Notes:
I corrected the text with the help of Chat GPX. Do you think the grammar is ok? I am not a native of English and I would like to know if I can trust that AI to publish this fanfic.
JON I
He and Jeyne had agreed to meet at one of the inns in Wintertown, a small town just outside Winterfell. It was a place frequented by merchants who came from White Harbor and Barrowton, making it a safe meeting place. While he would have preferred a more discreet location, risking harm to his beloved was not an option. Jeyne was sweet and lacked Arya's wild spirit.
However, they both chose to be hooded. As the lord of Queenscrown, he was moderately known in Wintertown, and there were a few occasions when merchants came to Winterfell to make deals with him instead of Lord Eddard. Such dealings upset Lady Stark. Fortunately, his father did not prevent him from holding meetings in the castle; after all, he spent three months a year in the ancestral castle of the Starks.
"I didn't expect to see you here, Lord Jon", announced a man with a Braavos accent.
"I didn't expect to see you so far south, Nestoris", he replied, pulling down his hood, as he had nothing to hide.
"Business is good, Lord Jon. Since the Night's Watch became a trading partner of Braavos, more and more merchants have been traveling to Winterfell. That's why this town has grown so much in recent years."
Tycho Nestoris was right. Wintertown had grown a lot since King Robert conquered the Iron Throne. While White Harbor was much larger, Wintertown competed with Barrowton to become the second city in the North. It was not very different from what happened in the Gift, where Queenscrown competed with Mole's Town to become relevant cities.
"I guess you're right."
"And tell me, has the Watch appointed a supervising steward yet?"
"No", Jon admitted. "Lord Commander Mormont says he will assign one shortly, after I get married."
To secure the loyalty of the Lords of the Gift, Lord Commander Qorgyle had announced that a black brother would supervise each. But since the Watch could not do without warriors, he decided to send stewards and other men with lesser military talent. Queenscrown had spent the last few years without a permanent supervisor, but it would not be long before the situation normalized.
"I hope the wedding goes well", announced a woman behind Jon.
"Jeyne", Jon said almost in a whisper.
"Lady Poole", Nestoris announced.
"I see you have company", Jeyne cried out with feigned indignation.
"I won't steal your fiancé, Lady Poole", replied the representative of the Iron Bank. "In fact, I have to meet your father shortly."
He had barely finished speaking when he was already bowing to say goodbye. Jon liked the man, although some people had been taught to distrust all people or institutions that lent money, especially banks. It was said that there was no enemy more implacable than the Iron Bank of Braavos and that it was convenient to have good relations with its representatives.
"I missed you", Jeyne announced.
"I was only gone for three months."
"That's a lot for a lady in love."
"Soon, we will be married, and you will live with me in my keep."
Jeyne's eyes filled with light, but they immediately changed to a gloomy and melancholy expression.
"I'll miss Sansa", she confessed. "She's my best friend. Additionally, she may leave for King's Landing with your lord father."
When Jon heard that the king was going to visit Winterfell around the same time as his wedding, he didn't know what to think. He was afraid that the royal family's visit would indefinitely postpone their wedding. Fortunately, a series of delays on the Kingsroad saved his wedding, which would take place in two weeks when all the guests arrived. One of those guests was Tycho Nestoris, but Jon didn't expect to meet him before the ceremony.
"Won't you miss Beth?" he mocked Jeyne.
"Beth is a good friend, but Sansa and I are the same age and share interests. Our friendship is much stronger."
They had a good time at the inn, but they abstained from sex. They didn't want to risk being seen and causing gossip among the nobles. As the daughter of the High Steward of the North, Jeyne enjoyed significant prestige that she had to maintain. Her father was not a mere minor nobleman, but the right-hand man of the Warden of the North and a member of a family known for its loyalty.
"You'll love the latest changes in Queenscrown", Jon said. "It's gradually becoming a bustling village, and it's now normal to see a man from Braavos or Ibben. In fact, I appointed an Ibbenese as head chef, and I promise you he's the best cook in the known world."
"Lady Stark says that the Ibbenese are rough and rude men", Jeyne remarked.
Jon was silent for a moment before speaking.
"You know I can't speak ill of my father's wife."
"I'm sorry, but you told us recently. An Ibbenese merchant visited the castle recently and didn't show him the deference he expected."
"Soon, you'll be the lady of a castle. How would you like to be treated?" Jon asked.
