RICKARD STARK POV

''come in.'' Rickard Stark the current Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North said after he hears the knock from his door. He has been the ruler of the North for almost forty years, and during his time ruling he has done both good and terrible things, and in his mind, the terrible thing that he has done outweighs the good.

Many would of course disagree with his thinking after all the good thing that he did is something that is almost impossible, since he is able to singlehandedly lift his kingdom which used to be one of the poorest and backward region in the seven kingdoms to become one of the powerful kingdoms in it. Before his rule, the North is a very poor region with them always having food shortages or full-blown famine.

Something that sadly very hard to combat especially with how most of the soil in the North is unsuited to growing food, making farming very hard, and with the North barely having money, they couldn't buy enough food from another place. But today there are barely any food shortages and famine, even the tradition for the old to die in the snow during winter has thankfully stopped.

For the first time in a long time, the Northern people are content their stomach is full and with the money that the North gained from their new mine, the food storage for the coming winter has been prepared and gather. So if the old gods will it, then this coming winter his people wouldn't need to starve and die.

He can transform the North, thanks to him expanding the kingsroad to make it go through to every castle and major settlement of the North instead of just going from Moat Caillin to the wall. The center of the kingsroad or as it is known today in the North as the wolf road is in Winter city, and with the road helping ease both people and goods travel, has made trading very easier in the North. This would have an added effect on Winter town, transforming it from a town to a full-fledged city.

But even though the road helps the North, It wasn't the thing that would help to really uplift the North. Since it would be went he re-open the ancient Stark mine, that would help to transform it. The Stark mine has been close for almost hundreds or even thousands of years. But thankfully the location of the mine hasn't been forgotten. Since the location of the mines is in the land that surrounded Winterfell, more specifically in the land near the hills that dotted his domain. The mine holds many valuable riches with there being gold, iron, silver, tin, and copper.

The reason for the mine closure is quite simple, with the North always in a state of either starvation or famine, the workforce for the mine started being to be re-deployed to the farm. Since in the mind of the previous Stark it is better for the workforce to tend to the farm, than working in the mine, after all, they couldn't eat gold.

In the beginning, because of the lack of miners that the North has or the almost nonexistence of them, he would contact Tytos Lannister, so that he can hire some of House Lannister miners to help mine the Northern mine and also to teach his workforce. To pay for the miner, during this time, he would use the money that he gains from selling the native Northern drink akvavit, the drink is made from distilling potatoes or grain and then could be given a flavor by adding herbs. The drink proves to be popular both in the North and abroad, for both smallfolk and noble. Since the drink is cheaper and stronger than wine, And with him or more precisely his family owning the distillery of it, make it a very good and easy way for his family to earn money.

Thankfully, he didn't need to pay for his project fully using his own fund, since the crown would also help to pay for it. With a large part of the payment that he used to expand the king's road being pay by the crown, during the reign of Aegon V and Jaehaerys II Targaryen. Even during the early reign of Aerys he even is able to convince the king to return the new gift back to him. Something that helps make his lord happy with him, since the Targaryen take over the new gift is something that his lord hated, even after all these years.

Especially since the land of the new gift is one of the most arable lands the North has, making it very valuable. There are those who aren't happy with him retaking the new gift, with the most vocal of it being the night watch. But with his family and the other northern lord as the biggest supporter of the night watch, they needed them, So even if they didn't like it, they continue to stay quiet about it most of the time.

Another project that he would also pursue would be the rebuilding of some of the important stronghold of the North, those being Moat Caillin, the ancient stronghold of the Warg king in Sea Dragon Point, and The ancient stronghold of House Fisher in the Stony Shore. These three stronghold would help strengthen the North, with Moat Caillin protecting the entrance of the North in the Neck. The stronghold in Sea Dragon point and Stony Shore strengthening the defense of the Western Coast of the North, Which has been for thousands of years, been a weak spot of the North, and the main location of attack by the Iron Born.

The three strongholds have also other use other than protecting the North, with the land surrounding Moat Caillin being proven to be a good match for the Yiti native crop of rice. The discovery of this crop could be lay on to the feat of the Manderly. Since with them being the most very frequent Northener that visited bravos, especially after the trade deal, he signs with that free city. They were able to find this crop during one of their visits.

After discovering it and bringing both the crop and the farmer back to the North, they would then push for the North to start farming it. With them telling the good quality of it with it being easy to farm especially in the land that surrounds Moat Caillin and preparing it, not to mention the thing that would make him agree to the farming of it, the longevity of it. Something that is very important in his book, after all food needs to be able to last long especially in the North.

Since with how long winter lasted and how only in certain months that the North could grow crops it is very important. That the food that they grow could last for at least a couple of months. He would agree to the farming of this crop and it seems to be a wise choice. Seeing that with how easy to grow and preparing it to food, with it also being long-lasting, make it in just a few years be a very popular choice for food in the North. The land that surrounds Moat Caillin has also because of this crop be transformed into farmlands, with it being the now the unofficial food basket of the North.

