AN: All rights to HBO and GRRM

Coming of the Red Anchor

Discoveries and History Lessons

283 AC, Winterfell

With Warrington sworn in by Lord Stark the British and Americans relaxed and enjoyed the celebratory feast that was held that evening. Sampling many of the northern foods again like boar, stag and the vegetables grown in the north they ate well. There were still some cultural clashes, mainly the male Stark soldiers not believing the female marines that they were soldiers too. They were soon shut up in a fist fight the marines won handily the next morning. The exhibition ended when asked about their skill with swords and bows. The marines looked to the new Lord Warrington, who shrugged and simply said "show them". They picked up their rifles and went to the archery range. A crowd gathered, including Lord Stark and Maester Luwin, eager to see what these weapons the newcomers had. The two female marines, seeing as they were the one who had to prove themselves, aimed their rifles down range at the two targets and let loose a short four second burst. The noise startled the jeering Stark guards and Ser Rodrick, the eldest and most formidable of the soldiers who had just stood silently until then, jumped too. Many covered their ears at the loud noise which then turned to stunned shock as everyone saw the damage done to the straw mannequin targets. They were ripped to shreds. The arms and chest area wrecked and torn apart with the legs now laying on the muddy ground. The two marines nodded at each other and turned around with smug smirks. "Corporal, Lieutenant, good shooting, head back inside I believe we are ready to go now" called Warrington.

"Aye sir" they turned and headed off to their assigned rooms to fetch their gear for the flight back. "Enjoy the demonstration Lord Stark?" Warrington said bemusedly to the stunned lord.

"Indeed a most devastating display. But those were only wearing chain mail not full plate like most southern armies. Surely they would struggle with that?"

"Hmm, can always try, you got some full plate you don't mind risking?"

"Possibly, Mikken!" A tired middle age man with grubby clothes came over.

"Yes my lord?"

"Mikken, do we have any steel plate that would do to represent armour like the knights of the south use?"

"Aye mi'lord we have a couple for use in repair work and for making suits of armour."

"Good, set a plate up in the range, Lord Warrington wants to try against full plate like a knight wears rather than just the chain mail."

"Yes mi'lord, I'll just grab it." With that the man went off and a few minutes later had set up a chest plate of armour around another straw target. This time the marine major took up his spot on the firing line, aimed his rifle and let loose a five second burst. The loudness of the rifle startled many again but still the shock of the result sacred many. The plate of armour had dozens of holes now in it. At least three dozen. "Impressive don't you think?" Warrington said. The silence in was deafening as the guards and servants realised just how deadly those rectangular objects. "That was around 10 bullets a second, so fifty should have hit, but with recoil and distance you'll get some variance in fire pattern. There is probably close to fifty holes in the armour though since he fired relatively close."

"I think you will change much here Lord Warrington" said Lord Stark with a slightly scared voice. "I just hope you never have to deploy them because you will devastate armies if you do so."

"All I can reply to that is, you haven't seen our ships yet" Warrington said with a smirk and Eddard was suddenly glad he wasn't the Ironborn. With the displays over the crowd departed talking about what they'd seen and Warrington and his people finished packing readying to go. When done they met in the courtyard with their things and bade fair well and thanks to the Starks and the Manderlys before getting in the helicopter and slowly lifting off to much nose from the blades and the awe-filled faces of the castle folk.

The Fleet

The journey back took three hours as it had getting there. Upon landing they called for a meeting of the senior captains and admirals. Gardner and Warrington went to the comm room where a video-link had been set up between ships. "Gardner, Warrington, how was the trip? Successful?" asked Cosmo.

"Well enough Admiral, I am pleased to inform you we have the land and recognition. Stoney Shore is ours. We brought a map which shows our boundaries but it is a wide area. Lord Stark accepted me as the new lord and our system of selection. He said it was unusual to vote for a lord as only the Nights Watch does so and they are a special circumstance but he accepted it. I am recognised as the new Lord of Stoney Shore as will my elected successor be." There were some grumbles from the captains at the mention of the lordship. "I suggest we depart for the Shore and see who's about, begin surveys and set up base there. From there we can see what resources might be untapped as well as have the engineers begin plans for the two harbours we want."

"I'm sorry, did you say two?" asked a captain in confusion.

