Ch3
Both men were now standing in shock, their mouths open, which was rather unfitting for a Lord and Maester but it must be said appropriate to the situation.
Standing before them was Ranma holding four Dragon Eggs, Dragon Eggs, where had they come from? And what did she mean by hatching them, only Valyrian's such as the Targaryen's could hatch and bond with the beasts? That was the way the Dragons worked, wasn't it?
"Where did they come from?" Kennet asked after spending a few minutes gathering his wits and thinking to himself, when the surprises today were going to end.
"Do you remember when Prince Jacaerys Velaryon came to Winterfell on his Dragon Vermax?" Ranma asked.
Both men remembered that day clearly, it was the day that they entered the Dance of Dragons on the side of the "Blacks" as they were referred to. It was also the day when they learned how much the oath of a Southerner was worth, with so many betraying the oath they gave to King Viserys I, that they would support Princess Rhaenyra's claim to the throne. It was the day the Pact of Ice and Fire as it was called was formed, although that to was broken but they couldn't blame the Tyargaryen's for that considering how their number was reduced from twenty members to a handful. They didn't betray their oath they just couldn't fulfill it, however it was promised that while it couldn't be fulfilled this generation, they maybe able to fulfill it during the next one.
"What a minute, you mean that rumor that was floating around when he visited that Vermax laid eggs here was true?" Cregan asked and thought about it. Vermax was a young dragon and wasn't that large compared to many others and the entrance to the crypt was big enough for the dragon to gain entry. It would also make sense that the dragon decided to lay the eggs here as the Crypts were warm and dry thanks to the hot springs, with few humans that would disturb the Crypts. In fact, it wasn't uncommon for people not to go down there for years with the exception of children daring each other to go down it and even then, they stay close to the entrance. That's why they had housed the dragon in the Crypt during Jacaerys stay, after all they didn't have a Dragon Pit or Dragonstone to house the beast. They couldn't leave it in the snow and everything else was either inhabited, too small or too flammable to house it, leaving only the Crypts. Soon after Jacaerys left a rumor began that Vermax laid eggs during her stay here, although he didn't believe it.
"Yes, it was" Ranma answered amusement still in her eyes.
Clearing his throat Kennet asked "What do you mean by hatching them? Only Valyrian's such as the Targaryen's could hatch and bond with them?".
"That is the belief but if it was true then how did the Valyrian ancestors the shepherds managed to accomplish it, they had no experience with Dragons before that, they didn't possess the instinctive power that is now within their blood?" Ranma asked.
They both thought about it and realized that made sense and that meant anyone could theoretically tame a dragon.
"Did you think that the Direwolves on the Stark banner were like what you thought of the title Kings of Winter was? Just a fancy thing with no practical use? We used to tame animals especially the so-called dangerous ones. My son like to hunt and had tamed a small army of Direwolves to help him and over my long life I had tamed numerous dangerous animals. Including Direwolves, bears, lions, lizard-lions, mammoths, shadowcats, unicorns, Sea Dragons, even a Kraken once and this is just an abbreviation of the entire list" both men's eyes widening at the list.
Cregan then looked at the eggs realizing the opportunity and danger that the eggs offered.
"Right now, we have four choices, one send the eggs back to the Targaryen's gaining royal favor, secondly, we could hatch them now, thirdly hatch them later as we have no accommodations or infrastructure to support dragons at the moment, fourthly keep them and go through the choices at a later point in time" Ranma listed.
Cregan thought about the choices knowing that whatever he decided would affect his family for generations to come. The second option was off the table since as Ranma said that couldn't keep a dragon at the moment, the first option was the safest but offered the shortest award and they already held royal favor as the Targaryen's owed him quite a bit. They could be saved for a future date restoring royal favor if for some reason they needed it. The third option offered the most opportunity and danger not just from the Targaryen's or other Lords also wanting to tame dragons or prevent others but also internally as the recent civil war showed. The Dance of Dragons they called it, it almost made him laugh the first time he heard of the term. It was no Dance but a stupid, pointless and preventable war that cost the entire realm dearly. Not even his family was immune to internal bickering and fighting as his own accession as Lord Paramount of the North showed. That left the fourth option.
"I think the fourth option is the best one for now, perhaps circumstances in the future will make another path clearer" Cregan finally decided. Kennet seemed to sigh in relief, while Ranma looked proudly at him.
"You approve of my choice?" Cregan asked curious.
"Yes, I know and have seen the results of ambition and jumping before you look many times, the latter especially in my case" Ranma replied dryly thinking of numerous of incidents that could have been prevented or made easier if she just stopped and think. The incident with Herb and their resulting battle being one of the bigger ones that came to mind by the time it ended several days were wasted and a mountain was leveled. All because she had to prove herself as the macho man in Nerima when a newcomer showed up. It wasn't just her but several other members of the Nerima wrecking crew especially Ryoga and Akane, all they had to hear was the words "make you strong" or "better than Ranma" and they would immediately jump in. Like the battle dojo and several other mystical items and techniques not thinking of whether or not there was a negative or price for the power up.
