A/N: Sorry for the delay, my American friend visited me and we were away enjoying ourselves, which led me to have no internet.
Dzerx sorry, so close yet I still have plans for the Boltons.
Mr. Soze, thanks for the actual specific advice and for the compliment. I am sorry to tell you however that I disagree with you point that you can get all of the changes out in 1 massive chapter. Cause I want to explore the important changes, why they happened, and its impacts in the whole timeline of the original story, which I feel similar fanfics lack and the parts of these fanfics that I personally love thinking about. So you won't be seeing Robert's Rebellion for a couple of chapters. I will try and make it seem less like filler.
Not A Fan, sorry you think that my story is boring. If you don't want to keep reading then don't. I am fascinated about the choices that could have been made to develop the North into a powerhouse, rather then fleshing out characters. If that isn't what you fancy, once again I am sorry and please move on.
MachoMachoMan, as I have said to the other people that have just said this, in what manner. From now on, unless you specify what you didn't like and how you would change it, I won't be addressing it.
, thanks.
.10, sorry you were put off by the deleting of chapters, I didn't think it would bother people that much. Thanks for the complement and I will try.
xXLgTXx, thanks for the constructive criticism. I totally agree with you. I want this story to show the slight cultural differences that lead to this different North, while also discussing the economic and military aspects. I will try and demonstrate that more in the following chapters.
IWantColouredRain, I completely understand your point. That has always been an issue for me, and it is only amplified with this story cause I am just adding and rewording to my previous stories. This leads to conflicts in how the story should be told, hence the weird tenses. I am trying to be more careful of them but they just slip through anyway.
Ao black, thanks for the catch. Once again this stuff stems from what I mentioned above. If you see more of that please do let me know. The wording is sadly something I don't know how to fix, as I can not think of other ways to phrase myself beyond how I normally speak. I will try and keep what you said in mind but I am sorry if it doesn't change much. Thanks for the compliment. You make a fair point with the brother thing, I will fix it right after I post this chapter. Your point about the Night King is false, you are thinking about the Night's King, the Lord Commander that married the White Walker. You are right that no leader figure exist in the book, however, in this case I decided to draw upon the TV show to create a central powerful figure that poses a great threat to the North. The naming will be slightly changed and more varied but idk about those LotR names.
Darkcrest27, yes, but I chose to ignore that portion of history. Also as far as I remember, we don't know if they existed during the same period, so if they didn't it could also mean that history got changed.
NoMan69, if you think that is the case then please stop reading and move on. However, I would like it to be known that I was one of the earlier people to write this sort of story, and none of the others got completed. Finally, once again I want to focus upon how and why certain changes took place, and not just say these changes happened for no reason.
ATP, please keep reading and you will know what I have thought of for fast communication systems.
Blackwidow713, to answer you question yes he will exist. However, he will be different from the character in the show, due to the fact that he will have grown up in a different climate, and logically with the historical changes probably not have even the same heritage. I won't be messing with that heavily, however, cause I don't want to completely think of a new story.
The Bolton attacking force was decimated. Completely overrun with only a few stragglers making it back to the Dreadfort. They had left the Dreadfort with an attacking force of 10000 men and only 2000 returned. The Bolton heir and his bastard brother had major injuries and were barely surviving. King Royce Bolton saw these men trickle in and he was seething in anger. Throwing everything off of his desk, he yelled at his servant to bring him his two brothers.
The servant meekly replied "Are you sure your grace, they are nearly dead and will require medical atte-"
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FLAYED! IF NOT GET THE FUCK OUT AND BRING THEM TO ME!"
"You called us brother?" said Ramsay Bolton with his right hand missing. Their bastard brother, Domeric, was meekly standing next to him.
"You fucking idiot! How could you lose so fucking badly! Because of your fucking failure, even the bloody servant is questioning me!" screamed Royce Bolton. "Not only that you lost us 8000 men and your fucking sword arm! I swear, as soon as I get married and have children, I will skin you!"