"Yes I did captain…?" "Tabbot" "Captain Tabbot. Two because one will be military some distance from the second, which in turn will be civilian. I want our navy out of sight so there are less details about ship size and fleet size and composition. It also means that should our public port come under attack the navy can swiftly reply. Only the Starks and Manderlys know that detail and we shall do best to keep it that way. In that form I would suggest building the main public port first near to the castle we should find just inland and then construct the military port and shipyard just up or down the coast in another bay."

"That is doable though it will be costly, are you sure you'd rather not just build the naval base nearby but away from the civilians, it would be easier and we can still have them separate with different sea walls but within the same bay?" said Cosmo.

"If you believe that is better, you are the navy you'll know which will be easier to do."

"Very well I will have the Enterprise survey the best spot along the coast for two ports that can be near to each other. Hopefully they'll have something by the time we arrive. Everyone else, set course of the Stoney Shore, we've got some land and a home to claim." The next few hours were spent in a frenzy as the ships made ready to depart and maps of the area were exchanged. A small team went ashore to say farewell to the Mormonts and to let them know if they needed anything in the future. With that done they set off for the Stoney Shore, making quite a site to the people of Bear Island as the ships took off at great speed.

They arrived in force at an area selected to be the new port. It was about half way along the coast heading south in a sheltered bay area. Along the way they had passed a handful of small fishing villages which had one or two small boats. "Admiral Cosmo, we ready to begin?"

"Indeed, drones and fighters are ready to begin aerial surveys, I have sent a team of marines and engineers to go and assess the current castle" he informed Warrington.

"Make sure they search every room and the basement and check for hidden passages. I want anything worth keeping including furniture, paintings, gold and armour. Hopefully we can use it to kit out the new one we build or when we've refurbished the old one."

Stoney Shore

An hour later aircraft of various type were flying high above the Stoney Shore out of sight of the locals conducting radar, sonar and all manner of scans. The team heading for the abandoned castle took two hours to finally find and begin to search it. They were not impressed with what they found. The castle, if it could be called that, was more than a motte-and-bailey like Deepwood Motte and the Norman forts of old in England but it was still poor in design and condition. The stone walls had collapsed or been knocked in with pieces clearly removed. The central keep was in better condition but still there were collapsed passages and plenty of cracked stone work that made many of the team uncertain if being there was a good idea.

Major Tom Preston of His Majesty's Royal Marines surveyed the view from the battlements, or at least the only accessible portion of them. It was a good position, on a hill looking out towards the sea they would observe any ship approach the bay where the port would be built and have views to the surrounding area. They had set up camp in the courtyard in front of the keep, with patrols arranged to walk around the castle focusing on entry ways. The engineers meanwhile got to work testing wall strengths and shoring up passageways to allow for a full search. From what rooms they'd searched so far, most were barren with some rotten wood furniture in the occasional room. Rooms deeper in the castle were block by collapsed ceilings and fallen masonry. The weather was dry at least if a bit cool, apparently this was summer here in the North. Just another reason we shouldn't have stay up here he thought grimly. "Major! I think we found something" came the voice of a young woman. He turned to see Captain Hannah Sheppard approaching. "What do we have Captain?"

"Engineers have just cleared a way into the keep ground floors, they said it's fine to look about, they've moved on to the upper floors. While searching we found a few rooms which had some furniture in decent nick but also a stairway down to cellars or crypts. Thought you should know."

"Hmm not bad, they wanted anything that could be kept for the new castle when we start building. Let's check those cellars and crypts then."

He followed her into the main hall of the keep. It was barren as expected though a few remains of banners clung to the walls and he could see some rotten wood in lumps in the centre where a table and chairs or benches had probably stood. Sheppard walked over to a corridor leading him away from the hall and came to some spiral stairs heading down. There were a few piles of stonework and rotten wood from where the engineers had cleared paths through corridors. Switching their torches on they began their decent into the darkness, two marines who had accompanied them followed behind with their rifles held and torches lit. It got colder as they walked, the walls still smooth despite their age and made of grey stone.

At the bottom of the stairs they had been walking down they came to an open room. Their torches cast shadows and it was hard to see far in the pitch black but there appear to be statues placed every few paces or so with a grey stone alter or tomb behind them. Most of the statues were featureless due to their age but some still had defined looks. Walking slowly down the wide stone corridor they eventually came to two large doors, this time made of metal. They were either bronze or iron and seemed jammed or locked in place while having a fish and anchor sigil on them. "A vault?" asked one of the marines.