Jeyne laughed, as she didn't care about flattery like Sansa and her mother. The only drawback was that she didn't get along with Arya, preferring the customs of a southern lady. Jon hoped to reconcile them when they settled permanently in Queenscrown and didn't have to make constant trips through the Gift and the North.
"We should organize a tourney in our lands", she suggested.
"You sound like Lord Marlon", Jon snorted. "He's going to hold a small tourney in Black Harbor soon to see how good the men of Essos are in action. Will you attend?"
"Will you attend."
"Of course. Lord Marlon was my tutor. He says it's my last chance to become a knight."
"Then I believe you'll win."
"Yes, Lord Marlon thinks I would win the tourney. But it's not the title that interests me, but naming you the queen of love and beauty."
Jeyne blushed and Jon kissed her. It was a quick kiss that went unnoticed by everyone present. He enjoyed kissing his fiancée and couldn't wait to marry her. Sometimes, he found it hard to believe that a pretty girl like her would prefer him over Robb, who used to be popular with women. He had been a little envious at first, but eventually, he had overcome it as Jeyne reciprocated his feelings.
Jon didn't know if his engagement to Jeyne had always been on Lord Eddard's mind, or if he had been groomed after learning that Jon had kissed her. In any case, he was satisfied with the compromise that his lord father had arranged for him. Jon also learned that Lady Stark didn't like the fact that he had gotten engaged before Robb, fearing that she would take over Winterfell with the help of the Pooles.
From that point forward, Lady Stark treated Jeyne and her brother Gaston with suspicion, or so Jeyne claimed. Despite Lady Stark's outward politeness, Jeyne could feel a sense of hatred and distrust emanating from her. Jeyne's only consolation was that after she was married, she would be taken away from Winterfell. If it was true that the King intended to appoint Lord Stark as Hand, his lady wife would leave with him, which would allow Jon to visit Robb from time to time.
"Wow, wow", a mocking and familiar voice interrupted, "I see we have a couple of lovebirds here."
"Owen", Jon replied.
"Did you expect someone else?"
"In fact, I didn't expect anyone."
"Do you want me to leave?" he complained, holding back his laughter. "I guess you don't want to know who the Night's Watch has appointed to watch you."
"To whom?" asked Jon with interest.
"A southerner, a certain Samwell Tarly."
"Why would a southerner of such high rank enter the Night's Watch?" asked Jeyne. "Have you committed any crimes?"
"No, my lady", replied Lord Marlon Manderly's eldest grandson. "The man comes to the Watch of his own free will, although he is better with numbers than with swords."
Jon wondered if Tarly would be the kind of steward who watched the lords of the Gift extremely harshly. Not infrequently, Jon had been scolded by one of the Lord Commander's envoys and he would not like to have a man near him who was not loyal to him. He promised himself to secure the loyalty of the black brother, not through manipulation, but by offering him his genuine and sincere friendship.
"By the way, I liked the name you chose for your house, Helder. It sounds like the old tongue", Owen commented. "Also, it was a good idea for you to include Ghost in your coat of arms. It's very distinctive."
"Ghost is my friend. I had to pay homage to him," Jon replied.
Notes
The Gift (both Brandon's Gift and New Gift) was populated with the help of Robert who mobilized men from the Crowlands to return a favor to the North. That allowed to save the Night's Watch from the bad state that is seen in the canon, even so, the volunteers are still scarce, since the Wall is still seen as an icy prison.
However, merchants from Essos saw an opportunity by settling on the eastern shores of the Gift. There is Black Harbor, home of a cadet branch of House Manderly.
Well, here is a list of the most important locations of the Gift.
Frozenport: Ruled by the House Mormont of Frozenport, whose head is Lady Alysane Mormont.
Shadow's Village: Ruled by House Olden. Its head is Seymour Olden. It is close to Shadow's Tower.
Stonetown: Ruled by House Anders, whose head is Lord Arnold Anders. It is close to Stonedoor.
Mole's Town: Ruled by House Ysnag. Its head is Lord Lonnel Ysnag.
Frostown: Ruled by House Thorne. His head is Lord Gerald Thorne, older brother of Ser Alliser Thorne. It is close to Rimegate.
Black Harbor: Ruled by House Manderly of Black Harbor. Its head is Lord Marlon Manderly. It is close to Eastwatch.
Queenscrown: Ruled by House Helder. Its head is Lord Jon Helder.
Norrey's Mountain: Mountains inhabited by Clan Norrey, who vowed to obey the Watch to fight the savages. Its head is Lord Brandon Norrey.