The Starks of Winterfell
"No", said Rickon banging his fist on the table made of Oak in his sister's Solar.
Sansa just took another sip of wine from her goblet before she gave in to her brother's angry glare. "I hope you realize that yours was a political marriage as well. You might love Lyanna but I made the match." She said, her voice even and composed.
"Lya and I knew each other for years before we got married." Rickon snarled at her, "And who brought Lyanna to Winterfell in the first place?" Sansa questioned back leaving Rickon absolutely quiet. "I didn't want to force you into a marriage like I had been and nor would any of our children be forced into any such marriage." She further said.
"Our children" Rickon question, "You aren't even having my children out of this" He said exasperatedly falling back into the chair opposite her sister.
"Nor Jon's if that helps quell your anguish." Sansa said, her voice sharp and cutting.
Rickon smiled and said, "I will and yes you heard right Sister, I will allow you to make decisions for some of my children but Jon would never give you the same right." Smiling, he leaned back into his chair and took a long draught from his goblet but Rickon's smile faltered when he saw Sansa's lips curve into a smirk.
"I already have his approval for the schemes that I have planned." She said, filling her goblet with some more wine, "I wish to make the North strong and I have found the right person to succeed me." She then looked at him directly, "I also have Bran's approval on the matter."
If Rickon was taken aback he didn't show it. None of the Starks had seen Bran in almost two decades, they knew he was somewhere north of the wall but not his exact location.
"And what is it that you have planned for our children Sansa?" Rickon asked, his voice full of dread.
Sansa smirked, "That's why I called you to Winterfell. I seek your counsel brother."
Rickon raised his eyebrow, egging Sansa to continue as he drained the rest of his goblet.
"I'm wondering if the North should have a Prince or a Princess as an Heir Apparent." Sansa said, her voice stone cold and her expressions even harder.
Rickon's feet went cold and the chill began to spread throughout his body as Sansa laid out her plans, not concrete but potential before him.
Had she truly decided what she wanted to make out of the North and the future of all Children with the Stark blood? The answer to that was still unclear but one thing was set in stone. Never again would the North bow to anyone. It'd always be ruled by a King or Queen of Winter.
oOoOoOoOo
Rhaenys gathered the sheets around her lithe body as she got up from the bed to pour herself some wine.
"Do you care for some?" she asked the northern man who had accompanied her to her bed.
"Can one deny the Princess of the North's hospitality?" Torrhen asked her, sitting up on Rhaenys' bed, the thick furs askew.
Rhaenys simply smiled and poured her companion a glass of wine as well and got back in to bed with him.
They remained silent for a while before Torrhen spoke again, "I missed this." he said pressing a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Rhaenys wasn't the kind to blush but she couldn't help smiling.
"I'll be honest with you." she said, "I only missed the sex" she further added, smirking and winking at him before she pressed her lips to his; silencing any complaints that he might have had.
"I missed this as well" he said, as she pulled back from him and leaned back into his arms.
"How long are you here for ?" she asked him.
"Here, as in Winterfell? another week perhaps." he said, taking a sip from his goblet. "What about you?"
Rhaenys contemplated the answer before speaking up, "My father said that my aunt needed me and so here I am."
"You didn't ask him why he was sending you here?" Torr asked her, curiosity evident in her voice.
"Won't be the first time." she said turning towards him, "Do you know the purpose of your visit?" she asked him.
"My father said, the Queen wanted to meet all the Heirs of the Northern Lords." He said, looking at her.
"That doesn't explain Nyssa's presence." Rhaenys said, "Lord Flint has named his son Rodrick as his Heir."
"That's true, but Nyssa is yet to be Betrothed. Maybe the Queen wants to match her to the Heir of a Northern House of her choosing." Torrhen suggested.
"Nyssa should have been her father's heir." Rhaenys said, "She's wise and courageous."
"Not a great fighter though" Torrhen added to Rhaenys' words, "Although an exceptional Archer."
"I couldn't help agree more." Rhaenys added, agreeing with what Torrhen had to say and leaned into another kiss hopefully not their last for the night.
oOoOoOoOo
Sansa set in the Council Chambers which was housed in the newly constructed First Keep of Winterfell. Old Nan always said that the First Keep was haunted and on a Full Moon's night one could here the screams of those who had perished in the Fire that had consumed the entire building and laid the foundation for the Great Keep.
As far as Sansa was concerned, the Haunting of the First Keep would always be the least of her worries.
Around her sat her councillors who helped govern not only the North but the territories of all her Kingdoms. To her left sat Ser Willem Manderly, Master of Coin and Trade and on her left sat Lord Raymun Waynwood of the Vale, her Cousin Robin Arryn's representative on the council. Had it been under Sansa's control, she could have had both men killed at the same time but she liked them for their intelligence and loyalty.
