ARTHUR II

White Harbor was a large city, being the most populous settlement in the North. There he felt at home, because he was always surrounded by knights, septas and septons. Only Starfall would be a better home for him, for there were his ancestors, but White Harbor was his friends. Even his cousin Vorian was engaged to Wylla Manderly, with their formal union just around the corner.

Arthur knew he was lucky when Ser Marlon Manderly took him as his squire. Initially, only Vorian would travel to White Harbor, as a ward of Lord Wyman, however, his uncle informed him that he would also move to White Harbor. That was one of the happiest moments of his life, much more than his mischief.

"I hope you don't neglect your training at New Castle", said Draqio Fyllaris . Lord Manderly loves feasting and it's easy to get fat.

"I won't get fat, Draqio. My dream is to be a knight."

"I just hope you keep that in mind. King Robert was a brave warrior, now he is just a shadow of his former self. And like him, there are many men who neglect their health."

"I will take care of my health", Arthur insisted.

"Well, that's how the Poole girl will like you better."

Arthur blushed.

"She's a good woman," Draqio added. "But if you're going to ask for her hand, do it quickly. The King will ask your uncle to become Hand of the King, she could go south and fall in love with another knight."

"I'm not a knight yet", Arthur interrupted, but Draqio ignored him.

"You'll get your chance when your cousin marries the girl Manderly, that will set your father back long enough for you to ask her father for her hand… Or for you to elope with her", and she uttered these words with some sadness.

"I'll keep it in mind, Draqio."

The volantene nodded and after riding for a while, they arrived at the gates of White Harbor where they were greeted by Ser Marlon, who guided them to New Castle for the welcome feast. The banquet was more than generous, and Arthur ate like never before in his life, realizing that he should not be surprised by the obesity of Manderly men.

Even Lady Leona Woolfield, Lord Wyman's daughter-in-law, was a plump woman. Arthur could not explain why Lord Manderly's granddaughters were as thin as he was, maintaining their beauty. The eldest, Wynafryd, was married to her cousin Warrick; the youngest, Wylla, was Vorian's fiancée. Her hair was dyed green, and she was certainly beautiful, although she preferred Jeyne.

"Keeping an eye on the girls?" asked Ramsey, who just sat next to him.

"Snow", Arthur replied.

"Sand", Ramsey replied, and then they embraced.

"What brings you to White Harbor, old friend?"

"My father was furious when he learned that your cousin Dyanne was engaged to the prince. We are here for Domeric to rub shoulders with the daughters of the lords, in short, the life of those born within marriage, to be pawns of their parents in the game of thrones."

"You speak like a maester", Arthur scoffed.

"The women I fuck say the same thing", he replied. "Just repeat Domeric's songs and they fall at your feet."

"I always thought Domeric would marry Dyanne", Arthur lamented. "Musicians drive women crazy."

After Ramsey arrived, he allowed himself to drink in large quantities and the next day, he had a hangover that reminded him of the worst descriptions of the Seven Hells. He did not meet his friend that morning, nor Draqio, only Ser Marlon Manderly was waiting for him, who gave him a reprimand.

Still, he was pleased with his mentor, who promised him he was ready to become a knight. He informed her that the ceremony would take place before his brother Vorian arrived in White Harbor to get married.

…

Two weeks later he was knighted at Sept of the Snows, where he held his vigil. He had knelt like Arthur Sand and stood up like Ser Arthur Frozenstar, a nickname he chose to honor his northern mother. For his personal weapons, he chose a lilac falling star crossed on white, reversing the colors of the House Dayne, but eliminating the sword. He also reversed the orientation of the shooting star, to give it a more personal touch.

"I hope Jeyne likes it", he thought.

After leaving the sept, Ser Mandon Manderly gave him a sword, a true marvel of blacksmithing. Ramsey for his part gave him a falcon, to practice falconry. He was now a gentleman and only lacked one wife, one he hoped to get sooner rather than later.

When he returned to New Castle he trained in the courtyard with the knights in the service of House Manderly, including Ser Theodan the True. He was a pious knight of House Wells, one of the vassals of the Manderlys, whose lands lay halfway between White Harbor and Ramsgate, the settlement of House Woolfield.

Ser Theodan turned out to be a formidable enemy, so much so that he ended up losing to him.

"You fight well, Ser Arthur," said Ser Theodan. "You are certainly the son of Ser Arhur Dayne."

"Not as well as you, Ser Theodan", Arthur replied.

"Thank you for your modesty, but you don't have to. I fight well for my years of experience, you at my age will be the best sword of the North and perhaps of the Kingdom. The Warrior has blessed you, boy, I hope you use your skill to do good."

"The Seven-Pointed-Star is one of my moral guides."

