As the door closed behind Jon, Ned looked at his brother and the two men started to laugh. Benjen looked at him and said, "Gods, did you see his face? The poor lad was terrified that I was going to tear his head off for not joining the Watch! Never mind the fact that I've been trying to talk him out of joining since I got here."
Ned couldn't help but laugh along with his brother. Jon hadn't had a clue how to broach the subject with his uncle and he ended up just sitting in the room with them for several long minutes before finally untying his tongue long enough to tell his Uncle that, despite asking to join the Watch less than two days earlier, he had changed his mind. Ned had finally had to press a mug of mulled cider into Jon's hands and tell him to drink to loosen his tongue a bit. After that, the conversation had flowed a bit easier. But now he had some things to work out with Benjen and following that, he would have to start making arrangements to split his household since he would be expected to take a large portion with him to King's Landing. But now he would also have to decide who would go with Jon to rehabilitate Queenscrown as well.
Looking at Benjen, Eddard said, "Well, Ben? What do you think? Will Lord Commander Mormont go along with this plan?"
"Ned, he would have gone along with it even without that treaty. You know as well as I do that the Gift and New Gift have been neglected for decades, if not longer. It'll be good to breathe some new life into those lands. Not to mention this will make it far easier for the Watch to support itself. Think about it, the Watch has fifty leagues of land running from one coast to the other. Yet we still rely on gifts from the Great Houses of the Realm to support ourselves. There's no reason for that to be the case. Settle the lad on the land. Encourage others to move there as well. As they prosper, the Watch will prosper as well. And maybe, just maybe, we'll start to attract some better people and we won't be seen as nothing more than a den of thieves and rapers and a place for all of Westeros to dump their garbage any longer."
"Ben, I think that's the longest speech I've ever heard you give. Are you sure you're not out of breath after all that? All right, we'll get the boy provisioned and settled on the land. Tell me, you've been through there recently. What kind of condition is the keep in and the village that surrounded it?"
Benjen thought for a moment and then said, "I stayed there for a night a few days after leaving Castle Black. The tower itself still seems to be standing strong on its island. The gold paint on the merlons has started to flake away, the door to the tower looks like its begun to warp from age and I've no doubt there will be more than a few places in the walls that will need fresh mortar to keep the wind out. But overall, I'd say the building is habitable. But the village has fallen into complete disrepair. Of the inn that was there, all that remains of it is the chimney and two leaning walls. None of the houses are still standing. Of the forge that once stood there, well, you can see the stone base of it, but that's all. I'll be honest, it's going to take a lot of work to bring that place back to life, Ned."
"I figured as much. But what else am I to do, Benjen? Cat won't allow Jon to remain here in Winterfell when I go south with the King and there won't be any place for him at court. And well, and I say this with no offense, but I want him to have better than just the Watch, brother. There is honor in the Watch, that is true. But Jon doesn't truly know what the Watch is or what it's become. All he knows of it are the stories that Old Nan told him when he was a babe. And Benjen, Jon is destined for more. I feel that in my bones."
"No, I understand Ned. Better than most I do. I think Queenscrown will be perfect for him. The work required to resettle the land will go a long way towards tempering the lad. He's quick to sense a slight and his anger shoots up like a flame shoots up a rope soaked in oil. But give him something like this to sink his teeth into and he'll mature quickly."
"For what it's worth, I agree. That's one of the reasons I gave him this task. The work required is immense in scope, but the rewards will be equally large. But tell me Ben, how bad are the wildling raids in the Gift?"
"Bad, as bad as I've ever seen. And they're getting worse. Jon's going to need a strong force of guardsmen to keep himself and his smallfolk safe up there. At least until he can get some kind of wall built around the village. My suggestion would be to send fifty men with him under a capable man to keep everyone safe while they work. And build a wall. The village is right on the lakeshore, so build it as a crescent with both ends anchored on the lake, maybe even out into the lake if Jon can find the stone for it. That will keep the village safe and Jon will be able to actually hunt down any raiders that climb the Wall without leaving his people defenseless."
"I don't know whether Jon is going to thank me for this or curse me once he realizes the amount of work I've set before him. But it'll be good for him."