"… and so Your Grace, the Vale is paying only 10 per cent less than the Rest of Westeros for the Iron Ore we purchase from the North. As you can see it's not a very profitable deal in exchange of the Crops that we give the North at a 30 percent less price." Lord Waynwood argued.
"Are you comparing Crops to Iron, My Lord." Ser Willem spoke up.
"Ser Willem, Lord Waynwood i've heard you plea." Sansa said, her composure cool and sharp. She looked to Lord Waynwood and said, "We can see you the required Iron at a price of 15 per cent less than what we give to the rest of Westeros. In return you have to decrease the Taxes that the northern traders on the Saltplans and Gulltown pay by 10 percent." Sansa observed the Vale Lord for a couple of seconds before she continued, "Please let me know if you have any issues with the agreement."
Lord Waynwood keep silent but gently nodded his head, agreeing to what his queen had to say.
"Good! What's the next order of business this morning?" Sansa asked Myranda Royce, her councillor and aide.
"We received a Raven from Lord Ryswell yesterday, it's with regards to the building and development of the three port towns on the Western Coast." She said, the raven scroll lying before her amidst many.
"We have already provided Lord Ryswell with a hundred builders and four hundred free folk settlers. What more could he ask for?" cut in Lord Harrion Karstark.
"He requests the aid of a hundred and fifty Winter Wolves to help guard the three towns till the time he can train and hire guards to protect the three towns." Myranda said, quoting from the Raven Scroll.
Sansa looked to Lord Mors Umber, the Commander of the Winter Wolves, "Do we have the men to spare?" she asked him.
Mors sighed, before replying "We have a hundred men to spare and if Her Grace wishes, we could send a missive to Winter's Keep to send the extra fifty men."
Sansa considered his words before she spoke again, "Send a message back to Lord Ryswell saying that we'll send him a hundred men and that he's to summon the other fifty from the Rills to complement the Winter Wolves. Also tell him that he has only six months to train new soldiers or guards before we recall half the strength and then the rest will leave the towns after three months from then."
Myranda took a note of what Sansa had said. She was about to table the next order of business when Ser Podrick of the Winter Guard entered the Council Chamber.
"Your Grace, the Princes have been sighted five miles from Winterfell." He said, his voice nonchalant.
"That's good news Ser Podrick, inform Princess Rhaenys and tell her that I have requested of her to greet her brothers on my behalf." Sansa said, a smile playing on her lips.
"Yes Your Grace." Ser Podrick bowed before exiting from the Council Chambers.
The councillors remained quiet for a while before Myranda spoke up again, "Your Grace, there's another matter which requires urgent attention from you."
"What is it Myranda?" Sansa asked, looking directly at the woman she had known for several years now.
"Lord Tormund seeks to settle some of his people south of the New Gift. He says that his town and the land allotted to his family can't support all the people under his jurisdiction. I've also received a worn from your cousin Prince Jon regarding the matter." Myranda said.
"I hope Lord Tormund realizes the fact that the Free Folk he wished to send south will have to abide by our jurisdiction completely and not of the Gift." Sansa questioned Myranda.
"He writes that he'll only offer those who accept the change of jurisdiction and our laws to settle South of the Gift." Myranda replied.
"Your Grace, where are we to settle them?" asked Theo Wull, representative of the Mountain clans on the Council.
"I'm sure Lord Rickon would have some acres on the Lonely hills where the free folk could be settled. He's always been very willing to accommodate them in his lands." Ser Willem said, a smirk plastered on his face.
"I wish the same could be said for your family Ser Manderly. Never have I heard your family taking an initiative to settle the free folk on your lands." cut in Harrion Karstark.
"The free folk never wished to settle so far south." Ser Willem said, turning a dark shade of red.
"Then we'd have to let them know that if they wish to settle South of the Gift, then House Stark can settle them anywhere between Last Hearth to Moat Cailin." said Sansa, backing Harrion Karstark's point, "provided you brother will not have a problem Ser Willem" she further added looking directly at her Master of Trade and Coin.
Ser Willem remained silent before speaking up, "House Manderly will welcome them and help them settle in our lands Your Grace. I don't forsee any problems that my Brother might have."
"Very Good." Sansa said, getting up from her chair at the head of the table. "We'll reconvene tomorrow as i have much to discuss with all of you on regards with the future functioning of the North." she said, walking out of the Council Chamber closely followed by Harwin and Anguy of her Queensguard. The councillors all bowed as she exited them chambers before breaking into silent whispers amongst themselves.
oOoOoOoOo
Princess Rhaenys awaited her cousins in the central courtyard of Winterfell along with Torrhen Karstark, Nyssa Flint and several others.
It had been over two years since she had seen Robb and Ned. She was anxious to see them, especially little Ned who was only a year younger to her sister.