"Possibly. It's made of metal rather than wood like the others and does have a sigil on it, presumably of the old house who owned the land and are buried back in that chamber" Tom said. "Alright you and me shoulder against the doors and on a three count shove hard, got it?"

"Aye major." As they positioned themselves against the doors Sheppard and the other marine took up defensive postures to cover them as they went in.

"Alright. One, two, three, PUSH!" with that they gave a heave and the doors moved and slightly buckled but remained closed. "Damn thought we had it there. Ok one more try and then we'll get the engineers to take a crack at it. One, two, three, push!" With a final shove the doors finally fell inwards with a loud CLANG, their old, rusting and uncared for hinges giving way to the brute force applied on the old doors. Loads of dust was flung up causing them to cough before the air finally cleared. Sweeping across the newly revealed room with their torches they were startled by what they found. A number of wooden chests and a white wooden desk along with rotting bags lay about the room. On the walls hung some tapestries in varying states of repair, some viewable and preserved but others mere rags with bits of string falling off. Opening the chests they revealed a number of different items. The first two of the seven chests had gold and silver coins in. A third had some jewellery, while the rest had some rusted swords and armour along with daggers, swords and arrow heads made of some black rock. The final chest held a long package wrapped in leather while underneath were a number of pieces of parchment, some were even arranged like books.

"Alright lads, get some engineers to shore up these rooms then get a count on the various pieces, I want it inventoried by tomorrow. In the mean time I'll report back to base on this find. I'm sure our new lord will want to know about this."

"Sir have you check the package yet?" asked Sheppard as she held out the long, wrapped up item to him.

"By all means open it, Sheppard" he replied having another glance around the room. He then watched as she unravelled the leather cloth and revealed the hilt of a blade. Next came an old leather sheath lightly decorated in fish and anchors. Pulling the sword partly out revealed a dark rippled looking steel blade. The hilt had a fish pommel with blue gems for eyes. "Wow that's some fancy blade. Get that secured with other items heading back to the fleet, make sure it's out of sight, I'm sure the few engineers back aboard will want a look plus the lord. Everyone seems to have swords here so I bet he takes it as his sword."

"Aye major" she replied before hurrying off to place in the courtyard pile of items. Taking one final look around the room he turned and headed back upstairs. Once in the courtyard he could see in the centre in clear view of everyone the pile of objects that had been collected to be taken to the fleet for secure storage including a number of wardrobes, tables and chairs plus chests of swords and armour that were still usable. The long wrapped sword was placed on those chests. Walking over to one of the tents set up in their makeshift cap he spotted the person inside by the radio and asked them to call in to the fleet. "Major Preston to Colonel Devonshire, please respond, Colonel Devonshire copy over?"

"This is Devonshire, what you got Major?" came the gruff no nonsense Welsh accent of their Royal Marine colonel.

"Initial survey and search of the castle complete sir. It is a ruin here, initial opinion of the engineers is to knock it mostly down and rebuild. The keep is fairly intact and they think I'll be ok to repair but the walls, towers and out buildings need a total redo. We also found a number of objects that'll be useful furniture wise as well as money."

"Furniture is only moderately useful as we can furnish it how we like with better stuff but acceptable. Money though? How much we talking and what sort? We do need funds."

"Well it was two medium size chests full of gold and silver coins Colonel. I've got some people doing a count. It was in a vault area underneath the castle in the crypts. It had been blocked for decades if not centuries so no one could access it. Amongst all the stuff down there we found some fancy sword, looks like some tough steel as it hasn't rusted and is still sharp, got some fancy fish hilt to it and the steel looks like its got ripples in."

"Did you say ripples in?" asked the colonel.

"Yes sir why?"

"According to the report on the meeting at Winterfell Lord Stark had a two handed greatsword that had a similar type steel blade. No other blade was like it, the rest were common steel blades. I want it brought back for analysis by the engineers and eggheads, the few we got that is. They're all mostly on the Enterprise as it is the most science friendly ship in the fleet."

"Aye sir, its amongst the items for recovery, just send a merlin or two and we should have all we want easily."

"Understood major, expect recovery choppers in five hours. Good work, Devonshire out."