"We should probably put them into one of the vaults but how will we hide them so we can take them there?" Kennet said joining in the conversation again.
Both men's eyes then widened as Ranma simply put them up her sleeve and they disappeared, there was no bumps in her sleeve and no way for a dragon egg let alone four to be stuffed in there.
She looked at them a small smile gracing her face "Hidden Weapons Technique, something I learned from an enemy of mine, in his many attempts to kill me when I was young. He stuffed enough weapons up his sleeves to arm a thousand men and then fired them at me from his sleeves. The blind idiotic duck." she said with a certain amount of sadness and nostalgia thinking of Mousse, for despite his physical sight problems in the end he realized what he had done and apologized, removing his mental blindness when it came to her and Shampoo in the last few moments of his life, the only one who did.
The thought of someone being able to carry that number of weapons on them in such a way was just bizarre to the two men but both admitted they knew little about magic other than it exists. But unknown to the two men it wasn't magic but a power they had never even heard of before Ki. Though they also wondered why she sounded sad when talking about someone who had attempted to kill her.
"Come let us return to the surface", with that they began to finish the journey out of the Crypts.
When they exited the sun was low and it was clear that night would soon fall. They had been in the tombs for hours and all were clearly hungry as they missed lunch.
"Let's go to the Great Hall and enjoy a meal but before we do is there anything, we need to discuss that we don't want unwanted ears listening?" Kennet said/asked.
"Only one, that time is the essence, spies, the North never had to deal with spies from the South before, after all why would they need to? It would just be a waste of resources and talented people that could be better used elsewhere instead of watching the weakest, poorest and least politically interested of the Seven Kingdoms. But now you revealed the North was not as weak as they once thought that it can and occasionally will get involved in Southern affairs and politics. The only thing stopping them from sending spies was the winter and the lack of food but with winter now over and the food crisis is going to be resolved they will soon start sending spies and perhaps saboteurs to watch the North and the Stark's" Ranma warned.
Cregan's face turned to stone or perhaps ice would be a better description of his expression, Kennet on the other hand looked worried at this information.
"I see" Cregan simply said, letting no emotion into his voice or face, if Ranma didn't know better she could have sworn he was using the Soul of Ice. He would have to watch and send a raven to Heir Manderly in White Harbour as his father Lord Torrhen Manderly was in King's Landing and send a garrison to Moat Cailin as whoever controlled those two points controlled over 90% of people coming in and out of the North. He may not be able to catch them all, but he could at least catch some of them.
Ranma also had a few thoughts to herself as they headed for dinner, she wondered if the Soul of Ice was inheritable after all half the Stark's seemed to get her usual temper, quick to anger, explosive and usually short, the wolfsblood. While the other half seemed to get a lesser version of the Soul of Ice when they were angry, sometimes referred to as the wintersblood or the iceblood.
When they entered the Great Hall, the noise died down and then rose back up in murmurs, as many looked at her.
Ranma looked over the assembled people and then opened her mouth "I know that many of you don't know what to think of me and are probably scared of me, my powers and my connection to the Old Gods. So, here is what I am going to do, I am going to have dinner, since I haven't eaten a thing in 8000 years, then I will spend half an hour answering your questions. I won't promise to answer all of them since everyone including myself has their own private secrets or information that is too dangerous to be widely known but I will answer your questions".
The Hall then quieted again, then a few began to discuss what to ask, others looked unsure, and others again had a look of thought on their faces, deciding if to ask a question and if so what question.
Cregan thought it was a good move, if she stayed aloof from Winterfell's inhabitants it would take her forever to integrate into it and they would be wary, but if she talked to them and revealed a little of herself it would make the people less cautious. Plus, he was curious about her, the way she hinted at pieces of her past made him realize she had a very interesting life.
Ranma fell on her meal with great speed that impressed all those that watched, she smirked, they should have seen her eating during the ten-year training trip or the Tendo's. Now that was eating fast.
She soon finished and the questions started.
"What is your relationship to the Old Gods?" a serving woman asked.
"I am their avatar, champion, their representative in the world of mortals. The best comparison would be the High Septon except I was chosen by the Gods instead of men and given their blessing and can contact them. But there is no need to talk to me or treat me with the ridiculous pomp and ceremony the High Septon goes through and if anyone even suggests I have to wear a something like him, a Septon or a septa I will hang that person from their underclothes on one of the many flag poles on the towers" Ranma informed them, and she looked serious in regard to her threat. Although it did bring a few smiles and reduced the tenseness as she was willing to answer questions and secondly her threat while creative was very Northern.
"How old are you?" a young boy blurted out and but quickly blushed in embarrassment and looked down as nearly everyone was giving him disapproving stares.
Ranma on the other hand just laughed and began to tease the boy "Well I think that I am a little too old for you" causing the boy to blush more.
But then Ranma answered the question "I'm not sure" she said thoughtfully "I stopped counting a long time ago, what was the point for an immortal? However, even if you don't count the years I was trapped in the ice, I am tens of thousands of years old".
