I do not own any George R. R. Martin articles and or any aforementioned literary articles.
Third person pov:
It took Walder Frey a week to reach Karhold, upon reaching it his party made camp outside the castle before Walder rode into the castle to finalize the deal with Dorren Karstark.
Walder made camp outside the castle since he didn't want to spend more than one day there before heading on to Bear island.
He was being led to Lord Karstark's solar by one of his men-at-arms, the men-at-arms stopped at the side of the door knocking on it.
Behind the door they heard, "Come in."
The man opened the door, Walder walked through the doorway.
The room was furnished with hunting trophies, mounted heads, and pelts lining the walls, all the furniture in the room was plainly lacquered wood.
Dorren Karstark had black hair with light brown eyes, clean shaven, milky white skin.
Looking up from a piece of parchment, "Welcome Lord Frey." He said, spreading his arms out
Walder sat across from Lord Karstark, "Lord Karstark it is nice to meet you." He said, placing the gift on the desk.
Taking the gift Dorren unwrapped the dagger.
The dagger had a slight curved rectangle scabbard made of light brown lacquered wood with Celtic knot pattern covering the face of it with bronze Celtic knot filigree on the facet at the opening of the scabbard.
The cross guard was a small oval made of bronze; the handle had a black Ito cord handle wrap with a light brown lacquered wood under the wrap with a bronze pummel.
Lord Karstark drew the dagger, the blade had the usual Damascus blade it was a tanto style with a bronze blade collar at the base of the blade.
"Is it Valyrian Steel?" Dorren asked, holding the blade in front of the candle light
Staring at Lord Karstark, "No, the smiths in Agartha have taken to calling it Reykr steel." Walder said
"I hope you do like it, but we should get down to business." He said, placing a contract on the table
Dorren took the contract, and began to read the deal.
"It says that your trade company wishes to establish a trade port, whaling, and sealing on Karstark land?" He asked, placing the contract on the table
"Yes, we wish to establish a post North of here in the bay of seals, it will be a fortified town and if or when we build it your people will be first choice for jobs there." Walder said
"If I say yes what will I get in return for being part of this?" He asked
"A new revenue source, and a new port in the north." He said, leaning back in his chair
Lord Karstark leaned out of his chair.
"What do you get out of it?" He asked, sounding in suspicious
"The Grey Towers company will get to expand into other businesses." Walder said
They went to discuss the more in-depth details; the town would have a fortified ring wall with one gatehouse and six towers it was based on a Viking ring fort.
Part of the deal was that the post would be governed and protected by people appointed by House Karstark, while the Grey Towers company would run and manage the businesses and industries of the settlement.
Construction of the port would take place after Winter has passed.
House Karstark would supply workers and residents for the post, while the Grey Towers company will split costs with the Karstarks.
After there talks were finished, they signed contracts to finalize it.
Time skip:
Walder left for Bear island the next day after the deal was finalized.
It took him much longer to get to the Western coast than it did getting to the Eastern coast, since it was sparsely populated and sparsely developed in any way.
It took his caravan two whole weeks to reach the eastern coast, the party could see the shape of Bear island in the distance.
He had camp set up on the outskirts of a fishing village, just in case he had a wooden palisade built around the camp since the commonality of wildling raids upon the shores of bear island.
The next morning, he took two guards with him to the fishing village, paying a local fisherman to take them to Bear island.
Mormont Keep was on top of a rocky outcropping in the bay of Bear island.
Walder and his guards were being led into the great hall by two Mormont guards, the hall reminded Walder of a Viking great hall.
The room had a rectangular fire pit in the middle of the room, on either side of the pit there were long tables running the length of the hall.
At the head of the hall there was a long table with a plain oaken throne in the middle of the table.
All the walls were lined with bear pelts of varying types, along with House Mormont banners.
At the head table sat a man and a woman, the man sat in the oaken throne with the woman to his right, she had a sleeping baby in her arms.
The man stood up from his chair, "I welcome you to Bear island, Lord Frey." He said, sitting back down
"Thank you, Lord Mormont, I brought a gift and this from lady stark." Walder said, placing said objects on the table
Lord Mormont took the letter, while the bundle was picked up by the woman next to him.
The dagger was bigger than the others, it was more around the size of a short sword.
It had a dark tanned leather scabbard with a black bear's head embroidered on it.
The cross guard was made of polished bronze; the handle was made of lacquered oak with the pummel made of polished bronze.
The pummel and the cross guard were connected forming a guard for the user's hand.
Walder pretty much had the smiths make a Damascus steel Kopis, but with less of a curve to the blade.
"Lady Stark has given House Mormont to claim and build on land beyond the wall?" He asked, staring at Walder questioningly
"Yes, that's correct, that connects with the deal I wish to make with you." Walder said, rolling out a map of the North and a bit of the land beyond the wall
"I wish to establish an outpost at the Frozen Shore, along with another outpost on the northern shore of your island." He said, pointing out points on the map
"What will these outposts be used for?" Lord Mormont asked, leaning of the map
"On Bear island would be trade, whaling, sealing, and fishing; while the one beyond the wall will be trade of fur, walrus products, and seal." Walder said
They went onto discuss the deal in more detail, construction of the motte and baileys will be built when winter is over and that most of the labor and material costs would be covered by the Grey towers company.
But to counter act this part of the deal Lord Mormont agreed that each outpost would be equally manned by rivermen and bear islanders in rule and work.
Walder agreed to all of this, since it may not favor him the in short term but will favor him in the long term.
They finished the deal with a contract, Lord Mormont left the hall to another task.
Lady Mormont walked around the table to him, sitting next to him.
"What is the blade made of?" She asked, holding the sword up
"The sword is regular steel but I think House Mormont would know better than anyone else." He said, smiling at the sleeping baby
"The smiths in Agartha have taken to calling it Reykr steel." He said
"Thank you for the gift, I think it will see many battles." She said, placing the sword back into its scabbard
"Who is this little one?" He asked, looking at the babe in her arm
"This is my son Jeor." She said, smiling down at the babe
"Jeor Mormont a befitting name for the future heir of House Mormont." Walder said with a pensive look on his face
Walder was thinking it was weird meeting a character before they could talk or walk.
"I wish you luck in the future, I must be going home." He said, getting up from his chair
"Lord Frey have a safe journey." She said
Walder Frey left the Great Hall with his guards, beginning his journey home.