Over the next few days the surveys reported back their findings after analysis with indications that there were some iron deposits in the hills, clay deposits were found nearby as well and they also located was some coal up near the Wolfswood but within their new lands. One thing that did interest the few engineers and mineralogists was the sword recovered from House Fisher's ruined castle. It was incredibly strong and of an unknown steel composite. They found that it also seemed to lack any reaction or oxidisation resulting in rust that normal steel would eventually. In short they were stumped by it, with some speculating it was Damascus steel which was made by unknown methods and had been rumoured to be incredibly strong and resistant. They had also determined that it was a type of sword called a longsword by asking a few of the fishermen about the sizing of swords and it was measured at just over a meter long with a hilt for one hand use.

Quarrying had started using locals and engineers to begin setting up a harbour wall. Then using wood and more stone they would make the port itself. Bricks from the clay and sand would be heated in coal fired forges with iron melted in similar forges for steel and iron working. They 'paid' the locals by building them new brick homes that wouldn't burn down and which would be insulated better than their mostly wooden and stone ones. The port and the homes would have a proper sewer system leading out of the port and a bit down the coast before out to sea thus reducing the smell further. All of this was designed by the engineers using their modern construction methods, their current resources and bartering for extras or paying using some of the gold and silver coins.

It was during the sixth week of owning their lands, with construction now in full swing due to the clay and iron mines, that a ship appeared off the coast with a sigil of a tower on fire. They had so far built half of one outer seawall and had begun parts of the second half. A number of brick and stone houses stood on the shore set back a bit inland to allow for piers to be built. They'd been aided by a number of willing locals who had nothing to do who had helped mining or building along with the navy engineers. The fleet of ships had anchored in the bay they'd chosen away from the sea wall construction to maintain over-watch and to keep out of the way. Within the port a large two storey house had been built for use by the lord or the mayor of the town, at present just Lord Warrington inhabited it along with his aids and some soldiers who awaited a barracks under construction.

Maester Barneby stood at the front of the ship the Citadel had tasked with taking him to his new post. He'd been chosen mostly due to having no post currently but also his knowledge of northern houses and the First Men. What little he'd been told of these new people and house indicated they'd need the knowledge plus they would need someone to maintain the ravens that had come with him to set up communication.

The trip itself had been relatively peaceful and quick with a strong headwind giving them a boost. As they came round the coast, following it eastward towards land set back in an average size slowly narrowing bay, he saw them. They were massive. Larger than any vessel he'd seen or heard of. All of them made of metal and none possessed sails he could see following an unknown design but he could see similarity in design between all the ships and in some cases spotted some of the same class. Looking ahead he could a sea wall under construction while further away another wall was just starting. Clearly it was to be a large well built port as he could see on land a number of stone and some other material buildings. All but one were just the ground floor. The crew of the ship he was on were equally stunned by the ships both in awe and terror and he could but agree. These vessels would be devastating and nigh impregnable to all but a concentrated attack which was doubtful to occur if they were as armed as they looked.

The ship anchored a way from the shore but within the area soon to be enclosed by the sea wall. He was shortly ashore with his belongings and equipment where he met four oddly dressed people with thick coats, two of whom held rectangular weapons? held like a crossbow. "Hello" spoke the man in front. "Welcome to what we've called Stoney Port. Bit unoriginal but we needed a name quickly for it. I am the newly elected Lord of House Britanican James Warrington."

"Ah yes hello, and no worries you would not be the first, nor the last most likely, to choose a name as you have done." he said with a smile. "I am Maester Barneby, I have been chosen by the Citadel to be your maester. If that would be acceptable?"

"Oh of course yes we would need one, we didn't know how soon or how we'd have one. I'm guessing Lord Stark informed you of our presence and need hence your arrival?"

"Indeed, it caused quite the stir to have new arrivals and for them to be named lords. That said given your ships and where you were located to it makes sense that it would occur. The North has been without ships for hundreds of years, the Manderlys not withstanding. Do you have a place for me to set up?"

"Hmm, well you see we are currently building the port along with its defences. We were then going to rebuild the castle which isn't too far away. In fact I currently alternate between one of the ships out there, and the mansion we built for the future mayor of the port who would oversee it specifically on my behalf. So for now you could settle into one of the rooms in the mayoral house like myself, or we could arrange for a dedicated building?"

"How soon would you start rebuilding the castle or have parts habitable?" he asked as he'd rather not get set up then move.

"To be honest probably a year or two for the castle to be rebuilt. We are making strong headway on the sea wall and from there its just a few piers then we're essentially done. The sewers are in place and the mines are open."

"How have you got this done so fast?" Barneby gaped.