Now that stunned the entire population in the room, the thought of anybody let alone a human living for that long was mind boggling to say the least. The oldest recorded human to ever live in Westeros, if you can call the legends and stories about him recordings was Garth Greenhand who had lived for nearly 2000 years at minimum according to the tales, then followed by the Grey King of the Iron Islands who was said to have lived 1007 years. But tens of thousands of years? So, old you have either forgotten or can't be bothered to know your own age? It was hard to comprehend it.
"Usually, I would say such a thing was impossible, but the Old Gods did say you were older than them and well their Old" Kennet said his voice small, but everyone heard him.
Of course, the inevitable question came regarding her immortality "How did you become immortal?" a voice in the crowd asked.
Ranma sighed, her face and eyes becoming sad "That is one of the few questions I will not answer, as any fool would try to replicate the situation, all I will say is this, I became one by accident and people paid a high price for it to happen".
There was quiet for a minute as many still wanted to know how but knew she wouldn't tell, but could also tell there was a tale there, a sad one.
"Next question" Ranma said moving the conversation along.
"I have one" Cregan said surprising everyone.
"It is said that the ancestral home of the Stark's was in the Reach before the Long Night and I was wondering where in the Reach?" Cregan said.
"Is it not obvious? The Old Gods did say I lived in Westeros since before the Children of the Forest and the Giants, I have also mentioned taming a kraken. Tell me what settlement in Westeros is so old that nobody knows when it was founded and is beside the sea?" Ranma asked.
"Ittt caan't be" Kennet stuttered realizing where her home was, a place that he knew very well.
"It is, Oldtown, the Hightower, the original black tower that sits upon Battle Isle" Ranma said with a smirk.
Virtually everyone in Westeros and Western Essos had heard of Oldtown and the Hightower even the smallfolk had heard of the place. But none of them realized how old it actually was and its connection to the Stark's.
"I do hope you don't plan to go there and kick its current residents out" Cregan said dryly still stunned by the revelation that the Hightower was once the home of the Stark's although the thought of the Hightower family being kicked out of their home was tempting considering what they had done.
"No, they have lived there for thousands of years and my family emptied the place when they settled in the North, but I am sorely tempted considering the mess they made in the South thanks to their ambition, but all the guilty ones are dead, and I don't punish children for the crimes of their parents" Ranma said with no humor in her voice as she referred to the Dance of Dragons. Unknown to them she had also referred to her own past, where she was constantly blamed, punished and dealt with the consequences of the stupid panda's actions or others actions whether she had anything to do with it or not.
That seemed to reassure Cregan and many others, while many would like the Hightower's to be given a good kick in the ego and losing the place that gave them their name would certainly do that, it would start another war, and no one wanted that.
"Why was it called Battle Isle" someone asked.
"Because numerous battles were fought at the place, when the First Men came to Westeros, saw my home and saw only one person living there they decided it would be easy pickings and attacked. Dozens of petty Kings tried to take my home, dozens failed" she said with a predatory smile that made many shiver.
"Of course, its first battles happened long before the First Men as the Deep Ones or Merlings tried to conquer the worlds coasts destroying the Mazemakers and a number of young civilizations. But once I entered the war as they had attacked my home, I broke their armies, destroyed a number of their cities and ended their dreams of a land empire" Ranma said, internally laughing at their expressions.
Few knew or heard of the Mazemakers or Deep Ones, but they had heard of Merlings as they knew of the Ironborn and their religion which Merlings featured a fairly prominent role in their myths. But that's all they thought of them myths, stories, not real but apparently, they were, and it was this woman in front of them who had single-handily stopped them from conquering the world.
Kennet really needed to go to his study and write down all that happened, because the world was being upended in front of his eyes, so many believed myths and legends were true and history that had long been lost and unknown was now filled in.
"Could we have a private conversation later regarding what you know of the Deep Ones?" Kennet asked.
"Of course, I know a lot about them after all I was once their Queen" Ranma said.
"You were their Queen?" someone shouted.
"I was High Queen of the Living and that included them, as while the Others weren't an immediate threat to them, they eventually would have been and an eternal winter would have rendered them extinct, so they joined the Alliance of the Living" Ranma explained.
"But they were your enemy?" a guard said.
"There was nearly 8000 years gap between the Long Night and my war with them, enough generations had passed that the hatred was diluted, and the Long Night was enough for them to put aside those remaining small embers of hatred" Ranma informed them.
"Well, we have time for one more question what will it be?" Ranma asked.
That stopped the crowd, what question could they ask her and who?
Then a stable boy stepped forward, a boy whose older brother rode South with Cregan as part of his army in the Dance of the Dragons, whose brother stayed South to ensure that the boy would have enough to eat this winter.
"Will you help the North, will you help us?" the boy asked.
Ranma got up from where she was sitting, then walked towards the boy and then kneeled in front of him, bring them to equal eye level. Holding his hands with her own she looked at him straight in the eye "I promise, I swear upon my name Ranma and my friends the Old Gods to help the North". Then her eyes turned red like weirwood tree sap and her voice was joined by the Old Gods "We promise" they declared and all those who were there felt a shift in the world, it wasn't as strong or like the shift when she was free of the ice filled with uncertainty and unknown and it wasn't felt outside the room, but it was filled with a certainty that was stronger than stone.
