Winterfell. 257 AC. Rickard Stark POv

My father is dead that's the thought that has been plaguing his mind after the maester woke him to inform him of his father's sudden death.

He never thought in all his life that his father would die in his bed; after all his father has spent most of his reign as warden of the North traveling across the North and the rest of the seven kingdoms. So he always believes that his father would die during his travels. Never in his bed, during his sporadically visit home.

But then again this could be a gift from the gods after all; his father has spent his reign making the north a better place for all of its inhabitants. Something that he is quite successful in doing since it was during his father's reign that the custom of having the old die during winter would finally end. So perhaps having him die in his ancestral home, is a gift from the gods for all the good things he's done.

His father would be considered one of the greatest rulers of the North, since other than making the North a better place for its people, he would also make it a great power. His father would do this by exploiting one of the most abundant resources that the North has, Salt. Salt is one of the most important minerals that anyone could have. Since it is used in a lot of things from ordinary day-to-day use like flavoring food to being used in religious matters.

Using the revenue from this resource, his father would start rebuilding the North; he would expand the king's road to branch across the North and rename it wolf road. He would also build multiple cities in the North, but the most important would be four cities.

The first would be salt-town, a town that was built in the mouth of Saltspear to help transport salt to the outside world. The town that was only created two decades ago has quickly become a bursting town full of people, with many merchants going there to either buy salt and some other products or sell their products there.

The second would be fish town, a town created on the stony shore, to help exploit the abundance of natural resources that it holds, marine life. The town was built in the vicinity of the old fisher king stronghold. The town wasn't as populated as Salttown but was still quite crowded since most of the stony shore products would be sent to salt town.

The third would be sea dragon port, a port city that is built in sea dragon point in the old stronghold of the warg king. The location for it was chosen because it is located in a natural harbor and a deep one for that matter, it is also close to the wolf's wood making it have a supply of wood. Making it the perfect place to be the base and shipyard of the rebuilt Northern navy, with two of the biggest bringer of revenue of the Northern coffers located on its western coast. It is important to make sure that it is well protected and guarded.

The fourth and arguably the most important would be Winter city, for the entirety of Stark's rule of the North, roughly a couple thousand years. They never had a capital city unlike when the Dustin ruled the North. Sure the Stark has Winter town, which is located near Winterfell and has a population of a couple of hundred people living there permanently and would explode in population when winter and autumn come.

Still, winter town isn't considered a city in a real sense, but it is a stepping stone into a city. So his father would transform Wintertown into Wintercity. He would do this by destroying Winter town and rebuilding it in its entirety. A wall of white stone would be built surrounding it, to protect it both from attack and also the environment. Brand new buildings would also be built to replace the old destroyed ones, and essential things for a city like a sewage system would also be built.

The city would also be quite massive since the city would be designed to be able to house triple its population should anything happen. This is quite important since when winter comes, many people would move to the city for shelter. The construction of the city would sadly not be finished by the time his father died and now it fell to him to finish it.

"Uncle Rodrick." He said to his uncle who had just entered the crib

"Rickard." His Uncle Said to him with a nod

"It's a sad day for the North to lose your father."

"Yes it is, why are you here uncle." He asks his uncle since he knows he wouldn't come down here just to pay his respect again to his father, after all his uncle is one of the people that help bring his father's bone toward the crypt a couple of hours ago.

"You are going to go south in a couple of days, to swear allegiance to the dragon and be officially anointed as warden of the North, I would like it if during your absence you would let me rule in your place"

"Of course, uncle, I would prepare the paperwork for it," he said with a nod, his uncle is probably one of the few people that he knows would be able to properly manage the North. After all, his uncle has been one of his father's closest advisers for many years, sure most of the things that his uncle advises his father in the matter of armies and warfare. Since it is in those fields that his uncle shines the brightest. After all, his uncle could be considered one of the most well-accomplished commanders in the entire Westeros.

His uncle has spent most of his youth fighting in Essos as a sellsword in the second son and the company of rose. Before establishing his own sellsword company, which he would name from his nickname, the wandering wolves. His uncle would fight for every free city and some of the other players in Essos like the Ibbenese and the Ghiscari.