While Sea Dragon point with its location near the wolf's wood has become the location of the shipyard of the North Western coast, and also the location of the where he built the port city of ''new harbor'', furthermore he would also station the North Western fleet there. Also because of the abundance of sea life there, the place has become the largest fishing ground in the North.

Like Sea Dragon point, the Stony Shore also controls an abundance of Sealife, making the place the second largest fishing ground in the North. Because of the abundance of sea life, that is harvested by the North, seafood has also been added to be a part of the Northern diet. He would also order the creation of salt gathering community in these places. Since salt plays a pivotal role in Northener culture, and also helps in flavoring and preserving, food, making it very important, for them to control it.

And while all of this deed has helped his people and kingdom, this would prove to be his downfall, since with the success that he has able to achieve. It would also lead to his foolishness in listening to his maester and also arrogance, which would make him believe that he could play the game, and win. But he wouldn't win and instead almost lost everything, that he has.

During the beginning he is able to play the game in his favor, he was able to secure two of his children's betrothal contracts to some of the most powerful lords in the realm, in the form of the Tully and the Baratheon. While also securing a fostering deal with the Arryn, giving him direct access to three great houses. He is just about to plan what to do for his last child, went everything started to fall to pieces. It would start during the tourney in Harrenhall, he would send his children to the tournament, and unknowingly because of this, he would let two of his children walk toward their death.

In the beginning, there isn't really anything of note that happens and he is glad for it since he knows that two of his children have their family notorious ''wolf's blood'' in drove. So he expected that they would try to cause some trouble or trouble to find them. And it seems he didn't need to wait long for his assumption to be proven right. Since trouble would find its way to his only daughter. It wasn't her fault of course, since what she did, is something that any lord would do went their bannerman is attacked.

The story it selves goes according to his son Benjen, that one of his bannerman, one Howland reed, would be attacked by some squires during the tourney. And, as luck would have it, his daughter would be the one who rescues him, and after being rescued by her, she would also heal him. After being heal by her, the young reed wanted to return home, but his daughter would insist on him staying there for the opening feast. Of course, to make sure he didn't slight his savior, he would accept her offer, even though a bit reluctant.

It would be during the second day of the jousting tournament and after finding the knight who squires attack the young Reed, his daughter decided it's the time to exact her vengeance. She would do this by entering the jousting tournament, drees as the knight of the laughing tree and unsurprisingly she would defeat all of the squire knights. After that, she would then demanded the knights to teach their squire about honor, before leaving the tournament.

Things would be quiet for a couple more days, until during the last day of the jousting tournament. The thing that would spark the first ember of the fire that would spark the war that would change Westeros forever, happen the crowning of his daughter as the queen of love and beauty, by Rhaegar Targaryen.

The crowning of his daughter would be the most scandalous thing that happens in the tourney. Since Rhaegar already being married and having children of his own. Him crowning another woman as the queen of love of beauty beside his wife is deemed as a slight to her and her family honor. While with his daughter already betrothed to another, her crowning by Rhaegar, is a slight to his daughter and his family honor. Something that would make his eldest son wanted to confront the dragon prince about, but he would be restrained by his friend and brothers, from doing so.

After that, his children would try to leave and return back to the North, and the crowning of his daughter would be hopefully be forgotten in time. Except that during his children's journey back to the North, Rhaegar would kidnap his daughter and take her to Dorne. His son and former heir, Brandon would after hearing this would go to kings landing and demanded Rhaegar ''to come out and die''. But the damn dragon prince wasn't there, and instead, Aerys would arrest him and his companion. After his heir's arrest, Aerys would demand him to go to King's landing, to answer for his son's crime. knowing that he couldn't trust the word of a mad man, he would call the banner to accompanied him to the south.

But it seems because of calling the banner, instead of listening to Aerys demand, the mad king would torture his son before strangling him using a Tyroshi device in retaliation. This act would finally make the Arryn and the Baratheon to take up arms again the Targaryen and the start of the rebellion. Yet there is one house who refused to answer his plea for help, even though they are duty-bound to aid him, that house is the Tully.

The trout would refuse his plea for support in avenging his son and freeing his daughter. With them only agreeing to aid the rebels, if his son, Ned and Jon Arryn take the trout daughters as a wife. His son hasn't been dead for a month, yet the trout would demand that his former betrothed married, his other son. He was very tempted to refuse the trout term and march upon them also, after all already half of the Riverland supported the royal. But Jon Arryn would advise him otherwise since they needed the trout man. So with a heavy heart, he would agree to the trout term and his son would wed the trout daughter.

After the wedding, they would continue the war and finally, Rhaegar would be spotted after hiding for most of the war. The battle that would be wage during that day, would be the biggest battle of the war and would decide the victor of the war. The rebel army would be outnumbered by the royal forces but what they lack with number, would be made up with their experience. The battle would be bloody with hundred perishing in just minutes. But in the end, Rhaegar would fall under the hammer of Robert and the royal host would break, after seeing his fall.