"I am sorry brother, I underestimated the young dog."
"You mock him, yet you got massacred by him! What does that make you, you fucking goatfucker. And you, you fucking bastard, how the hell did you fail to inform your brother that his plan was fucking idiotic! Then you failed to protect him! I will make you regret the day that my father raped your mother!"
"I apologize my lord, I will not make the same mistake."
"The only fucking reason why you are alive is because I need a fucking heir to the Dreadfort! Get out of my fucking sight! You two better be ready to leave within the end of the moon!"
King Benjen Stark was talking with his Magnars. "My Magnars, how many men did we lose?"
"We lost around 1000 men, your grace." replied Magnar Jon.
"Your grace, your plan with the dummies was pure genius." said Magnar Tormund.
"Thank you, Magnar Giantsbane."
"Call me Tormund, your grace. We have fought together and watched each other's back, there is no need to stand upon formalities when you don't have to, my king."
"Very well Tormund, I will call you Tormund if you call me Benjen. You did well routing the Bolton men. Your son even killed High Magnar Hornwood. You shall lead the vanguard with me, in luring the Boltons out. They will likely come out, when their bannermen get here to break the 'siege' of the Dreadfort. We have to make it look like we are actually putting in an effort to siege them. When the bannermen begin their charge at us, we must make it look like we are running. Magnar Lun, you must lead the giants out first. From our gathered intel they are very distrustful of none humans, and will believe that the 'cowardly' Giants will fill first. As soon as the bannermen arrive, I will lead the fleeing men. It will be more believable that the men ran away, because their king ran away." said King Benjen explaining the plan. "Magnar Rogar Cerwyn, tell the men in the Lonely Hills that they must look out for the bannermen coming and that will signal for them to prepare for the ambush."
"I shall do it immediately your grace."
"High Magnar Asher Glover, I need you to do something for me as well."
King Benjen walked along the men's camp outside of Dreadfort. All of the Magnar's were informed of the plans and were to lead their men as soon as he 'fled'. They were now just waiting for the Bolton bannermen to attack. It was going to be any minute now. As soon as King Benjen had that thought, a battle horn rang through the morning sky.
All of the men knowing that it was the enemy bannermen, they all prepared themselves. King Benjen jumped on his horse and 'fled' at just the right time. Allowing just enough time for most, if not all, the men to be able to leave the camp.
The Bolton men after being fed very little, due to rationing, all wanted to kill the Starks. Ramsay Bolton was eager to make up for his mistake and gain his honor and reputation back. He commanded his bastard brother, and his men to leave the Dreadfort to join with the bannerman in crushing the Starks. He himself had to stay back, as he would be useless in battle now with the loss of his sword arm.
"You grace, the Boltons are opening the gates and their men are pouring out of the gates. Their bannermen are coming at us and will reach our position in roughly 5 minutes."
"Good! They fell for it! Now we have to hope Magnar Thenn and Magnar Mormont was able to their part!"
The Stark men went into the previously decided valley, that had a small entry point but a wide and large valley. The archers from the Stark men ran up the hill joining the archers on top of the hill. The other infantry went to the other end of the valley, acting like they were trapped.
As the Bolton men ran into the valley Domeric grinned like a maniac and said "So the dog is trapped. How courageous of you to run away at the sight of the enemy!"
Seeing as though most of the Bolton army including the bannermen was in the valley, King Benjen said, "I wasn't running you fool! I was leading you into a trap! Magnar Thenn, Magnar Mormont, do it now!" leading a soldier blowing the horn, signalling his army.
With that the archers appeared out of the small cover and hiding spots. Realizing that they were trapped, Domeric yelled "Get out! Turn around and leave!"
The Bolton men began to push and shove each other to run away but they couldn't leave, for the Mormonts had their spearmen guard the mouth of the valley. Then they began firing arrows into the Bolton men. The entrance to the valley being small and thin, they could hold of the much bigger force, even with the smaller fighting force, with a well formed shield wall.