But his uncle wouldn't just fight during his travels, since he would also try to learn everything he found interested in the region he was staying in. This would make his uncle one of Westeros's most knowledgeable and learned people.

Yet it wasn't just his knowledge or experience in warfare that would make his father made his uncle one of his closest advisors. But because of the influence that his uncle has. His uncle besides being the person to have created and train the Northern army, also known as the winter wolves. Is also the same person that introduces both potatoes and rice to the North. Two product that is the real driving force in changing the North into a better place, and every Northerner knows that it was his uncle, that help end the starvation that plagued the North for thousands of years.

Sure his father may be the one who changes the North in many ways, but most people didn't care what his father did. After all, there is another thing that is more important for them and that is surviving. And his uncle gives that to them, with both potatoes and rice. So they would gift him another nickname, "the savior of the North", and this combined with his influence in the armies, would make him one of the most influential people in the North and one of the few persons that couldn't be touch.

''I'm going back to the surface uncle.'' He said to his uncle after a couple of seconds of silence

''I would follow you in a couple more minutes'' His uncle said to him, he would walk toward the staircase and would ascent to the surface of the crypt. The first thing that greet him went he finally walked out of the crypt would be the cool and fresh air of the North. But it wouldn't be the only thing that would greet him since just waiting near the entrance of the crypt, is a brown hair grey eyes woman.

This woman is Lyarra stark, the youngest daughter of his uncle, one of his oldest friends, his closest confidant, the love of his life, his future wife, and the mother of his future children. it is quite natural for both of them to fall in love with each other.

After all, they have been together ever since they were both toddlers, with her father traveling the world most of the time and his father traveling through the North and the rest of the seven kingdoms. They have been both raised by their mothers in Winterfell and since they were close to each other age, they were each other closest friends, and from that friendship, love would grow.

So went their parent announce that they have been betrothed to each other. They were happy, after all with their engagement, they are now secure to be married to each other.

"How long have you been waiting for me." He said while embracing her

"Not long." She answers him, before asking "What did you and my father talk about."

"Business."

"What kinda business."

"He wanted to govern the North while I go to the south."

"Oh, did you give it to him?" She asks him

"yes, there aren't that many people that could properly manage a kingdom and be loyal enough, to not try to do anything while having those power.'' He said to her there have been many instances in history where a regent or steward would try to do something went they were given power.

Either they would try to change things or they would try to maintain their power. This instance itself had happened in the North during the time of Cregan Stark since his uncle would try to maintain his hold over the North even after Cregan reach his majority age.

So it is very important to make sure he appointed the right person to rule in his stead went he goes to the south, to be officially appointed as the next ruler of the North.

"So are you still going to accompany me to the south"

"Of course, you need someone to protect you from all the scheming southerners," Lyarra said while bumping his shoulders

"Are you saying that I couldn't protect myself?" He asks her with amusement in his voice

"Yes"

"Don't you know that I am currently one of the best swordsmen in the North!" He said toward her with a haughty voice

"Oh, I know, but do you forget that I beat you." She said with a smug grin,

"You beat me only once." He said toward her with an exasperated expression

"A win is a win." She said still with the smug grin, that would make him laugh since it just make her cuter.

"I miss your laugh."

"Then I would endeavor to laugh more in your presence." He said while giving a low bow toward her

"Good you've been more serious, ever since your father orders you to oversee the construction of Wintercity.'' She said to him four years ago his father ordered him to oversee the construction of Wintercity. His father did this so that he would gain real-life experience in how to rule. Since it would be his decision on how Wintercity would be built, his father only gave his input on what he wanted in the city.

''I know, it's just that you know how is it to be overshadowed by someone like our father, I mean how could we escape from their shadow, both of them have shaken the very core of our kingdom and have reshaped it into something better and grander than even our ancestor could ever dream off.''

''How could we escape it,''

''That's why you have been pouring everything you have into overseeing the construction of winter city, to try to escape from it and try to have something for yourself, to prove you're selves.'' She said to him

''In a way yes, I know that I couldn't escape from my father's shadow and I'm content with it, but if somehow I could at least do a fracture of the things that my father has done, then I would be in peace, also if I could at least make sure that what my father has created didn't fall during my reign, then at least I could say I live a fine life.''