Later that evening in Cregan's solar Ranma, Cregan, Kennet and Cregan's wife Alysanne sat in the room with them explaining all that happened during the day including showing her the vault in the solar. She was sitting there silently in both shock and thought.
"We need to send ravens immediately to buy the necessary food, warn White Harbour about spies and begin reconstruction of Moat Cailin and manning it" she eventually said.
"Then we need to figure out what to do with the rest of the money as letting that amount of money gather dust would be stupid, plus whatever money the Northern Lords will save thanks to not spending it on food from the South or Essos in the future" she said tiredly leaning back into the chair.
"Yes, we do and if you have maps of the North and ink then I have an idea what we can spend the money on and in long-term make more" Ranma said looking at all three intently who had a sudden interest in what she was going to say.
Three Moons later outside Winterfell's gate
"Hello, you old bearskin rug" Lord Umber shouted.
"Hello, yourself you hairy barbarian" Lord Mormont shouted back, as they caught sight of each other.
The Lords of the North had been summoned to Winterfell, ravens had been sent informing the Lords to gather on this date. Usually when all the Lords of the North gathered it was because they were going to war but the message on the ravens from Lord Stark said they were going to discuss the pillar of light that they all saw and the future of the North. That made all the Lords curious, so they gathered, Karstark, Umber, Mormont, Bolton, Cerwyn, Dustin, Reed, Glover, Ryswell, Hornwood, Tallhart, Flint's of Widow's Watch, Whitehill, Woolfield, Locke, Manderly, Slate, Forrester, Glenmore, Flint's of Flint's Finger, while the major Houses of the Mountain Clans were already at Winterfell in Wintertown. All the Great Houses and semi-Great Houses of the North with the exception of the Skagos Houses had gathered.
The pillar of light just the thought of it was enough to send a shiver down more than one spine, they wondered what it was, all they knew it was from something that was probably magical and powerful and that it changed the world in some way, though in what way they didn't know, they could all feel the change, the shift.
As they gathered in Winterfell conversations and speculations started.
"Anyone have any idea what exactly is going on?" Umber asked looking at his fellow Lords.
"No idea" Reeds replied, "all I know is that Lord Stark is rebuilding Moat Cailin and starting to man it".
That surprised everyone, why is he rebuilding Moat Cailin and where did he get the coin for it? Especially after ordering a huge purchase of food, which the first shipments were already arriving in their own lands, The North should be short on money at the moment,
"Lord Stark sent a raven to White Harbour ordering us to keep a lookout for spies, we were surprised but followed the order. When the food shipments started to arrive, spies started to flood in. We caught 20, 20, in less than a moon and I have no doubt more have been caught on my way here" said William heir to White Harbour.
Now this also caught them by surprise, but it also made them angry.
"Who is sending spies into the North?" Lord Bolton inquired thinking to keep a lookout in his own territory a thought shared by the other Lords.
"It would be quicker to list who isn't, were getting spies from the Lannister's, Tyrells, Tully's, Martell's, Targaryen's, the Baratheon's and many of their more powerful bannermen. The only one of the Seven Kingdoms not sending spies is the Vale and that's probably because there concentrating on each other considering they're on the brink of a civil war" Willaim said.
"Bloody Southerners" Lord Tallhart said a sentiment that was shared by all.
"By the way have you seen the Stark's men new armor?" Lord Hornwood asked.
They looked around and more than one murmured that they indeed notice that the Stark Men at Arms were wearing new armor. Their new armor consisted of a breastplate with backplate and tassets (covering the upper legs), a pauldron with lames (telescoping metal plates) covering the upper arms, a helmet, and in many cases greaves (protection for the lower legs) and bracers (protection for the lower arms). They were wearing pointed helmets that covered most of their head with a nose guard and carrying square shields that curved. With chainmail clearly under the plate armor protecting the vulnerable bits. All made of steel. With the exception of the shields everyone had seen this sort of armor before but usually on the nobility and not the entire package usually bits and pieces on individual people. What really surprised them was the fact that the armor was covered in runes and on their shields and chest with the runes was the Stark's Direwolf, painted on, displayed proudly. Even the weapons had runes on them.
They looked at each other, no one not even the Lannister's would arm their men with such quality equipment and so much of it as well and they along with Tyrell's and the crown along with a handful of other houses such as Reyne's and Hightower's were the only ones who could afford to do so. The Stark's weren't the Lannister's, or the rest so how could they afford the equipment? Not only that but the Stark's and Northerners in general were not known for showing off or extravagance and all those runic artworks was certainly that, now they were really curious.
A guard came up "Lord Stark is waiting for you in the Great Hall my Lords" he said.
"Well," Umber said gruffly "we will soon have our answers".