The Bolton men got brutalized by the trap set by House Stark. They were massacred by the Stark men. With arrows raining down and being attacked from both sides, they never stood a chance. Domeric in a flash of cunning, played dead. Because he was covered in blood, the Stark men assumed he was dead and left him alone. As soon as night fell, Domeric would get up and run away.
King Royce Bolton from his tower saw the Bolton army marching back and smiled. Finally the direwolf was broken. They could now march to Winterfell and claim it for their own. The flayed men was flying proudly in the air as the men made their way back. You could see the dents and cuts on the armor from what must have been a hard fight.
He walked down towards the gate and said "Open the gates! The Bolton men are coming back after skinning a wolf! And get me my damned brother. Inform him that his bastard brother is coming back."
The gate opened up allowing the men to trickle in. He looked at the leader, wearing a similar leather armour as Domeric's. He didn't look like Domeric but he was familiar. Tall with dark brown hair was a northern look, so that meant nothing to him. He looked bigger than Domeric was, strange. When the man turned to look at him, he was shocked. The man had grey eyes! The only known house with grey eyes were the Starks.
With this realization he screamed "These are not Bolton men! They are Stark men!"
As soon as Roose said that the Stark men moved instantly. They cut the chains that opened and closed the main gates. King Royce who now realized was Magnar Tormund, quickly charged and slew his man-at-arms master, who was easily the best swordsman and fighter in the group, while King Bejen charged at him. Even in his young age, he slew 10 men with ease, while making his way over to him. Royce pulled out his own bronze blade, knowing that he couldn't outrun him.
Even after engaging the first blow one could easily see that Benjen was a far superior swordsman and fighter. King Benjen began his training and wielded a wooden sword from the age of 5, training with both Magnar Tormund and King Rickard. Even after becoming King, he regularly sparred with multiply guards at a time. On the other hand, King Royce, while 3 years older and taller, had stopped his swordplay practice as soon as he rose to be the Red King. Not only that King Royce only started to wield a blade at the age of 8 and even then avoided practicing it whenever he could, preferring to practice the bloody practices of House Bolton.
After the 15 clashes Benjen disarmed Royce and knocked him out by slamming the pommel of his blade into his head.
He then turned to Magnar Theon Iceriver and said "Have him chained. When he wakes up bring him to me with his brother. Magnar Giantsbane please bring the small folk to the execution area,. Do not use any force. Inform them that their tormentors will be executed."
King Benjen stood by the execution stand by the weirwood tree outside of the Dreadfort, sharpening Ice sullenly. Ice was bigger than King Benjen himself, but King Benjen knew his duty. The man that passes the sentence, should swing the sword.
When Royce and Ramsay Bolton was brought forth, he walked over and said "Royce Bolton, you have fought the one true King of the North, flayed many men, tortured and raped the small folk."
Royce begged "Please my king, I will bend the knee! Just let me LIVE! You can kill my brother and take my sister as a slave! I will do anything, just let me live. Please!"
King Benjen looked at Royce with disgust and said "You disgust me. You would sell your family so that you could live. You even offered you own sister as a slave, an act mind you that breaks the few laws of the Old Gods. I spit upon you. I find you guilty of all crimes. I, King Benjen Stark, the first of my name. King of Winter. Magnar of Winterfell and King in the North. King of the First Men, the Children of the Forest, and the Giants, sentence you to die. Do you have any last words?"
Royce said "No please! I will do anything! Let me take the Black! please!"
King Benjen listened solemnly and nodded to Magnar Tormund. He pushed Royce's head down, and King Benjen swung Ice down on King Royce's neck, separating the head from the body. For his last words, he would forever be known as King Royce 'the Coward' Bolton .
He then turned to Ramsay Bolton. "You have to answer the same crimes crimes. How do you plead?"
He screamed "FUCK YOU, YOU BITCH! YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE SAFE! I WILL KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!" while thrashing against his bindings and men.