''Afraid you're father going to haunt you if what he created should fall during your reign.''

''yes.''

''so beside me who would you also bring to the south.'' She asks him

''probably Wyman Manderly, lord Dustin, and Maegor.'' He said toward her

''Maegor.'' She said with an unreadable expression

''He is the crown representative to the North and also the head of the first legion.'' He told her that Maegor Targaryen is the only child and son of Prince Aerion and Princess Daenora Targaryen, grandson of king Maekar I Targaryen.

The former claimant to the iron throne has lived in the North for the past sixteen years, with him being the former squire of his father before joining the Northern army and raising to become the leader of one of its legions.

''He is also a good and loyal Northman, so I don't get why you dislike him.''

''I know that but I just can't explain why I dislike him''

"Is it because of you perhaps liking him?'' He asks her with an unreadable expression

"That's funny, but no it's isn't like, and like I have told you he isn't my type." She said with a laugh

"So you don't like lean, silver hair, violets eyes, and a prince." He asks her with a teasing voice

"No, my type is more brutish looking, broad shoulder, brown hair, and grey eyes.''

''Then if I meet anyone that fit your description, I would send him to you.''

''Good and tell him to propose to me finally.''

''of course, my lady.'' He said to her with a bow and they would continue their walk

"Excited." He asks her went he arrived at the courtyard and sees her saddling her horse. Today would be the day that he would travel to the South to swear allegiance to the king and be appointed as warden of the North.

"Of course, this is my first trip to Kingslanding." She said to him

"You know I heard the city is crowded and that's its stink." He said to her

"I heard the same too."

"Your dad has told you about it?''

"Yes."

"You nervous." She asks him after she noticed the shacking of his hand and the look on his face

"Yes, very much so, '' He said to her

''Why.''

''Because this trip going to be the end of my youth and also the beginning of my rein, all of the thing that would happen to our people in the future would be on me, the good and the bad.''

''Well, you know that I would be by your side for everything.'' She said to him while embracing him and then kissing him

''I know.'' He said toward her while locking eyes with her after they finish their kiss, there a moment of peace wouldn't last long, since someone would interrupt it.

''Ready, little pup.''

''Must you always call him that, Maegor,'' Lyarra said with a glare toward the smirking Targaryen prince

''Well no, but it's always fun to be able to make fun of people and have two people react to it,'' Maegor said still with that smirk

"Let's the sister lover, have his fun, Lyarra, after all, he wouldn't be able to do it much longer."

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm going to become the warden of the North and finally have the power to send you back to the south if you annoyed me too much."

"You wouldn't dare after all it would ruin your image if you send back a royal prince because of annoying you."

"Why should I care about my image after all the south already sees Northern as uncultured savages." He said toward him before laughing at seeing the prince's reaction

"I thought you are serious," Maegor said

"No, sending you back would be too much trouble."

"So ready," Maegor ask him

"Yes." He said with a nod before remembering that he needed to ask something to Maegor ''what can you tell me about the king.''

"I thought, lord commander, Rodrick already brief you about the king."

"Well he already does but I wanted to hear from your mouth also, after all, you probably have to meet him in a more familiar setting.'' He said toward Maegor.

"There isn't a lot more to say, after all, I only meet him a couple of time, but if you wanted to hear, he is a kind, compassionate man, very intelligent quick to answer and retort, but also like to ask questions"

"So it's the same as what uncle Roderick said." He said with a disappointed sigh since he is hoping that he would be able to gather more information about the king so that he could better assess him.

"Well yes,"

"That's a shame, well there's no point in waiting here any longer, prepare the men, we ride now.''

''Of course lord Rickard,'' Maegor said to him, before barking orders to the men to prepare for the ride to the south.

The ride to King's Landing would take about a month and during their journey, they would make multiple stops both in the North and during their journey into the South. Yet those stops would be mostly in villages and towns since they weren't interested in resting in any noble stronghold.