"By using everyone not essential to the fleet or off surveying the land. We also recruited heavily among the locals if they weren't already employed. After that it was just using our pre-existing knowledge of how things worked back home and using equipment from our ships. It has been hard going but we are mostly eager to get it done. We had a few problems as some didn't want to stay and wanted to go home but there's now way home so its been taking time trying to get our people alright with our situation" explained Warrington.

"I see, yes most terrible what happened of course, my sympathies. I believe it best that you, if possible, build me a construct near you mayoral building. I have a number of books needed for reference by maesters as well as information the new lord will need on occasion. That's on top of the ravens needed for sending messages around Westeros."

"Of course, we can always turn it into a public library once the castle is built and you are moved to our new seat of power.

"That is acceptable" the maester grudgingly agreed. "Why a public library?"

"So the people can learn something of course" the lord replied as if that explained everything. Which in a way it did but it was nearly unheard of to let the ordinary folk learn as well.

"Er are you sure its wise to let the small folk learn things my lord?" he asked cautiously as this was to be his new lord and didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with him.

"Everyone has the right to some education Maester, I would have thought the Citadel would want everyone to read and write? Besides every one of the people who came with us in the fleet can read and write to high standards, mathematics as well as some sciences too. It goes for both men and women."

"But how? How can you let them know so much? How does it not overthrow your system of government?"

"Because it is our system of government. It relies on an informed and educated citizenry to make an informed choice about who leads them and to keep the government in check. It also means our workforce is capable of many tasks and is more flexible as well as happier, allowing a broader range of skills and jobs. For now lets get your things in mayoral mansion, then afterwards there's a few things I'd like to show you that we found and are uncertain on."

"Of course my lord, a maester lives to serve his castle and lord."

So for the next hour or two the maester's belongings, ravens and books were brought ashore and stored in a few rooms in the mansion. One of Warringotn's aides returned to the fleet to co-ordinate things from there freeing up space for the maester to set up. After that one of the new servants in the mansion brought him to see Warrington. The rooms and corridors were well lit the maester thought has he walked down a corridor following the servant. With warm walls and even warm water eventually came of of taps in his room. Much like what they say of Winterfell he thought as he wondered the stone corridors. Eventually he came to a wooden door which had the new house's sigil on it. Entering he saw the lord sitting behind a white wooden desk with maps and diagrams covering the top, a box with blinking lights and a small hand held object sat in the corner. "Ah Maester, good you're here. Settled in well?"

"Yes my lord quite well, the room is surprisingly light and warm" he answered, happy with his new quarters.

"Good, good. Okay, firstly these items were recovered from House Fisher's castle, in a vault deep under the keep within the crypts. We hoped you could tell us what these are." Knock, knock. "Come in" Warrington called and in came a woman carrying a long object wrapped in leather, behind her came four men carrying two chests between them. "Place that on the table Captain, those can go over there by the desk gentlemen. Gardner coming?"

"No Minister, er, my lord?" Warrington waved it off dismissively. "Er Admiral Gardner said he'd ask about it later and Admiral Cosmo is organising the fleet some more, something about the subs out on patrol off Cape Kraken. Colonel Devonshire asked to be informed if the discussion was relevant to port security, similarly Colonel Marks from the US marines asked that if it affected the whole Stoney Shore or the North etc. that he be informed" Captain Sheppard said.

"Very well Captain, dismissed." With that they were left alone. Maester Barneby watched as Lord Warrington picked up the long object and unwrapped it. Slowly he revealed a sword, probably a longsword Barneby thought. The pommel was good quality and was still brightly coloured, unfaded by time with the gems still in good shape. When the blade was withdrawn from its sheath however he took in a sharp breath in shock. "Valyrian steel" he whispered reverently.

"You know this metal?" asked Warrington curiously. "We've tried analysing it ourselves and all we can tell is that it is supper strong and doesn't rust."

"Indeed my lord those are the main features of Valyrian steel apart from the rippling affect in the steel and its colour. It comes from Valyria, as the name suggests, as they were the ones who made the steel in this way. Said to have involved magic and dragon fire to make it according to the rumours. No other people or nation has come close to making new Valyrian steel though a few expert weapon smiths can reforge existing metal. For example, make a greatsword into two long swords. There are very few of these weapons around today, at least in Westeros. 227 I believe was the last count though many have since disappeared or been reforged. Most that are still known are family heirlooms wielded by the Lord or heir in battle. They are also nearly all named."