"Very well, I find you guilty of all crimes.. I, King Benjen Stark, the first of my name. King of Winter. Magnar of Winterfell and King in the North. King of the First Men, the Children of the Forest, and the Giants, sentence you to die. Do you have any last words?"
"CURSE YOU, YOU BITCH! I WILL FLAY YOU ALIVE! WHEN I GET OUT OF THIS I WILL KILL YOU!"
Ignoring those words, he once again nodded to Magnar Tormund who he pushed Ramsey's head down. In a flash, his head joined his brother's.
King Benjen turned to the bannermen of House Bolton, and said "Magnars, I have not come to execute all of you. You were just following you duty in helping your king. I will let you continue to be the Magnars but only if you swear yourself to me or Magnar Tormund Giantsbane of the Dreadfort. Magnar Thenn, for your service during this war, I gift you the Broken Branch. You are to build a harbor there to increase trade for the North. May you use it well."
"I, Magnar Eddard Hornwood, pledge myself and my house to Winterfell. We pledge the faith of Hornwood. Hearth and harvest and I yield up to you, your grace. Our swords, spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you."
"I, King Benjen Stark, pledge to grant mercy to your weak, help your helpless, and give justice to all. I accept your oaths. I name you High Magnar Hornwood of the Horned Woods. May continue to rule your lands well."
"I, Magnar Benjen Ramsworth, pledge myself and my house to the Dreadfort. We pledge the faith of Ramsgate. Hearth and harvest and I yield up to you, my Magnar. Our swords, spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you."
"I, High Magnar Tormund Giantsbane, pledge to grant mercy to your weak, help your helpless, and give justice to all. I accept your oaths."
"I, Magnar Jon Thenn, pledge myself and my house to the Dreadfort we pledge the faith of yet built Widow's Watch. Hearth and harvest and I yield up to you, my Magnar. Our swords, spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you."
"I, High Magnar Tormund Giantsbane, pledge to grant mercy to your weak, help your helpless, and give justice to all. I accept your oaths."
"I, Magnar Tormund Giantsbane, pledge myself and my house to the Winterfell, we pledge the faith of the Dreadfort. Hearth and harvest and I yield up to you, your grace. Our swords, spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you."
"I, King Benjen Stark, pledge to grant mercy to your weak, help your helpless, and give justice to all. I name you High Magnar Giantsbane of the Dreadfort. I accept your oaths."
Brief excerpt of the timeline of the North, in the Encyclopedia, the History of the Kingdom of the North.
52 years AW: Benjen "the Unifier" and Alyssa Greywolf will have a genius child named Brandon "the Scholar". This will start the myth that for every five Starks, one must be named Brandon or the Wall will fall. Benjen "the Unifier" orders the building of the Hall of Artifacts in Winterfell, where a great many important artifacts are placed to be remembered and honored. The crown of Garth "the Greenhand" and the crowns of all of the defeated Kings of the North can be found in this hall.
53 years AW: Brandon "the Scholar" was already speaking, reading and writing learning at a much faster rate than the norm.
64 years AW: At age 11 Brandon "the Scholar" would be instrumental in the standardization of a new writing system for the First Tongue, favoring an alphabetical form of writing rather than runes for every single word, attempting to design a clear easy to learn language.
It began when he traveled through Wintertown and observed the common folk, unknowingly committing crimes and unable to make their complaints known. After further research, discovered that the inability to read the numerous runes created a disconnect between the nobles and the smallfolk, who were treated as animals rather than humans, because they had to work the entire day and were unable to even read and write, a skill considered to be basic knowledge for the nobles. He also understood that only having a certain group of people who could read and write their language, made it difficult to record and learn from history, hence, his drive to design a better form of written language. With the smallfolk being more educated and aware, the North had greater access to scholars, as well as decrease the gap between the magnars and their people.