"I'm glad to hear you, boy. Here in the lands of the Manderlys we are guided under the tutelage of the Seven who are One. Although many believe that it is the religion of the Andals, they are wrong; the blood of the First Men runs through my veins and yet I am a faithful devotee."

Arthur knew he was right, south of the Neck many houses worshipped the Seven without having Andal ancestry, like the Daynes. The Old Gods were only the gods of their people after Pact, before they worshipped a varied pantheon of which there were lags in the coastal areas, such as the Lady of the Waves and the Lord of the Skies.

And now his Jeyne would also share his gods, which excited him. From them would be born a dynasty of anointed and pious knights. Even so, he didn't hate the Old Gods, they were a distinct faith, although difficult for him to understand. He knew of some fanatics who sought to exterminate other religions, but he disagreed with them."

His uncles worshipped different gods and were happy. The Manderlys, on the other hand, had lived in peace with the other northerners for centuries and never had any problems. He could do the same if Jeyne decided to keep her parents' gods, after all the love between a man and a woman could overcome any barrier.

"Anyway, have a good day, Ser Arthur", added Ser Theodan. "I hope to fight with you again."

And until the day the Starks arrived in White Harbor, he trained with the Manderly Knights or Ramsey Snow. Ramsey was a good fighter, but his real prowess was hunting. Arthur knew no better hunter than he did and enjoyed hunting by his side, a custom fortunately shared by men all over Westeros.

He also had time to talk to Vorian's fiancée, who was excited to marry Winterfell's heir. Arthur was surprised at how fiercely loyal the Manderlys were, so much so that his uncle Eddard wasn't afraid to give them so much power. For the reason Draqio Fyllaris visited White Harbor was to reinforce the northern levies, as well as to supervise the new northern fleet.

His uncle Eddard knew that the North could hardly repel an attack by sea, so, after Greyjoy's Rebellion, he commissioned Lord Wyman Manderly and Lord Torrhen Redstark to build a fleet, one for each coast. Arthur didn't understand why they didn't build it sooner, after all, Lord Beron Stark had died fighting Dagon Greyjoy.

Even so, he couldn't complain. His native Dorne also did not take advantage of its full potential. Sometimes he thought he was just an idealist, a young man who wasted his time dreaming of governing. Even in Dorne, bastards rarely ruled unless they were legitimized, and King Robert would never legitimize Ser Arthur Dayne's son.

Notes

Best regards! There's an interview with George RR Martin where he mentions that there are some Stark cousins in Barrowton and White Harbor, so I had the idea to include them. The Redstark are the descendants of Artos (the son of Beron); while the Hoarstark are the descendants of Errold (son of Beron).

House Redstark

Artos the Implacable was rewarded with Stony Shore after defeating Raymun Redbeard, the King-Beyond-the-Wall. There he founded House Redstark, to commemorate his victory against Raymun.

He was married to Lysara Karstark. He died in 260 and had twin sons:

Lord Brandon Redstark, married to Elsera Ryswell. He had two children:

Torrhen Redstark. He married his cousin Alysanne. He died in 276.

Cregan Redstark. Lord Commander of Night's Watch, died 278.

Benjen Redstark, married to Talia Forrester. They had one daughter:

Alysanne Redstark. He married her cousin Torrhen.

Descendants of Torrhen Redstark:

Lord Martyn Redstark. Died in 295. He was married to Meliana Wull.

Lyessa Redstark. He died of fever before getting married.

Jonelle Redstark. Deceased wife of Rodrik Ryswell (the father of Bethany and Barbrey).

Descendants of Martyn Redstark:

Lord Beron Redstark. Current Lord of Wolftown. He is married to Shiera Blackwood, sister of Lord Tytos Blackwood.

Lyarra Redstark. Married to Lord Jason Mallister.

Descendants of Beron Redstark.

Cregan Redstark. Unmarried

Tytos Redstark. Unmarried

Shyra Redstark. Unmarried, maid to her cousin Dyanna

Hoarstark House of Hoarhold: Errold Stark was the regent for his nephew Edwyle Stark (son of Willam and father of Rickard), married the daughter of a merchant and founded House Hoarstark. His morganatic marriage excluded him from the succession, but he enriched himself from trade.

Errold died in 270 and had one son:

Elric Hoarstark, also married to the daughter of a merchant. He died in 288 and his children were:

Rodwell Hoarstark. Married to Sansa Whitehill, daughter of a vassal of the Manderlys. A friend of Ned Stark, he resides in White Harbor.

Theon Hoarstark. Married to the daughter of a merchant. He resides in Barrowton.

Descendants of Rodwell:

Arsa Hoarstark. Married to a merchant.

Berena Hoarstark. A maid of Dyanna Stark.

Descendants of Theon:

Roger Hoarstark

Artos Hoarstark