you do.'' He said with a laugh, before adding ''you've grown older.''
''yes, but still not old enough to beat you in a spar.'' His grandfather said with a laugh before he would leave and greet his cousin and Dacey
''uncle.'' He said toward his uncle Ned the quiet wolves, his uncle has the classical stark look with the long face, long brown hair, and grey eyes. His uncle is someone who is also quite close to, with him being the one who make sure he done his chores and make sure that he get everything he need.
''Jon.'' his uncle said while shaking his hand before he would also departed to greet his cousin
''lady Catelyn.'' He said toward his aunt who would grind her teeth went seeing him, something that would make him smile since he knows how painful it is to her to see him being so successful. His relationship with his aunt isn't something that could be considered good. Since she despised him for being born and somehow able to become one of the most powerful lords in the realm
''lord stark.'' the woman said with a glare, that he would ignore, since he would after greeting her, go toward his cousin Robb. His cousin would inherit his aunt coloring with his red-brown hair and blue eyes, making him look more like a riverlander instead of a Northener.
''Robb.'' He said while hugging his cousin
''Jon,'' Robb said while hugging him back
''you almost look like a real Northener,'' Jon said after looking at his cousin
''and you almost seems like us civilized folk,'' Robb said while also looking at him, making him laugh at his joke, before seeing the small red-brown hair and blue eyes boy that stand next to Rob.
''Bran, you've grown.'' He said while looking toward his other cousin
''of course, I have, now would you take me as one of you're squire,'' Bran said while looking toward him
''I don't know, you need to beat Rodrik to become my squire.'' He said while pointing to his other cousin, who is currently speaking with his uncle Ned
''if I beat him would you also make me part of the red army or would you make me become part of you're Varangian guard,'' Bran said with a determination in his voice
''you wanted to join my army?.'' He asks his cousin a little bit surprised that he wanted to join his army, he knows about his cousin's intention of becoming his squire, but he didn't expect that he also wanted to join his army. Since he knows that his aunt would probably whisper into his ear about how it is beneath him to join his group. But then again if he wanted to do it and prove himselves capable of doing it, he didn't have any objection of him joining them.
''he did, you wouldn't believe how many times he would talk about it,'' Robb said
''maybe went you older you could join my army.'' He said toward his cousin, knowing that his aunt would hear this and would make her more pissed with him.
''what about getting a direwolf then,'' Bran asks him
''ah, that can be done now.'' He said before ordering Rodrik to give the dire wolf pup that is inside the wagon, he would bring two direwolf pups and give them to his two cousins. He has been breeding direwolf ever since he is able to get a pack of dire wolf during his parley with Mance Ryder. There are currently fifty of these creatures inhabiting the kennel of his castle.
''I still can believe you breed dire wolf, now,'' Robb said while holding a grey fur, yellow eyes direwolf
''it's the symbol of our house, don't you think the other house if they can want to have their family sigil as their companion,'' Bran said back toward him, while holding a silvery grey fur and yellow eyes dire wolf
''good answer, Bran.''
''Thanks, Jon, do you also bring a direwolf pup for Sansa and Rickon also.''
''of course, but do you're sister really wanted a dire wolf, I mean taking care of a wolf is un-ladylike.'' He said with a smile toward his cousin, who would laugh at his word since they know what Sansa is like.
''she said she wanted it,'' Bran said toward him
''where is she anyway and also where is Rickon.'' He asks after noticing that both of them isn't here
''she is still with the septa while Rickon is sleeping,'' Robb said
''if you have already done greeting each other, then Jon it's time for you to pay respect toward the death.'' his grandfather said while motioning him to follow him to go to the crypt.
''of course, grandfather, I would see all of you later.'' He said while following his grandfather
An; im still looking for either a co writer or a beta to help write this story, so if you are interested just pm me or put it in the review.
The flamethrower that is mention in this ch, isn't the flamethrower that we use during world war one or world war two, instead it would be a like the ancient flamethrower that the byzantine and ancient chinesse use.
The Alchemists guild would also play a pivotal role even though most of it would be in the background, and instead of just making them only able to create wildfire, I would base what the alchemist guild do with what the alchemist do in or world. Since the alchemist laid the groundwork for many chemical processes, such as the refining of ores, the production of gunpowder, the manufacture of glass and ceramics, leather tanning, and the production of inks, dyes, and paints.