He would gather great minds all throughout the North and to design this language. He would teach the Northern Magnars and translate the journals of every Stark king before him so that the future generations might have access to it. He would also have every major battle of the North recorded so that the future Starks will learn from their ancestors mistakes.
He also started the tradition of writing down every good idea he would have but could not accomplish. So that in the future should they have the capacity to do so, they could. He would also start the biggest encyclopedia in known world, the History of the Kingdom of the North, starting from Garth "the Greenhand". This book would be taken up by future Stark members who vowed to be as honest as possible whilst writing this history book. After the formation of the Order of the Highscholar the safekeeping and filling of the book would be taken up by them.
Brandon "the Scholar" Stark would marry Elenei "the fair" Durrandon, young granddaughter of Durran "the Godsgrief" Durrandon. This would be the first marriage alliance between House Stark and House Durrandon. King Brandon "the Scholar" would help King Durran "Bronze-axe" ally with the Children of the Forest to destroy House Storm, who had began to practice dark necromantic magic. This would make House Durrandon the strongest House in what would become the Stormlands and allow them to conquer the Stormlands. He would teach King Durran the writing of the First Tongue, allowing it to spread into the South as well.
79 years AW: Brandon "the Scholar" helped fund House Greywolf's fishing fleet. These fish would feed the North during winter, where game was too hard to find and it was nearly impossible to grow food.
100 years AW: The many primordial magical creatures and gods which once roamed the land disappears during the Century of Man. All gods have either faded or have moved into the Heavenly Plains. However, primal creatures such as the direwolves, saber-tooth cats, northern lions, and short-faced bear all survived and thrives in the North and Beyond-the-Wall.
110 years AW: Prince Tormund "the Mathematician" Stark standardized mathematics, with the symbols of addition, subtraction, and division created solely by him with the notes of Brandon "the Scholar" for the rest of the North and the world. His line of thinking was similar to his father's in that not having a standardized form of mathematics made it difficult to learn, use, and was generally crippling the North.
He had also thought of the metric system. A system of organized measurement and would be taken up all over the world. Trade grew with in the north with these new developments. Items could be better tracked and certain items grew in value due to rarity, or craftsmanship. It also allowed for better architects, and more complex building to be built.
130 years AW: Magnar Wun Giantsarm developed the idea of currency in the form of coins. House Stark seeing great value in such an idea, immediately took the idea, made three coins. Tin, bronze, and copper. 20 tin was worth one copper, and 20 copper was worth one bronze. Most animal pelts fell within the bronze range. Artworks, clothing or woodworks were in the copper area. In the later years when economics was more advanced, a member of House Stark's council, the Master of coins, always tried to keep track of the coins trying to make the number stay even, and updating the coins to Gold Wolves, Silver Dragons, and Copper Giants. Knowing that having too many coins will make them lose value, but having too little would cause a shortage in coins.
148 years AW: The thirteenth Magnar Commander of the Wall marries the last White Walker and declares himself the Night's King. His name is scrubbed from all Northern texts, even in the History of the Kingdom of the North, except in the personal journals of King Brandon "the Breaker". One can still find the crossed out name in the History of the Kingdom of the North.
153 years AW: Magnar Rickard Iceriver developed the skill of map making. With many tries, they had made the first mostly accurate map of the North and later surrounding lands. It kept bringing profit for the house. They taught their small folk to retrieved information about the surrounding lands in exchange for goods. They soon raised enough money to raise a keep. Their keep was located near the splitting of the river White Knife and close to Whitehall. Built by a few giants and men, their keep was a small sized one, with their main skill being map making. In 1570 years House Stark would commission the building of a massive Ironwood table map of the entirety of Westeros and Essos to be put into the the War chamber.