On the balcony of the Great Hall overlooking the Lords gathering in the courtyard was Lord Cregan Stark, Kennet, Lady Alysanne and Ranma who wore a cloak hiding her face and her very distinct and noticeable red hair.
"Well now it begins, the rise of the North" Cregan said, knowing that today wouldn't just change Winterfell or the Stark family but the entire North.
"Yes, but first we have a traitor to deal with" Alysanne replied.
Cregan's hand tightened on the railing with that remark. Ranma went on a tour of the North, turning invisible and flying, flying like a bird, she investigated each of his bannermen and their lands seeing how to make them prosper when she accidently found proof of treachery against House Stark. Treason that had apparently been going on for generations, in an effort to weaken House Stark, well he would deal with its traitorous Lord during this meeting, it would be first on the agenda.
"Then let us go" heading into the Great Hall the rest following him.
The murmuring of the other Lords stopped when Cregan entered the Hall and they looked curiously at the cloaked person who was following him, while they recognized the other two.
"My Lords I have called you to gather today to discuss the pillar of light you no doubt saw" a number of heads nodded at that "and the future of the North. Secrets that were long forgotten here in Winterfell have been rediscovered that give the North a chance of prosperity and to never go hungry again or need the South" he announced.
That made more than one Lord make a noise in shock, Stark's were not known to be liars, if he said that he found something to ensure that they didn't need to buy food from the South he likely means it. The amount of coin they spent on food was high, if they didn't need to spend it the North's prosperity would indeed begin, as they could spend on more useful things that could make them stronger whether that be economic or military.
"However, that wasn't all I discovered, I found a plot, a plot against me and my family. A plot that has been around for generations weakening my family and by extension the North" Cregan continued.
That announcement had more than one Lord jumping to their feet, declaring their loyalty or demanding who was the traitor so they could deal with him. All except one, who had been getting paler at the announcement of a traitor and a plot going that far back.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself and your House, Lord Bolton?" Cregan asked his voice and face now icy, revealing no emotion. As one all the Lords turned to face the Lord of Dreadfort, who was now very pale and wide eyed.
Finding his voice "Surely there must be some mistake, the Bolton family and myself are loyal supporters of Winterfell and have been for a long time" Bolton said, although it was clear that not many believed him.
Cregan simply clapped his hands and servants came in carrying stacks of paper.
"Then all these reports and orders to and from your House, some centuries old are all fake. These orders to spy and sabotage the Stark's and our allies? Such as the Karstark's, Umbers, Manderly's, Hornwood's and nearly every other major House in the North?" Cregan asked.
Now nearly everyone in the Hall was glaring at him even his vassals while several of the Lords such as Umber looked like they wanted to draw their blade and tear him apart.
"May we see these reports Lord Stark?" Lord Cerywn asked.
Looking at his friend "Yes you can, but if anyone destroys even a single document, I will execute that person for trying to destroy the evidence is that clear?" Cregan responded.
The Lords nodded and then headed to the head table and began looking over the reports, with the exception of Lord Bolton who stayed seated. They began going through the documents and one could feel the temperature in the room getting warmer as peoples blood began to boil and more than one death threat was uttered. There was enough evidence and deeds done for nearly every House in the North to declare a blood feud with House Bolton.
Lord Bolton seemed to sink into the bench as he knew at minimum that his life was forfeit and perhaps the life of every Bolton.
Finally, the Lords finished going through the documents and were pretty much convinced of his treachery and were giving the man barely restrained looks of fury.
Cregan however, didn't take his eyes off Bolton giving him a hard cold stare that made the man shiver "You and your ancestors after your last rebellion saw they couldn't defeat us on the field, so they decided to do this. You decided to replicate those cowardly and dishonorable Southerners and their damnable Game of Thrones".
After pausing for a moment "You now have four choices, one, you could have a trial but considering the amount of evidence there is no way for you to win. Two, you could demand a trial by combat, but you would face me" that had a pretty clear outcome. Cregan was one of the best fighters in the Seven Kingdoms he would slaughter Bolton, and everyone knew it. "Three admit your guilt and offer your head, four join the Night Watch".
Bolton thought about it but knew Lord Stark was right those were his only options, turning to Cregan "My family?".
Cregan face and voice were still hard "I will not blame children for the crimes of their parents, that said considering your family history of disloyalty I can't allow the Bolton's to remain a noble family, Dreadfort will be taken from you. If your family surrenders, I will let them leave with half of the Bolton's treasury and they may do as they wish. Stay in the North, go South or move to Essos as long as they don't cause trouble, I won't do anything to them. But if they resist, I will destroy them, so I would advise you no matter your choice to write a letter telling them to surrender to the force I plan to send to the Dreadfort".
The fight then seemed to leave Bolton "I will write the letter and join the Night Watch" he said.
"Very well, you two escort Bolton to the cells and get ink and paper" Cregan said to two guards "Yes sir".
They then escorted Bolton out of the room after confiscating his weapons.
The room was silent for a few moments then the noise began either saying he deserved execution or something worse while several others were trying to present a claim to the Bolton lands.