Soon enough, the conch horn sounded heralding the arrival of the Princes and a few minutes later the fluttering banners of House Stark; a grey dire wold on a white field was seen in the distance along with the Black Bear of House Mormont and a Black Direwolf on a field of Red; House Stark of the Dreadfort.
Rhaenys saw Robb riding at the helm of the marching column atop his destrier. He looked every bit a Stark and a Prince of Winterfell. Behind him rode young Ned, a splitting image of what would have been Uncle Rickon at his age. Beside them rode Lady Lyanna of the Houses Stark and Mormont.
As soon as the marching column entered the courtyard, several of the nobles and commoners bowed to the Princes. All except Rhaenys, who was their equal; the titled Princess of the North. She ran to her brothers and engulfed them in a hug as soon as they got down from their horses. Robb and even little Ned, returned her warmth by engulfing her between them.
"I missed you both so much" Rhaenys said to them.
"I missed you too Rhae" Robb whispered in her ear while Ned just pressed harder against his elder cousin.
The cousins parted after several moments.
"Did you grow another foot or so Robb? You are as tall as James now." Rhaenys remarked looking at her brother,who seemed to quite resembled her elder brother in looks.
Robb laughed out loud, "Just a little more" he said rubbing the back of his head. "It's Ned who has grown over a foot he said" pulling his younger brother to him and ruffling the messy auburn hair his younger brother sported.
The cousins laughed but Rhaenys grew silent as they were joined by her aunt Lyanna and the other Mormonts.
Rhaenys curtsied to the warrior women before walking to her aunt and give her a hug.
"It's been too long since i have seen you or your siblings Rhae. How are James, Quaryn and Heira?" Lyanna asked, taking her hand in her own and walked towards the Great Hall of Winterfell across the courtyard where the assembled Lords and Commoners gave way to them, bowing to the Lady of the Dreadfort and a Northern Princess in her own right.
"They are good Aunt Lyanna. James has been spending a lot of his time North of the Wall, in the valley of the Thenns. Quaryn is learning to be a night under Ser Allister Thorne whereas Heira is busy behaving as the perfect princess. She aspires to join Aunt Daenerys' dragon riders in a couple of years."Rhaenys said.
"Even you wanted to join the Queen's legion of dragon riders a few years back."Lyanna said, looking to her niece affectionately.
"I did then, but now I believe my place is in the North. This is where i belong." She said, looking to her aunt.
Lyanna was about to say something, but before she could the Herald announced the Queen's arrival.
The nobles bowed to their Queen as she walked into the Great Hall and embraced her sons and sister by law.
"I hope you had an eventful stay at Bear Island." She asked Robb and Ned.
"We did mother." Ned said, speaking up. "We even went sailing a couple of times into the open waters of the Sunset Sea." He further added.
At this, Sansa looked to Jorelle Mormont and nodded in appreciation who simply accepted the acknowledgement.
"Come, you must rest now. We'll have a feast in the evening." Sansa said, looking to her Queensguard to escort the Princes to their rooms before walking out of the Great Hall with the Mormont women.
Ser Podrick walked forward smiling, to where Robb and Ned stood, "Robb, I trust you had a good time at Bear Island." "We did Ser Podrick. I missed our sparring lessons though." Robb said to the knight.
"I look forward to having one with you soon enough" Podrick said, keeping a hand on Robb's shoulder before kneeling in front of Ned, "Come little Prince, you'll be tired from all that riding now won't you. It's time for you to rest for a while." He said, before he began to escort him out of the Great Hall. "I'm not tired, I want to go to the Kennels." Ned said looking up to Ser Podrick who sighed but gave in to the Prince's wishes.
"Alright, but after that we are going straight to your chambers. Understood?" Ser Podrick asked, almost pleading with the little Prince.
"Yes" Ned said excitedly and ran off towards the Kennels with Ser Podrick falling close behind.
Robb and Rhaenys smiled, "Ser Olyvar, Ser Perwyn I believe you both need some rest as well."
"We are to guard you at all times. We have strict…" Ser Olyvar began but Robb cut him off, "I'm in Winterfell now, the Heart of the North. I'm safe here and you know it. Plus you both need the rest."
Rhaenys was surprised at the tone Robb took with them, he was both respectful and dismissive. It seemed he had become much like her Aunt in the last few years.
If the Knights were annoyed, they hid it really well. Bowing to their Prince they made their way to the Ice Tower which housed the Queen's guard.
Once the two Knights were a dafe distance away, Robb leaned in towards Rhaenys, "Meet me at the Broken Tower in half an hour. Bring the others as well."
Rhaenys simply nodded as Robb turned his back towards her and walked away.
"What did he say?" Torrhen asked her, as Robb headed out in the direction of the Kennels.
"He wants to speak with us." Rhaenys answered.
"Us?" Torrhen asked, arching his brow in question.
"All of us." Rhaenys simply replied before she turned her back towards him and walked towards the God's wood, "Tell the others" as she walked out.