There are only three strongholds that they visited with two of them being in the North and only one in the Riverland, the first being Castle Cerwyn which they only stop at because of its proximity to Winterfell, and the Second being Moat Cailin. The ancient stronghold of first men that has withstood countless attacks for thousands of years.

Has fallen into ruin and disrepair for the last hundred years, since after the North join the seven kingdoms, an attack from the South has become nonexistent. The Moat itself would be the next project that his father would have started if he didn't die, and now it would be his project to rebuild the ancient stronghold and bring it back to its old glory.

The third stronghold and only stronghold they would visit in the South would be Raventree Hall, one of the last few remaining strongholds and bastion of the old god and first men in the South. This stronghold is the home of the Blackwood family, one of the most powerful Riverland houses and a few southern houses that have intermarriage with his family for the past couple hundred years.

Their visit here is both because of their family relationship and also for business. His family and the Blackwood have had business with each other for a long time, with the Blackwood being the main supplier of food for the North and them being the main buyer for Northen products like fur and wood.

This business agreement between the North and the Blackwood would only grow during his father's rule, with it now also including salt, horse, and wool, and the Blackwood now also adding their wine and their longbow-men as part of their trade. The reason for the addition of their longbow-men as part of their trade deal is because of his uncle.

The Blackwood longbow-man is one of the most feared longbow-man formations in the entire Westeros. With their longbowman able to change an outcome of battle if used properly. It is because of this that his uncle wanted to recruit them to be part of their armies. Since using them would make the Northern armies more deadly especially went they were used in one of the most feared and notorious tactics in the Northern armies book, the pike and longbowmen formation.

Their last stop before entering the crown land would be in the holiest place in their religion and culture, God's eyes. This place could be considered the birthplace of his entire culture and religion. Since it would be on the island inside of the lake, the isle of faces that the legendary pact between the first men and children of the forest would be signed.

Sadly during their stay in the god's eyes, they weren't able to travel to the isle of face to pay homage to their gods, since the current of the river during that time restricted any boat to travel.

'How do people live with the stench.'' He said to his group after they enter King's landing, the first thing that hit him after they enter the city is its notorious smell. Its notorious smell itself was able to be explained because of the size of the city since the city is massive both in terms of building and population. So it is impossible to make sure that everywhere is clean and well organized.

"Well they don't have a choice, also as worse it is smell now, it was said to be worse before the king take the throne,'' Maegor said

''Hopefully, the smell wouldn't reach the Redkeep.''

''during this time of the years, it doesn't and the servant always make sure that there is always a rose water everywhere, to make sure that it wouldn't stink there.''

''that's good to hear.'' He said to his group before then ordering them to continue their journey to the Red Keep, they wouldn't need long to reach the red keep, and after arriving there, they would be checked by the guard before being allowed to enter it.

''Prince Maegor, lord Stark,'' A servant said toward them once they dismounted their horse.

''what is it.'' He asks the servants

"His grace would like to welcome you both to king's landing and would like for you to join him for lunch in the garden."

"That's good to hear since I'm hungry," Maegor said from next to him

"Wouldn't you like to change first my prince?" The servant said while looking at the clothes that he and the rest of the entourage is wearing

"Are you saying that what I'm wearing is not proper?" Maegor said to the servant with a glare

"No, I didn't mean that my prince." The servant said quickly trying to defuse the situation

"Then what do you mean by saying I should change my clothes first before meeting the king."

"I mean you have traveled for quite a while my lords, and you…." The servant said before being interrupted by Maegor

"Are you saying my clothes are dirty?"

"Can you lead us to the garden?" He said interrupting the

"Of course my lord."

"Why do you interrupt me," Maegor whisper to him while they walked toward the garden

"Because there is no point in talking down to him."

"No point he told me a royal prince that what I'm wearing is unfit to meet the king," Maegor said while pointing to the servant who is walking much faster after probably hearing about their conversation

"And do you think what you're wearing is fit to be used to meet the king?" He said while pointing at Maegor's clothing

"That's not the point he is a servant and he has no right to criticize me for what my wearing," Maegor answered back, thankfully before the conversation would go longer, the servant would stop and tell them that they have arrived at the garden

"We're here my lord." The servant said while bowing toward them before walking away

"Thank you." He said toward the retreating servant, they would walk a couple of steep before they would be greeted by a tall king's guard that is protecting the current king of the seven kingdoms, Aegon V Targaryen.