Cregan gave them all a cold hard stare that shut them up.
"If we did anything more Dreadfort would unquestionably resist us and it took us two years and many lives to make them surrender to us during the last Bolton Rebellion, do you want a repeat of that and if so, I will send your men to do the besieging" that shut up the Lords who wanted a more extreme punishment, they didn't like it, but they knew Lord Stark was right, their revenge wouldn't be worth the price they would have to pay.
"I know that many of you have claims to Dreadfort and many who are not here also have claims to it but if I choose an established family it would destroy the established balance of power and make all the other Houses scream in protest. It would be best for everyone that a new House is established. After all, could you guarantee that it would be your House that gets Dreadfort?" Cregan asked. Again, they didn't like it but knew that Lord Stark was right, they would prefer that no one got Dreadfort than any of the other family's simply because as Stark said it would make that House to powerful.
"I presume you already have a candidate in mind Lord Stark?" Lord Dustin asked.
"Indeed, Lord Desmond Cassel" Cregan said. This made the other Lords pause and then nod their heads and voice their approval. Similar to the Tyrell's under House Gardener the Cassel's were a noble family that had no land or castles of their own but served as hereditary servants of House Stark in Winterfell being Master in Arms, stewards or other high-ranking positions. The Cassel's were well known for their honor, loyalty and competency and were well respected in the North. In fact, a number of Lords muttered it was long overdue for them to gain land of their own. It was a man and family whom they all respected and a choice they could live with.
Cassel was summoned and informed of his promotion, the look on his face when he was informed had more than one Lord start laughing with Lord Umber in the lead. He simply stuttered a thanks and joined the rest of the Northern Lords.
"Now that we have that unpleasantness out if the way we can get to the main purpose of summoning you here" while Cregan was still serious his face and voice were no longer icy.
"Some of you such as Cassel and the Lords of the Mountain Clans knows what has been happening in Winterfell these several moon" Cregan continued with mentioned people nodding their heads in agreement, making the rest curious.
"I was sharpening Ice, thinking to myself the state of the North" explained Cregan, with many wincing slightly as they knew the North was on the decline "I asked the Old Gods "I don't know if you can hear me but please save my Kingdom from this state of surviving so we can start living"". "Then the tree and the face began to move, and a voice came from the face, telling me to "Follow till you reach the lone weirwood tree and dig beneath it" and the branch started pointing somewhere North".
"Following the Old Gods instructions with the help of Kennet we found the lone weirwood tree and began digging beneath it. We discovered a site of a long-forgotten battlefield as we found numerous corpses and weapons. What was strange about the weapons was that they all had dragonglass also known as obsidian as spear and arrow heads. Along with many weapons and armor containing runes on them, we later learned why. Finally, we found what the Old Gods sent us to find or rather a who as we found a person still alive who had been frozen in the ice for 8000 years" Cregan finished and pointed to the cloaked person beside him.
Ranma stepped forward and removed the cloak, her bright red hair catching their attention and then the crown upon it. She was wearing her runic armor and then before their eyes she brought out her staff that was way too long to fit into the sleeve that it came out of.
"Greetings, I am Ranma the High Queen of the living, leader of the Alliance against the Others, lover of Garth Greenhand, mother of Brandon the Bloody Blade and grandmother of Brandon the Builder and the champion of the Old Gods" Ranma said with a very regal tone and bearing but inside was a different story. She wanted to puke, she hated the crown, acting like royalty and all the formal stuff that was coming from her lips. But she needed to do it, if she wanted to impress and convince the people before her.
The various Lords eyes and faces held disbelief and it increased as the tale went on but at the same time, they knew that Lord Stark was no liar or mad, what had happened with the Bolton's was proof of that.
"I know that many you would disbelieve such a tale, so I believe a demonstration of power would be in order" Ranma continued, then she began to glow, she glowed like the pillar of light they all saw, then from where she was standing ice began to appear around her, while what looked like an umbrella of fire appeared above her head. She then turned her eyes to the Lords, and they all saw her eyes glowing blue filled with a power and confidence that made them all feel small.
"Theennn thaat pillar of light that we saw was you" Lord Umber managed to stutter out.
"Indeed, that was all my power when I was freed from the ice" Ranma responded.
The Lords who had not already been informed of the situation and shown the proof were now frozen in shock trying to wrap their heads around the information being revealed.
"When I finally came to after being frozen for millennium the Old Gods informed what had happened during my slumber and had a warning. The Others were not completely defeated and that they would return and try again to wipe out all life in the world, that a ten-year summer would herald their return" Ranma stopped and looked over the Lords, who were slightly scared, they had all heard of the tales of the Long Night and the thought of a second one wasn't exactly reassuring.
"I learned that the world has forgotten them and more importantly how to defeat them as steel and iron weapons are useless against the Others and their wights. That the frontlines against them, The Wall in the North and the Five Forts at the Grey Wastes in Essos are now undermanned and neglected. If the Others were to attack now, they would win, they would massacre the Wildling and create an army of Wights that would be used to overrun the Wall, while the Five Forts are in an even worse state and easier to get past. Luckily, we have several decades to change that as the Old Gods promised it wouldn't happen during this lifetime, but it will come. All of you know that the winters are getting longer and the likelihood of a ten-year winter after the summer will happen within the next two hundred years. A long time to men no doubt but against the Others everyday counts" Ranma finished.