"I'm curious though, how will you make sure he's got the people he needs to be successful? Not many people are clamoring to move to the Gift these days."
"I'll send a good number from here. Guardsmen, craftsmen and smallfolk alike. I figure around two or three hundred total should do it. About half or maybe a little more to live there permanently, the rest to help them get settled and then return to Winterfell. But I've got another idea as well.
"By raising Jon up like this, I'm going to get inundated with offers of marriage for younger daughters from Houses that want closer ties with me. I've a match in mind that will help him greatly. But if I arrange a match for Jon, I have to arrange one for Robb as well. His mother won't be pleased, and truth be told, I had wanted to wait until they were older. But we don't always get what we want."
"And that's the truth. Oh, stop looking so fucking glum, Ned. You should be thrilled at the prospect of your sons marrying and carrying on our family."
"Oh, I am! But when I look at them, I still see them as the children they were and not the men they're growing into. Gods Ben, they're fourteen already. It seems like just yesterday I was holding them as babes in my arms."
"Well, old age will do that you brother. The years tend to fly by the fewer of them you have left."
Ned practically threw his mug at Benjen's head at that. Instead he told him, "Alright, that's enough out of you." Jerking his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the door he said, "Out. I've got work to do to prepare for the move South and more than one Raven that needs to fly. Not to mention that His Grace expects me to begin my work as his Hand today."
Standing up, Benjen told his older brother, "Aye, that's a task that I'll not envy you. Give me wildlings and all the things that live beyond the Wall instead. You do know what the smallfolk say about the King's hand, don't you brother? 'The King shits and the Hand wipes.' Enjoy that."
This time Eddard did throw his mug at his brother. But the little shit ducked and it hit the wall instead. Laughing, Benjen exited the room before Ned could grab anything else. Insolent bugger. Shaking his head at his brother, Ned picked up his mug from where he had thrown it, filled it with the last of the cider that was in the jar and sat at his desk. Taking a blank raven scroll from the stack he always kept close at hand, he began to write a proposal for a match for Jon. He hoped that he was doing the right thing with this match and that the marriage would be a happy one. He honestly had wanted to let his children marry for love instead of politics, but it seemed that he wouldn't have that luxury. At least not for his oldest children. Maybe Arya, Bran and Rickon would be able to though.
Once the scroll for Jon was completed he took a blank sheet of parchment and wrote out a formal letter that would follow the scroll, outlining in more detail what he was proposing and offering. That was nearly important as the actual proposal. Once the letter was finished, he signed it with a flourish, folded it and sealed it with his sigil.
Now, what to do about a match for Robb? It wasn't every day that the heir to a Wardenship was betrothed. In truth, nearly every House in the Seven Kingdoms would likely leap at the chance to wed their daughters to a man who would one day be named Warden of the North. Particularly once Robert announced the engagement between Joffery and Sansa, thus removing any chance that their daughters could become queen. Realistically, only a few Houses such as the Tyrells and Martells might decline the offer of a betrothal. Perhaps he should look at his own bannermen firs before casting his eyes south. Lord Karstark had a daughter about the right age and he had even brought her to Winterfell before to try and hint at a match between her and Robb, but now that he thought about it, he had just received a raven announcing her engagement to Daryn Hornwood. So that ruled her out. His old friend Howland Reed had a daughter as well. And he would very much like to give him some form of recognition for his loyalty over all these years. He just wasn't sure how the rest of his bannermen would take Robb wedding a cranogman. Not well, he suspected. Lord Cerwyn had a daughter who was unwed. But she was more than a decade older than Robb, and if he was being honest, she wasn't much to look at either. The Greatjon had a few daughters, surely one of them would be roughly of an age with Robb. And the Umbers would greatly appreciate such a marriage. Perhaps one of them might work? Mage Mormont had more daughters than he could count and he was fairly sure one or two would be roughly the right age. And of course, Wyman Manderly had two granddaughters as well.