"I see, so quite a find then? What was the name of House Fisher's blade?"

"I would have to check but I do not believe that it was known they had one although it is clearly theirs by the pummel and colours. I believe they might have had possibly died out before the registry was taken so it is likely this was lost to history until you found it."

"Essentially, choose a new name for it then?" The maester nodded. "Very well, next we have these black stone, glass-like objects." At this he opened one of the boxes then the next one before picking up and placing a dagger, a sword and an arrow head on the table. "What do you make of these?" Barneby picked up the unusual dagger and looked at it closely.

"I believe these could be made of obsidian, or dragonglass as it is popularly known. It was used, before bronze working was known, by the First Men, those of Valyria and supposedly the Children of the Forest. There is rumoured to be tons of it on the island of Dragonstone."

"Why would they store those then if they have steel swords? Hmm something to ponder I guess, maybe just storage as an artefact. Very well, the last thing we needed checked, apart from the coins to confirm what they are, are these scrolls. I'll let you take them and try to read them as I doubt you can tell me now."

"I can tell you something from the cover of the books and the first page of the unrolled scrolls" he said after looking over the various pieces. "They are histories, seemingly to do with the Long Night. More accurate than any previously found and in surprisingly good condition. Even some of the records at Castle Black are not in as good a condition." He paled as he read through the lines on one piece of parchment before switching to the books and flipping through pages and then picking up other scrolls.

"You alright maester?" Warrington asked, concern in his voice.

"I..er, yes thank you my lord, it's just some of the things in these books and pages should not be real. It claims the White Walkers had been real and were only driven back and not destroyed like many believe. That they will return when men turn inwards and forget their past. It can't be real, they're just a myth, magic is dead, it died with the dragons."

"Seriously? What is it with the whole magic thing here. It's not real, it's just parlour tricks, mirrors and misdirection" Warrington said with some exasperation.

"Indeed I'm sure some is as you say, but there is real magic in Essos and dragons once existed. Oh they were real" he added at Warrington's look of disbelief. "The dragons died over 100 years ago admittedly but their skulls, until recently, were in the throne room of the Red Keep in Kings Landing on full display. The largest, Balerion, was said to be big enough to swallow a mounted knight whole with room to spare. As for magic, well there are shadowbinders and warlocks and then there are also the red priests of R'hllor, a religion over in Essos. The red priests focus on fire and sacrifice. You will find my lord, that magic is quite real no matter what the others at the Citadel claim though I will grant you it is greatly diminished, if not completely gone from Westeros. Or it was until I read this. Even your coming here could be considered magic" Barneby pointed out.

"I see, though I must say I do doubt it is all as you describe. I mean, dragons? Magic? Magic I never believed in and dragons were always this myth or fantasy for my people. So you're saying that if these documents speak the truth then-"

"Then at some point in our distant past these walkers really existed and in the future they may return to try to kill everyone, bringing an eternal winter with them. Perhaps that is why the sword, the dragonglass and these documents were placed so deep within the castle in the vault you found, preserve them to warn future generations. I will read these documents and translate the older ones as best I can. It is possible they explain more about the dragonglass or sword or the white walkers" said Barneby.

"I will leave that in your capable hands then maester. It seems you have your first task after getting the ravens and yourself set up. Good luck, lets just hope at the end the tale says 'the end, I hope you sleep well' because it was a story book" Warrington jokingly said. Barneby gave a weak smile.

"Yes it would be a relief it that were the case my lord. If I may?"

"Of course, happy researching." And with that the maester left with the various documents, while James slumped back in his chair thinking over what had been discussed. Walking to the corner of the room he picked up the small handheld object, flicked a few switches on the connected box and then spoke. "George you there? I need you to arrange a meeting with both admirals, and both marine colonels, I want it as soon as is reasonable, you got me?"

"Yes Minister, will an hour do?" replied the voice of his aid who was on the Queen Elizabeth.

"Yes that'll be fine George, it seems there are things that we thought we knew that we didn't."

An hour later and six men were sitting in a conference room, with one in grey robes looking around in astonishment and fascination at all the various things such as the lights and computers. "Minister, you said you wanted a meeting urgently. What is the problem?" asked Cosmo.