"Hhhoow doo we know you're not lying?" Lord Flint of Widow's Watch asked although his voice made it quite clear he didn't believe what he was saying.
Ranma internally smirked while outside she retained her regal persona "If you don't believe me then perhaps you will believe the Old Gods" she closed her eyes and when they were opened, they were now red, weirwood red.
Then the voices came out of her mouth some male, some female, some deep, some light, some ancient, some young.
"We are the Old Gods" the voices declared.
More than one oath of astonishment was stifled at this display.
"What, are champion speaks of is the truth, the North and the rest of the world must prepare for the Second Long Night, already the Alliance of the Living has begun to reestablish itself, our oldest worshippers have already come and renewed their oath to the Queen" the Old Gods said, the arm on Ranma's body raising and beginning to point behind the Lords who turned around.
Behind the Lords were people who had entered through the door behind them. The Lords stared in disbelief at them for these were not humans but something they had only heard in stories. They were smaller than humans, but they were not childlike. They have nut-brown skin, dappled like a deer's with paler spots. Their hands have only three fingers and a thumb, with sharp black claws instead of nails. They have large ears and have large gold and green eyes slitted like those of a cat. They were the Children of the Forest a race that had long been thought to have vanished from the world.
Cregan remembered when they first came to Winterfell.
One moon ago Cregan pov
"Lord Stark, there are several small, cloaked people at the North Gate demanding to see the Queen" a guard reported.
That made him start in surprise, how did they know of Ranma and they were small? This certainly bore investigating. He went to the forge as he knew he would find Ranma there. She was apparently a master smith just as she was a master everything else, she had a lot of time on her hands over her long life and decided to master many skills to the level that only a handful would equal. Even now the smiths were praising her skill.
He certainly didn't expect her to come back so quickly as she flew over the North to investigate it. She apparently learned the skill from a Prince Herb, a part human part dragon, which he still didn't know how that worked, while the invisibility technique was invented by her father even if she didn't refer to him as such. It only took her a moon to tour the North, doing the ritual to make the land bloom and the investigation certainly bore fruit, there were numerous ways to make the North prosper but the greatest discovery was House Bolton's treachery. He will deal with them when the Lords gather.
He came into the forge and saw Ranma working on another suit of armor, that was slowly replacing the mismatched pieces of armor and leather his guards usually wore. The runes on them despite looking like a piece of art was practical in nature. As it made the armor stronger, more resistant to heat, cold, take longer to wear out, more comfortable to the wearer and it gave the benefit of being able to kill Others and their wights.
Others and wights could only be killed by a few things, yes wights could be affected by normal weapons but it couldn't kill them, their hands would grab you, their legs would trip you and their heads would try to bite you. The things that could kill them were fire although the more powerful the Other the more resistant to it they were, the Night King being completely immune. Water, being completely submerged also killed them, it somehow removes the magic from them which made sense. Brandon wouldn't have bothered to build the Wall if the Others could simply walk around it by going into the sea. They had to create ice bridges to cross deep water safely. Dragonglass the weapon that the Children of the Forest used and magic. Magic the very force they were made from could kill them, the blades, armor, shields, spears, axes and arrowheads that are being made had magic in them thanks to the runes so that they could kill the Others. Valyrian Steel also affected them but that also fell into the category of magic as magic like most theorized was part of the process in its creation.
Clearing his throat got Ranma's attention and she turned to face him, still working on the armor.
"There are small, cloaked people at the gate asking to see the 'Queen'" he informed her.
That made her blink in surprise and she turned her head to the North Gate her eyes now glowing. She stopped in surprise and then turned to look back towards him "You can let them in, they mean us no harm". Handing over the project to another smith as she was teaching them to engrave the runes and how to put magic in them.
While he was still curious about their mysterious visitors' identity he could wait. They both headed to the North Gate, Cregan couldn't help but look around and hear the sounds of construction as Winterfell was being changed. The Old Keep and Bailey were being restored as they had a good idea what to use that area for. Several other constructions were taking place over Winterfell as places were upgraded and repaired. They had even begun plans to add another wall and two moats to Winterfell's defenses, turning it from an already mighty fortress into an even greater one, replicating the walls of Qarth one of the nine wonders of the world. But considering their walls would be higher and have moats that may soon change and Winterfell's walls being a wonder of the world.
Soon they arrived at the North Gate and shouted out "Open the Gates".
The gates were soon open, and the cloaked people entered. They stopped as they saw Ranma and then walked towards her.
"You may take off your cloaks, you don't need to worry about your safety here, I will protect you" Ranma said a statement that caused a ripple amongst those watching. Why would these people fear for their safety and why would Ranma feel that she had to promise her protection to them?