With the royal host broken, the road to Kingslanding would lay open, for them to march upon it. But it seems he would be rob of his change of vengeance. Since the Lannister after hearing of the defeat of the royal force, would finally leave their mountain and march upon Kingslanding. What happens next would the vilest thing that would happen in the war, the sacks of kings landing. Even though the sacks happen only for a few hours the death toll and the heinous crime that was conducted there eclipse those that have been happening during the duration of the war.

The aftermath of the sacks it selves has left kings landing as husks of its former self, with tens of thousands of its resident being killed or worse deed fall upon them. The most well-known victim of the sacks would be the princess Elia Martell and her two children, the crown prince Aegon and his sister princess Rhaenys. The thing that was done to them it selves would be something, he wouldn't want to happen to anyone, Even with his hatred for Rhaegar and Aerys.

What happens to Elia Martell and her children, would create a distance between his family and the other rebel leader, especially after Robert proclaims of being pleased by her and her children's death. The split wouldn't last long, however, since after his son return back to the capital with his daughter's body. They would be united in their grief over her. But even during this moment of untold grief for him and his family, a ray of light would shine into it, since his Son would return with the child of his eldest son, his first grandchild, Jon.

Jon would have the classical Stark look, with his long face, dark brown hair, and grey eyes, that almost seem to be black, making him like a trueborn Stark. Unlike the rest of the children from his son Ned, since they would inherit their look from their mother. With the only one looking like a stark, being his youngest daughter, Arya. She has also inherited his daughter's personality, with her being more tomboyish and preferring boys' activity. Making her his most favorite granddaughter. While the grandchildren, he is able to get from Benjen and his wife, Lyarra glover, also inherited the stark look.

After getting Jon, he would ask Robert to legitimize him, since even if Jon inherited the Stark look, his parent wasn't married, so he is still a bastard in the eyes of the people. Robert would agree of legitimizing Jon as a Stark. Of course, there are people who aren't happy with Jon being a Stark, with Hoster Tully being the most vocal of them. The trout would demand to Robert, that he shouldn't legitimize Jon, and went that fail, he demanded that he make him behind the line of succession of Winterfell after the children of Ned. Of course, the only reaction that he gets from him would be laughter, after all, why would he listen to the demand of the trout.

Not to mention, after the death of his eldest son, he hasn't officially name Ned as his next in line. Since he wanted to see first if he could rule the North, after his death. And it seems it's a wise choice, since even though Ned shows much great quality of being a good leader. He also shows a lack of character in some aspects and this aspect would be the most crucial. He blames himself for this, since it was his fault for sending Ned to the Arryn, making him unprepared to try to lead the North, as his second heir.

He would try to teach him, how to rule the North, but with him already use to the way that the Southerners rule, it is very hard to change the way of his thinking. But thankfully it seems the god has sent an answer to his dilemma. Since his eldest grandchild has proven time and time again, how he could be the perfect heir to the winter throne. And with how beloved, he is with the Northerner and him being the only child of his previous heir, make him a more worthy heir.

But his grandson still has his fault and weakness, since his grandson has inherited one of the vices of his father and that is woman. His grandson is currently engaged with three different women and the worst thing is that he already has a wife and children from her. This is the biggest weakness of his grandson, since with him engaged with differents woman and them also already have his child. There is a strong possibility that a civil war could happen after his death. Especially since every child that he has, already have been legitimized and the woman that birthed his children, is the daughter of some of the most powerful House in the North. But it seems his grandson already anticipated this since he already makes it clear that even though he loves all of his children and his lover.

The one who inherited everything he has would be the child that his wife births him. This didn't mean he wouldn't leave anything to his other children or his lover. Since every one of his lover and children already being gifted from him their future holding, and he didn't just give them some barren land to inhabit. Since the land and castle that they would hold in the future would hold something that would make it valuable. This would hopefully able to stop any civil war to happen, and would also one of the things, that make him still think If Jon is fit to be the next in line to Winterfell.

''My Lord.'' Rodrik Cassel said went entering the room

''what is it Rodrik.'' He said

''Jon banner has been spotted.'' Rodrik Cassel said

''tell the rest of the family to go to the courtyard, to greet him.'' He said before standing up from his desk and walking toward the courtyard, to greet his grandson and possibly future heir.

AN; so this is a rewrite of my old story, red wolves of the North, I hope you enjoy it, I'm looking also for a beta or co-writer to help me with this story, so if you interested in doing it just pm or put it in the review. In this story jon would be the child from brandon and ashara, Jon would have a harem in this story and the harem has already been decided. This would be a strong and North wank story. In this story the start of the cannon years have been push to 300 ac, to make the character more older.

Akvavit is a native Scandinavians drink make from distilling potatoes or grain