Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Disney/Dreamworks/Game of Thrones characters, locations, and/or terms. I am just a humble weaver unraveling cloths of stories to thread together and create a new pattern. If you would like to read the info and details of this fic, or if you are confused about some characters' names, you may go to the Preface section. Thank you!

JACK

It's almost time to pay your debt.

The sun was bright beyond his eyelids, and Jack had to blink several times to rid himself of the stinging feeling.

"What a lovely morning, isn't it?"

Jack groaned and pulled the covers over his head. "Must we do this everyday, Tooth?"

His cousin laughed. "It has been a full moon's turn since your arrival Are you still not used to this routine?"

"I will never be used to it." Jack stretched and yawned beneath the covers. He pushed them away and gave Tooth a disapproving look. "Let me break my fast first."

"But my lord, you may always eat while walking." Tooth smiled sweetly.

"Then allow me to correct myself. Let me eat in peace, without having to converse with anyone else."

Tooth just twirled on the spot, her favorite cloak almost giving him a headache at the flashing colors, before leaving his room. Jack stared a moment more at the crossbeams above and sighed. Every morning in North Pole was spent greeting the people who brought supplies at such an early time. He wanted to change the receiving to midday, but Tooth would not let him. Apparently the time instilled discipline. The time did instill something in Jack: chagrin.

He rolled out of bed and dropped on the cold, hardwood floor. "Fisherman be damned!" he hissed, rubbing his knees.

As soon as Jack had pulled on his doublet, a deep blue trimmed with gold, he padded barefoot out of his room, boots in hand, and headed to the Globe Room. To the unfamiliar, the Pole castle was an underground spoke, with rooms arranged in a circular pattern around the center that was the Globe Room. It was named such for its dome shape, the largest visible part of the castle that was above ground. It doubled as a receiving and dining area, as well as the place where special occasions were held. At times it was also used as a meeting room. To Jack, it was his most favorite place within the main castle. It contained the large table map carved out of the wood found only in North Pole, done in the image of the Animaren continent.

Jack pushed the door open and dropped into the chair at the head of the table. Tooth was not there. She was perhaps out in the courtyard already, greeting the people. Jack snorted to himself and pulled on his boots as the door leading from the kitchens opened.

Aster Bunnymund walked in, a sheaf of parchment under one arm. "Lord Frost."

"What brings the bunny into the Globe Room?" Jack said, piling bacon on his plate.

"Message from your uncle."

Jack looked up. Aster waved a piece of parchment sealed with the sigil of Sigurd. He tossed it towards Jack, and it slid across the table, coming up to a halt just within reach. Jack set his fork down and picked up the letter.

"Not by raven, I hope?"

"For someone so carefree, you seem to think much of omens," Aster sat a few seats away and poured himself a goblet of wine.

Prying the seal off, Jack unfolded the parchment and skimmed through the message. "Hm."

"Something of note?"

It felt like a burden was lifted out of his hands and thrown into the sea. "Tooth is not to be betrothed to Hiccup; Lady Merida Dunbroch of the Highlands is."

"Not very keen on the idea of an arranged marriage, are you?"

"I would sail to Animat the moment I get word of one for me." Jack glanced at Aster. "And you'll help me escape."

Aster rolled his eyes. "If I wanted to be fetched by the fisherman, then by all means, yes. I'd rather incur your wrath than your uncle's."

"Perhaps if I paid a high sum?" Jack crunched on a piece of bacon. "Don't laugh, I will find a way to obtain enough gold."

A knock on the door interrupted Aster's answer. Maester Sandy looked in and found Jack. "Lord Jackson, Lady Toothiana requests your presence in the courtyard."

"You're going to have to drag him out there, Sandy," Aster said before draining his goblet. He picked up the sheaf he had been carrying earlier and tucked it once again under his arm. "Lord Frost would not budge even if his life depended on it." Sniggering, he left through another door, one leading to the main hall.

"Lord Jackson?" Sandy spoke softly. There was an insistence to his tone, one that Jack could not ignore.

He shook his head and stood up, stuffing a few more pieces of bacon in his mouth. He followed Sandy through the corridor that led out to the kitchen, where he saw the little girl Sophie gaping at him. "Still not used to me, are you?" Jack ruffled her hair, and the girl squealed with laughter.

When Jack finally stepped out to the courtyard, the usual noise of animal and man greeted him. Sandy pat him on the back then made his way to the maester's tower. Jack rubbed his eyes and tried to stop himself from yawning. He failed.

"Cousin!" Tooth ran to him, several children trailing behind her. "I have something to ask of you. Could you greet them without me? I am needed at the orphanage."

"Of course," Jack waved his hand. Tooth grinned widely and spoke to the children, their excited voices fading away as they hurriedly left. Jack did not like this, being alone to meet the people.

Tooth was very much like her father. They loved helping the children, providing more than enough food, giving out toys on the day that honored the Guardians of North Pole. Tooth, when she was two and ten, had volunteered to manage the orphanage. Jack could not think of a day since then when she would not visit.

"Good morning, Lord Jack!" the boy called Jamie walked up to him, bowing low and holding up a bottle. "Wine?"

"Perfect," Jack swiped the bottle out of the boy's hands.

"M'lord, a goblet-"

"There's no need," said Jack before taking a swig and handing it back. He needed that to get through the morning without Tooth.

This was not the life he was meant for. He was content with what he did in the kingdoms across the sea, finding ways to feed and water himself by participating in various forms of games as long as it involved money that he wagered. He didn't have any land to tend to, no people to worry about. Just himself, that was enough.