He had numerous options in the North, but he would he really be exercising his duty to the North faithfully if he didn't look at all his options? Perhaps he should cast his gaze further afield instead of solely looking at his bannermen? If Robert was right and a war was coming, the North and the Iron Throne would need all the alliances it could get. And Ned had a feeling where Robert thought that war might be coming from. The so-called Beggar King, Viserys Targaryen, and his sister were in Essos, in fact they had been there since the end of the Rebellion. More than ten years to find friends there and possibly build an alliance if they were prudent. If Viserys had won enough support there, perhaps from the Golden Company, it was not out of the realm of possibility that he and his sister could be thinking of returning to Westeros to try and win back their father's throne. And if they did, the loyalty of the Reach and Dorne would be highly questionable. Shoring up support in one of those Kingdoms, and in his opinion the Reach was the more likely option of the two given the lingering hostility from the Martells over what had happened to Elia and her children in the Red Keep, would go a long way towards securing their support militarily should the Targaryens land on their shores. And if the Targaryens didn't launch an attack on the Realm, it would never hurt having one of the most powerful and fertile parts of the Seven Kingdoms linked by marriage to the North. Particularly since he was fairly sure either he or Robb would have to call the banners soon to put an end to the wildling raids that had been terrorizing his lands. Being able to call upon support from the South for that endeavor would be almost invaluable.
Making his decision, Ned called for Jory who was standing guard outside his solar, and he told the captain of his guard to send a runner for Maester Luwin and to tell him to bring his copy of The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms with him. He had once heard the book described as the world's most expensive door stopper given its massive size and how infrequently it was ever read, but it did have its uses. Whenever one of the major noble houses of the realm had a birth, it was announced throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and the Maesters of all the Great Houses would then add the new child's name and if possible a brief description to the appropriate list in the book. In that regard, the book was at least useful for keeping track of who would inherit what and who had daughters that might be eligible for forming marriage alliances.
When Luwin brought the book he set it down with a heavy thud onto Eddard's desk. Luwin said, "As requested, My Lord. Forgive the delay in bringing it to you, but I had to brush the dust off of it first."
"That's fine Luwin. Thank you. When you go out, will you ask Jory to send someone to find my Lady Wife for me and have her join me here, please? I mean to find a match for Robb and Lady Catelyn should be involved in that. And don't go too far yourself, Maester. We may have need of your council."
Luwin replied with a nod, "Of course, Lord Stark," and left the solar.
While he waited for Cat, Ned began to look through some of the Great Houses in the South, particularly in the Reach and Dorne though he also scanned the Vale, to find a house of suitable station and with an eligible daughter that he thought might be amenable to a betrothal. A great number of houses he ruled out immediately. They either lacked the stature needed to keep his own bannermen from feeling slighted or they had no unmarried daughters of the right age. Based on what he knew of his own Lords, Eddard would have to narrow his options to either a Lord Paramount or one of their principle bannermen. Otherwise his own Lords would begin looking at him for answers as to why their own houses weren't good enough for him. That insight alone cut the number of possible matches from hundreds to no more than a dozen or so. By the time Cat reached his solar, he had a fair idea of who might be a good match. But he wanted his wife's opinion first.
When Cat entered, Eddard stood and escorted to a chair by the fire and then sat beside her before asking her, as he always did, "How are the children?"
Cat smiled and said, "The children are well, My Lord. Robb is in the training yard with Bran and the young Princes. Sansa is with Septa Mordane and Princess Myrcella. Arya should be there as well, but you know how she is. And Rickon is fast asleep in his room cuddled with his wolf."
Hearing how his children were doing always brought a warm smile to his face. And in this case, starting off asking after the children tied in with what he wanted to discuss with Catelyn. Eddard said, "Good, My Lady. The children are actually why I wanted to speak with you now. I've spoken with both Jon and Benjen both yesterday and this morning. Jon has accepted my offer to become the Lord of Queenscrown and he'll ride North with Benjen when he leave to return to Castle Black. As part of that, I've decided to arrange a marriage for Jon to increase the odds of his success. While thinking about who would be a suitable match for him, I came to the realization that Robb too is of an age to wed. And if I arrange a betrothal for my younger son, I should do the same for my heir. It is high time we decide on a match for him, my love."