"First of all Admiral, may I introduce our new maester, Maester Barneby. If you wish to know something about where we are, the culture, history or science etc ask him, he is also in charge of the ravens that allow messages to be sent between castles." A chorus of 'hellos' sounded. "Right so, we have identified the sword as something called Valyrian Steel which is impossible to make now as no one knows how to do it but they can reforge it. It's also really rare with only 200 odd weapons made of it in Westeros. Those daggers and arrow heads are made of dragonglass or obsidian as the Citadel calls it. And finally those documents tell, in apparently far greater detail than previously recorded, of an event called The Long Night which occurred 8000 years ago and gives warning that the enemy they fought is not dead but waiting to return. That about summarise it correctly Maester?"

"I believe so my lord. As I said, the myth of the Long Night is widely thought to be just that or if it happened many, many generations ago. Eight thousand years ago or there abouts. If it happened."

"So, your thoughts gentlemen?"

"What exactly is this Long Night, and who did they fight? Plus was it real?" asked Cosmo breaking it down into different parts.

"Essentially my Lord, Admirals and...Colonels correct? Essentially the tale goes that the White Walkers, sometimes called Others and were beings of ice and led by the Night King, came down from the most northerly point of Westeros and started killing every living thing. And I mean every thing. The Children of the Forest and the First Men eventually joined together to defeat the Walkers and their army of the dead. It was said that any who died fighting them was brought back as wights."

"Great, zombies" someone muttered.

"Eventually, with the aid of the Last Hero, the White Walkers and their army was pushed into the far north and defeated. The Wall was built shortly after their victory. That is what the tales say. In the South it is taken to be a myth and the Wall was built to keep out Wildlings. Truthfully very few believe that it happened, even in the North, though from the rumours I've heard it is possible the red priests believe it as they look for someone called Azor Ahai to bring the light and end the Great Other, presumed to be the White Walkers."

"The Valyrian sword and the obsidian, why might those be present in the room?" asked Colonel Devonshire.

"Truthfully I can not say, it might simply have been placed in the vault to keep safe historical artefacts. Equally they could kill the enemy hence were located with the texts. There is no way to know unless the enemy comes" the Maester explained.

"Well, I's still not entirely sure if it was true or not but I see no reason not to make a stock pile of obsidian daggers and arrowheads somewhere just in case. Always be Prepared was the scouts motto. I suggest we follow it. Gather it all together in a few new trunks and store it in the basement" suggested Warrington.

"It doesn't hurt to have a stockpile. But I mean really? Zombies? Next they'll say dragons exist" Gardener said with a scoff.

"Oh dragons did exist my lord admiral. Their skulls lie somewhere in the Red Keep after sitting in the throne room for hundreds of years. Magic has been said to exist in Essos too with tales of blood sacrifice and the like. So no it is not out of the realm of possibility that it did happen my lords" Maester Barneby informed them, leaving those other than Warrington stunned in disbelief that such a creature existed.

"Magic? Really?" one spluttered. Barneby merely nodded sagely.

"Are we sure there's a valid threat? I don't object to stockpiling something useful or potentially useful, but are we sure there's something to prepare for?" asked Cosmo.

"My Lord, Admirals and Colonels, it is a valid point, as I've said many do not believe it but the Night's Watch may have answers you seek. Ask them of any unusual activity beyond the wall, perhaps even find some Wildlings and question them if you must though I caution you as they are said to be violent." They nodded at the Maester's suggestion.

"Send a raven to Castle Black Maester asking about the latest beyond the Wall. Say we are curious to know it's status and inform them that any pirates or raiders caught will be sent to the Wall."

"Sir?" questioned Devonshire.

"We cannot hold many prisoners here, we do not have the space or resources but we can dispatch them to the Wall which is common across this land." They nodded in understanding at that. "Right then, seems I need to learn how to use a sword and we need to get ships built to replace or expand our fleet. In the meantime, store those obsidian blades and arrow heads somewhere secure, we might need them, equally we might not.

"On another note sirs we need someone to train our people in swordplay. Archery we actually have some who know already and can train up those that wish, I've got a couple of the locals making bows and soon arrows too" Colonel Marks informed them.

"Very good Colonel and I'll look into finding an instructor for us. Alright, on that note, meeting adjourned."

AN: So the Walkers and the tale of the Long Night is heard along with the warnings. Good idea for them to know now or not? Hope everyone is enjoying the build up and world building to bring things forward in time. Thanks for reading, J signing off.

Edit 08/07/21: Just given it a quick edit to break up paragraphs in case they were too long and to give Warrington and co more scepticism in regards to magic and the White Walkers since it was felt they believed too easily.