It was early morning, the sun just barely breaching the clouds, illuminating the fresh blanket of untouched snow in a soft Orange glow of sunrise.

My solar was cool, the fireplace having lost its roaring warmth many hours past leaving behind the coals smoldering persistently in the hearth.

Though cool, the room was not overtly uncomfortable. The heavy bear skin thrown over my shoulders kept me pleasant, as did the horn of ale I had kept full throughout the evening.

Blinking away the weariness from my eyes I took in the view from the tall window overlooking the grounds, towers, and the acres of land surrounding my ancestral home.

I watched as the early risers, cooks, guards, servants began to crisscross the grounds with a swiftness in their steps, some without cloaks to ward off the harsh morning chill.

A frown tugged at my lips as I thought of the residents of Winterfell.

'Everyone who works in the household should be treated as family, after all they are the reason for how smooth it runs.' I thought to myself humming quietly.

'Maybe a cloak, or Jerkin with the Direwolf embroiled on to the padding?' Resolving to speak to Cat about gathering the supplies and woman power to do so.

It would be something for her to do, and get her to lay off of the servants.

The house steward, and head of the servants Vaylon Poole, had been subtly hinting at getting her to let the household out of her chokehold.

I couldn't help but chuckle, that woman had more spark than I gave her credit for.

This was the first night I hadn't gone to her bed since I had returned from the south, and each night she did her duty with a shy smile upon her face.

'She is beautiful, I could come to love her.'

Sighing and shaking my head to rid myself of unneeded distractions I turned back to the desk with the large tome placed upon it.

It was the founders book, rewritten in the common language and added to by previous lords, though my own father hadn't done so himself.

No, the last Stark to have access to the secret stash was my grandfather.

Because he didn't trust his own son to follow the laws of house Stark he instead had planned only on passing it onto Brandon before his death.

However from what I have deduced, it never came to be, or else Brandon would never have gone South as father planned.

The heartache came and went as I worked my way through the sections of the tome. Long gone Starks and their memoirs of the Others, and the battles that followed.

There were accounts of every major conflict, battle, trade agreement, secret Alliance, and a running account of how much treasure lay hidden beneath the Keep.

Reaching the last entry of the account I saw it was from 13 years prior when grandfather was still Lord.

Gold 2.3 million dragons, 13 million Northern gold

Silver 31 million Northern silver 2 million silver dragons

Copper crowns 910,500 dragon crowns

Jewels 200,120 completed jewels, appraised at 10 million gold

Uncut stones 84,230 appraised at 6 million gold.

*6 Valyrian steel swords, 1 dagger.

Dragonglass

"Grandson,

every generation adds to our wealth, what you see here is the gathered wealth of nearly 9 thousand years of frugality, ruthless bartering, and the mining and storing of stones and metals.

One day when the North is in need this wealth will give us the edge we need to survive. Winter is coming. "

Rereading the passage I thought of all the snippets of wisdom from grandfather before I was sent to the Vale.

Remembering the looks of discontent that he would send father when da would bring up the south, of how the North must be tied to the southrons and their wealth, their prestige.

Spending hours reading the words of elder Stark men and their era of rule, my ancestors, was nothing short of amazing.

Feeling the morning sun fully on my face I decided to close the tome and place in in my desk for later study and go and break my fast with my wife.

Taking a short detour to my chambers to freshen up and change I saw that Cat was up as well, the look she gave me as I stumbled in was of apprehension and curiosity.

"Husband…"

"I've been in the solar, going over important documents my lady." I said, though my voice came out hoarse from the hours without speaking.

"What were they, my Lord?" She persisted, finishing with hair, and reaching for a heavy wool cloak.

" An account of my ancestors, of the land, resources, and their rules." I told her, not mentioning any of the important pieces of information.

" All night reading history?!" She said in an amused snort.

"It drew me in, honestly it is the most intriguing information I've ever learned. It will one day help the North prosper farther than we could have ever hoped." I told her vaguely, being honest to win her trust.

"I see.. " she said before switching the subject.

"The festival will begin soon my Lord, I have directed the servants to pay special care of the more important lords." She stated quite proudly, but her smile turned into confusion as she saw my frown.

" Lord Poole is in charge of the servants, Cat. He has been given orders to treat all guests the same, and it would not do well for one of my Vassals to see special treatment going to one of their peers. All Northern lords peers, we cannot disturb the balance or it will cause an uproar." I say quietly.

She looked at me aghast, and spoke, "What am I to do. If I cannot run a household here Ned!? What is my purpose? Am I just to bear your children like catt--" I cut her off before she woke up the entire castle.

"You are my wife, and I wish for you to be involved, but you must let go of these preconceived notions of your duty in the North, while looking down upon my household staff, my warriors, my people.

I know you have been griping about not having a Sept in this 'desolate castle' as you put it the other day.

You could attempt to bring the ladies and wives together, whether it's for sewing or looking after their needs, or the needs of the orphanage we are building in town.

But let the men and women I hired to do their work as they are meant to, treat them with respect, they are part of our household and duty." I finished my lecture, calm as could be, though I knew she would be cross with me for days to come, it was needed.

As I placed a new tunic on, I felt her hands touch my shoulders and her voice soft as cotton speak.

"It's all so different here Ned, I'm having a hard time, and I want to help! But I know you are right. I have been acting as a southron woman when I am the wife of the Warden of the North, I have to show everyone that I am worthy of being so. Can you help me please?" She asked, her arms wrapping around my shoulders, her tears wetting the material.

Turning her around and setting her on my lap I held her close, breathing in her scent.

"Of course I will, I know we seem barbaric and without the class and culture of the South, but look deeply these next few days, the festival will give you a broader understanding of our people." I said.

I took her in with my eyes, I knew she was beautiful when we married, but seeing her near blood colored hair fall over my shoulders and the angelic graces of her lips, the electric blue of her eyes, I knew she was more than beautiful.

We stayed that way for sometime, not bothering to move as we basked in each other's warmth.

Maybe all she needed was support, maybe I haven't seen her for what and who she was since the beginning. A person, not my brothers betrothed or a dainty southern woman.