"So soon, Ned? He's only fourteen. Can't we wait just a bit longer?"
"Would that I could, Cat. But I ride south for King's Landing soon and Robb must be prepared to rule the North in my name. I know my son, Cat. If we don't arrange a betrothal for him, he won't until one is forced on him. And that may not be the best option for him." Nodding towards the great book that covered half his desk, he continued, "I've looked at all the various Houses that might be a suitable match. There are several in the North that have daughters that would be honored to join their House to ours in marriage. Lady Mormont has two daughters that are suitable, Lord Manderly has two granddaughters. Even the Greatjon has a daughter that is of an age with Robb. Any of them would make a fine match for our son.
"But Robert believes that there is a war coming for the Seven Kingdoms. I agree with him. The only difference is, I believe he thinks it's coming from the East, riding on the backs of the last of the Targaryens, while I think it's coming from the North. The wildling raids are the worst Benjen has ever seen them, and they're getting worse. I fear that, one way or another, either I or Robb will have to call the banners and march to war. If that happens, we'll need strong alliances."
Cat interrupted him to say, "But Ned, how much more stronger do they need to be? With Sansa set to marry Joffery, my sister in the Vale, and my father in the Riverlands, we can call upon most of the Seven Kingdoms to support us in any war. Even the Lannisters will soon be tied to us through Sansa's marriage to Joffery."
Ned just smiled sadly and told his wife, "My Lady, alliances are fragile things. There is much bad feeling between Robb and Prince Joffery, your sister's son is but a child and can not command the Knights of the Vale. While your sister fears for her safety and the safety of her son, do you think she will send her men out of the Vale? And the Riverlands have scarcely recovered from Robert's Rebellion. I would spare your father and brother more bloodshed on their lands if possible.
"And there is more as well. Should war come from the East as Robert suspects, the Reach and Dorne, even part of the Stormlands, may well rise up to support a Targaryen restoration. We can strengthen the realm with one stroke by uniting one of the major Houses there with us. I know we had hoped not to make political matches for our children, Cat. But I don't think we have a choice. And the match may turn out to be a happy one. Ours did."
"I know, Ned. And I thank the Seven every day for that. But promise me that we will at least try to let Bran, Rickon and Arya marry for love?"
"You have my word, My Lady."
"Very well, Ned. Who did you have in mind?"
"I've looked over the various houses and I've found three that I think would be the best choice. I plan to make an offer first to House Tarly in the Reach. They have a daughter, Talla, who is thirteen. Lord Tarly commands the largest army in the Reach and he's the only man who ever defeated Robert in battle. Forming a strong alliance with him would do nothing but good for the Seven Kingdoms as a whole and for the North in particular. He also has two sons and two younger daughters so he won't feel like he is sacrificing the ability to make further alliances closer to home should he wed his oldest daughter to Robb.
"But should he decline, my next choice would be to make an offer to Lady Larra Blackmont in Dorne. Her daughter, Jynessa, is only a year older than Robb and the Blackmonts are one of the larger houses in Dorne. Dorne has largely stayed detached from the rest of the realm after the rebellion. I would see them brought back into the fold if at all possible. And arranging a marriage between our Houses could be the key to that.
"And my final choice, would be Lord Yohn Royce. He has a daughter, Ysilla. She is Sansa's age, so any wedding would be more than a year away, and more likely two years. But the Royces are an old House, and the most powerful of your sister's bannermen. And stronger ties to the Vale are always a good thing to have. Cat, your sister's letter worries me. Not only for what she wrote in it, but also the way she wrote it. Perhaps by tying ourselves to her even tighter, it can ease her fears somewhat and make her more willing to act should the need arise.
"Well? What do you think?"
Catelyn thought for many long minutes before answering. When she did, she said, "Ned, I do not like making a purely political marriage for our son. But I can see the reasons behind it. Very well. I would prefer a match between the ourselves and the Royces, but I will support you in whoever you choose."
"Thank you, My Lady. I'll send a raven out today. With luck, it will reach Horn Hill and we will have a reply before I head south."
Rising and embracing his wife, he gave her kiss and sent her on his way. He had another letter to write.