"Your grace." They said in unison while kneeling in front of the king.

"Please stand both of you." The king said while motioning for them to get up and then toward the chair in front of him "I'm sorry to hear about your father passing, lord Rickard, your father is someone that I considered a friend and I hope that he also me a friend."

"He did your grace, my father like to mention that it's because of you in his corners that he was able to turn the North around." He said toward the king while remembering how his father would mention that it was because of the king's support that he can build the North.

Since it would be the king that would become the first financial backer went the exploitation of the salt in the North first started. It would also be because of the king backing that his father can push some laws that give more protection to the smallfolk and merchants from the noble.

"That's good to hear." The king said with a happy expression 'You will swear allegiance to me tomorrow in the Godswood and I would officially appoint you as my warden of the North."

"In the Godswood, your grace." He said with confusion in his voice, since if he remembers his lesson right he would swear allegiance either in the thrones room or in the Sept of Baelor.

"Yes, in the Godswoods, after all, it would only be proper that you will swear allegiance in front of the gods and be appointed in front of them also." The king said

"Of course your grace." He said still with confusion in his voice

"Now let us eat." The king said while picking up an apple to eat. their lunch wouldn't last long, since the king would have a small council meeting to attend.

After lunch, he and Maegor would go their separate ways, since Maegor would go to his room in his namesake holdfast, while he would go to his room which is located in another part of the castle.

The walk toward his room wouldn't take long and once he arrived there, he would ask a servant for a bath to be prepared for him. The servant would quickly do what he order and in just a couple of minutes, his bath is already prepared. He would take his time with his bath, enjoying the feeling of hot water, that clean all the dirt and grime he accumulated from the journey here. After finishing his bath, he would go to bed and sleep in a bed after days of sleeping in a tent and the ground.

The next days a servant would wake him to inform him that the ceremony for his appointment as warden of the North would happen in an hour. After hearing that he would order the servant to prepare him a bath and a small breakfast, while he would choose the clothes that he would wear for the ceremony.

The servant would quickly do as he ordered and in just about a couple of minutes all that he would order would be ready. He would take a quick shower first before eating his breakfast. After he has finished breakfast, he would then be led by a servant to where the Godswood is. The walk to the Godswood wouldn't take long and went he arrived there, some servant is already preparing the place for the ceremony. The red keeps Godswood is smaller than the Winterfell one, and surprisingly unlike what he was told there is a Weirwood tree in it, instead of another tree that acts as the Gods tree.

"Surprise," Lyarra said after she noticed him entering the place

"Yes, very much so." He said still in shock at seeing a real Weiwrood tree here, since he didn't expect it

"I was the same went I got here."

"When did the king plant a weir wood tree here." He asks her

"According to the servant it was after his marriage," Lyarra answered him, they would wait together for the ceremony for start, they would mostly spend their time waiting talking with each and before long the servant would tell them that the ceremony would start. Hearing this they would be prepared for it, they would only wait for a couple of minutes for the king to arrive with the rest of the court in tow.

With the king already there and the court taking their seat, they would start the ceremony. He would make his way to the king and knell in front of him, he would then take the king's hand between him and he would say the oath of allegiance to the king.

" I, Rickard Stark, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his majesty king Aegon fifth of his name, his heirs and successors, according to law, that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign king, as Warden of the North, and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of this realm, without fear or favor, affection or ill-will. So help me God.

"I accept your oat fealty Lord Rickard, Now rise as my new Warden of the North,"

AN; Yeah I know I have other stories that I should update before releasing a new story, but this story has been bugging me for days and I just have to write it. So as some of you probably know this would be the third time I'm writing this idea, and hopefully this would be the last time I'm rewriting it. So as usual there would be a lot of butterflies with a more powerful North in this story, some of it you may like, some maybe you wouldn't like. As usual if you wanted to ask anything about this story you can either put it on the review or just pm me. Also, I'm open to anyone if they wanted to become my beta reader, So thanks for reading it