They removed their cloaks and everyone including me gasped in shock. He recognized them from all the storied he heard as a child, The Children of the Forest or as they called themselves to the few texts that are about them Those that Sing with the Earth.
The Children then bowed "Our Queen we thought you were dead".
"Get up, you know I hate all the formal and stuffiness and I never wanted to be a Queen" Ranma replied sound tired like they had been through this argument before.
"As for being dead, I was trapped in the ice and it preserved me would be the best way to describe it but enough about my state as you can clearly see I am as healthy and strong as ever but what about you? I know that your people have suffered over the years" Ranma informed and asked them.
"We are in our twilight years, once there were thousands of us, now there is only a few dozen, we are a long-lived race but in exchange we find it difficult to have children. Now we are on the brink of extinction" one of them answered.
Many of the people couldn't help but feel pity towards them, the thought of such a species, a sentient species near extinction was horrible to any of them and a number felt shame as they knew their ancestors took part in the slaughter of the Children.
"There is a way for you to recover, many years ago when I was young, I came across a people that had much knowledge of magic and potion making. One of these potions is a fertility potion that guarantee's that one can become pregnant after consumption" Ranma explained the people she was talking about were the Amazons, for a people that prided themselves on women being on top of the food chain they had a lot of stuff used to attract men to their village and ensure they had children.
The Children gasped and looked at Ranma wide-eyed and many despite their difference to humans, they could see hope in their eyes.
"It will take a while to gather the necessary ingredients and to make the potion, but it is certainly doable, and I will tell you the recipe and ingredients so you can make it yourselves when you want to" Ranma said, making a come with her movement and they went further into Winterfell.
Back to present.
The Northern Lords were now thoroughly convinced, of well about everything.
"So, what can we do?" Lord Mormont asked, a question a lot of them were thinking.
"The North needs to get stronger in everything, numbers, wealth, defenses, equipment, speed and magic" Ranma said no longer possessed by the Old Gods.
"We have already begun the process of strengthening the North, the armor and weapons that you see my guards wearing and using isn't for artistic purposes the runes on them improve them through the use of magic, these improvements include the ability to kill Others and their Wights" Cregan informed them.
Now the Lords understood, they knew that Lord Stark wouldn't do something without reason, the Stark's were a practical family.
"You will send at least one blacksmith to Winterfell where they will be taught how to create the runes and enforce them with magic, then they will return and can teach other smiths, which will quickly give us the necessary weapons to fight against both living enemies and the dead" Cregan said informing them of his plan.
The Lords thought about it and agreed, it was the best and quickest method to arm themselves.
"With the return of my ancestor and the knowledge the Old Gods gave her we found many lost vaults in Winterfell filled books, documents, magical artifacts, heirlooms and vast amounts of treasure" Cregan continued. The Lords looked like they had an eureka moment as they understood where all the coin the Stark's were spending was coming from.
"We now have a plan to invest this treasure in the North, here we have a map of the North, you will notice that many points are marked with different symbols. These are places with mining resources, iron, silver, gold, tin, copper, lead, diamonds and other jewels and metals and each symbol marks a different resource" Cregan declared.
They looked at the map and many got excited at seeing so much untapped wealth, this would make their economy at least triple once they began mining, some of the Lords weren't so thrilled as their lands didn't have any of the symbols on them.
"I know that not all the lands have an equal share of the resources, Lords Reed, Mormont and Cerwyn come forward" the three named Lords doing just that.
"Your lands unfortunately do not have the natural resources the others do but I have a way to increase your wealth as well. To the Reeds I give you a new crop that can only grow in your lands rice. A new crop that can grow twice a year and can be stored nearly forever if placed in a dry dark place and is a staple crop like wheat is in Westeros on the lands of Yi Ti. To House Cerwyn I give you recipes on how to create new alcohol Westeros has never seen and we know how Houses like the Redwyne make a fortune from selling such products. To the Mormont's we give you the secret on how to make glass" Cregan said, stunning the three Lords and the rest of the audience. Any of these gifts were a surprise but the last one, the secret to make glass was the biggest as Myr was the world's only producer of glass and they guard it jealously.
"Now you probably wondering how I intend to deal with the problem of food" Cregan said catching all their attention.
"The new crop I gave to the Reed's is part of the solution, the other solution is another new crop that can grow in most of the North call potatoes, a hardy food source that produces more than wheat. The third part of the solution has already been done, Ranma has already informed you she was the lover of Garth Greenhand, thanks to that she knows how to make the land bloom just like him. Ranma has already travelled around the North making the land bloom, we will see a big difference in the amount of food produced in the next harvest" Cregan declared.
The Northern Lords now sat in shock, some seemingly on the verge of tears as they realized what had just happened, their people and their families will never have to fear going hungry again. A dream come true for the people of the North.
Cregan then stood up drawing Ice and raising it into the air "MAY THE NORTH RISE" he declared.
This was followed by all the other Lords standing up, drawing their weapons and raising them into the air shouting back "MAY THE NORTH RISE".
A new era for the North and although they didn't know it, the rest of the world as well.