He didn't expect to be staying for more than two or three moons in North Pole. He was not planning to either. Jack was not ready to take over just yet, and he did not think he would ever be. But he will play his part, be the lord North Pole requires, and, when he has had his fill, he will leave in the night, an official message to be left in the Globe Room with his decree that Toothiana will be the heir of Sigurd and the lady of North Pole. And by the time his uncle returns, he would be across the sea. Jack smiled at the well-thought out plan. All he needed to do was wait for the right moment.

"May the fisherman shower blessings upon you, m'lord!" Geron, the old man who fed the horses and reindeer, said his usual morning greetings.

Jack nodded at him. "And to you."

"The Lady Toothiana is not with you?"

"There was a pressing need at the orphanage this morning." Jack said. "I suppose she will not be here 'til late."

"The lady is busy as ever," Geron shoveled some hay into one stall. "We hope you find yourself not bored by these morning greetings."

Jack opened his mouth, but found nothing to say. Perhaps his expression gave away much of what he had been feeling. "It is my honor to receive my people, those who have worked so hard to provide for a house such as this."

Geron smiled widely, reaching up to his eyes. Somewhere in the back of his mind Jack sighed in relief. "I shall be leaving you to your chores. I have to greet the others."

"Of course!" the old man bowed so low Jack thought he wouldn't be able to stand straight anymore.

The usual pattern of asking tiny things about this person's house, or that person's ailment, the questions that were usually spoken by Tooth, were left to him, and he had to put up with their answers. He nodded when appropriate, and spoke when he felt he needed to. More questions asked, more time spent. He heard a distinct rumble from his gut. The bacon was not enough.

At least he was nearing the end. He spotted the siblings, Lumi and Kliment, unloading their cart of vegetables by the gates.

"A good morning to the two of you!" Jack called, and he wondered if that sounded too enthusiastic.

The girl, Lumi, managed a dip of the head, her hands occupied by several heads of lettuce. "My lord, a good morning to you as well." She nudged her brother with her elbow.

Kliment looked over his shoulder and looked Jack up and down. "Good morning," he grumbled, and returned to unloading.

"Not very talkative, is he?" Jack asked.

"I'm afraid not, my lord. He is a man of few words, my brother is," Lumi carefully dropped the lettuce into a crate. She patted Kliment fondly on the back before stacking more lettuce into her arms. Her brother murmured something to her, and walked out the gates, eyeing Jack suspiciously. "Just like Maester Sanderson."

Jack laughed. "I haven't heard anyone call Sandy by that name in a long time."

"You are very comfortable with your subjects, my lord," she looked at him as though he were some strange apparition. "I hardly see that in a highborn."

"It is my duty as a guardian of North Pole," Jack said out of habit, then rolled his eyes at this.

"I have heard as much." Lumi was about to place the next batch of lettuce into the crate when she gasped and dropped them. "A splinter," she said, pulling the glove off her hand and calmly examining her finger.

"Here, let me help," Jack stepped forward and took her hand, turning it a certain angle so the piece of wood caught the light.

"No, you don't have to-"

He ignored her. As he was squeezing the skin around the piece, he felt that her hands were ice cold. "Do you not own a thicker pair of gloves? The cold will damage your fingers. You could easily trade several of your lettuce for a decent pair in the market."

Lumi pulled her hand back with such force that Jack just stood there blinking at her, not knowing how to react.

"The splinter hasn't been extracted yet."

"I thank you for your concern, my lord. It will be gone eventually."

He took a step toward her, but her brother was suddenly in front of her, blocking him off. "Did you hurt her?" his voice sounded like the rumbling of an avalanche.

"I did no such thing!" Jack looked to Lumi for help, but Kliment and his mountain-like body eclipsed her.

"He is telling the truth." Lumi stepped around her brother and placed her hand on his arm. "Marshmallow, heed."

"Marshmallow?" Jack said with a laugh. "How could such a huge man have a contradictory name? Are you from Berk? Were you named after the plant?"

Kliment grunted and picked him up by the front of his doublet, lifting him in the air. Jack shouted in surprise and squirmed, holding onto the man's hands. "Put me down, brute! Don't you know who I am? I am the heir to this-"

He was dropped unceremoniously, and his legs crumpled beneath him, sending him sprawling on the ground. He looked up to find the man smirking and Lumi kneeling beside him, supporting him up.

"Kliment!" she scolded. "He is the heir to the house! No matter how obnoxious he may be, he is still our lord."

Jack narrowed his eyes at her. "Obnoxious?"

"Forgive me, my lord. I was merely stating the obvious."

He stood, and she with him. Jack studied Lumi, her hair tucked away into a maid's cap, wearing a dirty apron, gown and gloves, but staring at him with the most intense deep blue eyes he had ever seen. He took a step back, as if he had been pushed away by their ferocity. He cleared his throat and straightened his doublet. "Well then. Go back to work, what ever it was you were doing."

Lumi curtsied. "Yes, my lord. I would also like to beg your pardon for my brother's behavior. He can be rather... aggressive at times."

Jack nodded and turned to walk away, noting that her curtsy was more in the manner fit for a highborn than a peasant.

A/N: I don't know if you got my PM, but I'd like to thank Denise Siah, hopelesshoneyxo, and lockgirl for following this fic. And to lockgirl, I hope I can manage to keep up the writing :) (And gosh, I am no George R. R. Martin XD His works are way better than mine)

Reviews would be lovely :) Thanks!