161 years AW: King Brandon "the Breaker" with the help of Magnar Jormound "the Mighty" Giantsbane destroy the Night's King's forces and break the Night's Fort. King Brandon "the Breaker" personally slew the Night's King. Afterwards, he enforces strict laws against the Night's Watch to prevent them from ever rising in such a fashion again. King Brandon "the Breaker" then renounces his Kingship and swore the oaths of the Night's Watch and become the fourteenth Magnar Commander of the Night's Watch. His reasonings are unknown, although it is theorized to create the strong foundations that the Night's Watch will carry for the rest of its existence.
278 years AW: King Harwood "the Mad" Stark slew 50 powerful wargs, 50 giants, 50 Children of the Forest and a newborn Stark from a cousin branch. For his tyranny, his son and heir Prince Galbart "the Just" would rally his men and stage a coup against him. In a single day, King Harwood "the Mad" was captured and tried. He was sent to the Wall to live out his days in shame and punishment. He is considered to be the worst Stark King in history.
King Galbart would then organize the making of the famous Throne of Winter with the Children of the Forest. However, the methods of creation are hidden and none are able to replicate its effects. The King's Regent would rule from on the smaller ironwood throne on the left of the King, while the Crowned Prince ruled from the smaller weirwood throne on the right of the King. These smaller thrones were located steps further down the raised platform the Throne of Winter.
325 years AW: King Gandar "the Paranoid" Stark realizing the potential of the area of the Neck, hired many giants and men to build a grand keep there only second to Winterfell. He explained his plan to his Magnars and agreed that this could be the strongest line of defence for the North. After 17 years of building, Wolf's Watch was complete with 20 strong and tall towers, connected by a bridge to the central main Keep. The walls were high and thick. The same in size and fortifications to Winterfell, the surrounding lands being swampy making it much harder for men to attack. If they wanted to attack the North by land in large numbers, they had to walk through a singular safe path, allowing it to be easily defensible. It was built to be impossible to take from the South and extremely difficult to take from the North.
A third born son of King Gandar was granted Wolf's Watch, taking on the name House Guardstarks, granted the title of the Magnar of Wolf's Watch, Shield of the North, and later the Masters of the Canal. Their main source of money was the taxing the canal and trade.
453 years AW: King Theon "the Sisterwolf" Stark would conquer the Three Sisters, one of the reasons for his name. After the Pirate King Rickard "the Bloodship" raided all the way to Whitehall, King Theon quickly struck against the Three Sisters, using the navy which House Thenn had built up to conquer them. The pirates that lived upon the islands, whilst skilled sailors, had no coordination between each other. This meant House Thenn could defeat the pirate navy. The island was quickly overwhelmed, as the pirates skill lay in the sea. He gifted each island to House Beasthorn, House Whitetree, and House Frost. House Frost was named the High Magnars of the Three Sisters. They were supposed to guard them from the Bronze and Griffin Kings of the Vale, and force all ships that pass to pay the toll. Allowing all three houses to rise in power and build their own navy to not rely upon the Thenns.
House Beasthorn had great areas for fishing allowing them food for winter and a resource to trade with the nearby Magnars. House Whitetree had extremely fertile lands especially for the Weirwood trees. They grew Weirwood trees there, giving the space to the Children. They in return of the act of kindness, by teaching them how to make bows out of the wood, which were currently the greatest tree to make bows out of. It brought House Whitetree great wealth. By this point most of the Children had moved up to the North, or the Neck, as they were truly accepted there, unlike the southern area. In fact even the Children of the Forest from the dense northern Essos, had left their forest after being attacked and kicked out of their home. They were called the Ifequevron, by the people in Essos.
House Frost had access to a lot of Ice, as their islands were the coldest of the three. Seeing this as an opportunity, House Frost sold ice to the southern kingdoms. Carriages were not fast enough to transport the ice before it melted but with boats and the location of the island, they were quickly able to sell ice to the Reach and the Stormlands making a great profit.
The other reason for his nickname "the Sisterwolf" was the fact that he was the only male out of 5 children. House Stark always had more sons than daughters. Normally House Stark only had a daughter in the main line every 3 generations. This was the only generation where 4 girls were born to the main family line.