JON II

Before he was born, Queenscrown was a village on the verge of being abandoned. Now everything was different, as it seemed it would grow to become the largest city in the Gift. Or at least, that's what Jon desired for, as he hoped to become a respected lord and escape the stigma of his bastardy. He longed for his father to be proud of him without fearing to offend Lady Catelyn Tully.

"Do you know when that Tarly boy will arrive?" Tycho Nestoris asked, who had temporarily settled in the village.

"The Lord Commander's letter says he will arrive in less than a moon," Jon replied.

"I suppose I must wait," Nestoris responded before bowing and bidding farewell.

As Nestoris left the room, his wife entered. Their keep was modest, and practically every floor had a different function. Even so, it was a well-defended and efficient place to repel an attack, and the height of the tower reminded the villagers that he was their lord.

"Bella thinks the Braavosi is handsome," she noted.

"Oh, really?" Jon asked with interest.

"Yes, Maester Hother says they get along very well..."

Jon took a while to realize that the repopulation of the Gift was a clever political game by King Robert and Lord Eddard Stark. On the one hand, the King sent away some people who were uncomfortable for him, on the other, he tried to appease House Umber, the most affected by Queen Alysane's decision to grant the current lands of the New Gift to the Night's Watch.

For this reason, Hother Umber was assigned as his maester. Jon didn't dislike the man, but he couldn't deny that he felt a little intimidated by him. The Umbers were almost giant men, much taller than King Robert, and their attitude was far from the carefree temper of the King.

"Well, it's none of my business what the maids do in their free time," Jon snorted, not finding the gossip amusing.

Jeyne frowned and changed the subject.

"You know, it's strange that Sansa didn't travel to King's Landing. Your sister deserved to become a queen."

The incident with Lady and Prince Joffrey caused the rupture of the engagement between Sansa and the heir to the Iron Throne. Jon was glad about it, unlike Jeyne, who lamented the missed opportunity. Although Jon and Sansa were never very close, he loved her, and if his direwolf distrusted someone, it would be wise to trust Lady.

"My sister deserved to be a queen," Jon confirmed, "but the prince didn't deserve Sansa as his wife."

Jeyne seemed to hesitate but nodded anyway.

"Do you think your brother will be happy with the princess?"

"Yes," Jon affirmed. "I met Princess Myrcella, and she looked excited to marry Robb."

It was said that Princess Myrcella was one of the most beautiful maidens in the Seven Kingdoms. And while Jon wasn't willing to trade Jeyne for anyone in the world, he couldn't deny that his future sister-in-law was a beautiful woman. Without a doubt, Robb was a lucky man, for not only would he be happy in his marriage, but he would also become one of the most powerful men in Westeros.

"Do you want to take a walk?" Jon asked without much thought.

"Of course!" his wife replied.

Their keep was located on a rocky island in the middle of a lake, with many oaks and apple trees growing around it. To leave the small island, one had to travel along a zigzagging stone causeway, which left anyone who traveled it within range of the crossbowmen's sights. Not far from the lake, facing south, was an elegant inn where Tycho Nestoris stayed, and according to Jeyne, Bella frequented it.

On the left bank of the lake was the Godswood, and on the right bank, a small market square. At least half of the inhabitants were Northerners, and the other half were men from King's Landing and Crowlands. According to the people say, they were initially reluctant to adapt, but over time, they began to love their new lands because, for the first time, they owned their own homes.

The village also had a sept to satisfy the spiritual needs of the settlers. Nevertheless, Jon smiled every time he heard that one of the colonists had converted to the Old Gods. Most of the converts were peasants who lived outside the village, too far from the sept. Yet Queencrown's Godswood rarely stood alone, and even Tycho Nestoris was interested in planting a weirwood in Braavos.

As they walked towards the market square, a foreigner intercepted them.

"A man greets a lord and a lady," he said in his strange jargon.

Jon and his wife stopped, and so did their small escort. The man, a native of Lorath, turned out to be a velvet merchant interested in introducing his product in Queenscrown. He claimed that velvet was the fashion among the aristocracy of Braavos and Lorath and that Jon would do well to introduce the fashion. Jon didn't know if his words were true, but he ended up giving in because he thought it would give a pleasant touch to his tower, ideal for lining the furniture and adorning the walls.

He invested a good sum in it, which pleased the merchant, who promised to spread the word of his good taste throughout Westeros and Essos. Jon couldn't imagine being famous, but he did like the idea of being recognized as part of the high aristocracy. Under his command, both Queenscrown and House Helder could become respectable places that everyone admired.

"Our home will look beautiful with velvet," Jeyne said. "Although my father would say you spent too much."

"Lord Stark said there are times when a lord must squander. Extreme moderation is frowned upon among the nobles."

Jeyne nodded and took his arm. Their walk was short because the village was still small, much smaller than Wintertown.

Beyond the village, behind the palisade that protected it, there were reindeer breeders, Ibbenese pigs, cows, and aurochs. All suitable for the harsh winters of the Gift that even dwarfed those of Winterfell, but at the same time, made the landscape a place full of life and furry fauna.

Jon's favorites were the Ibbenese pigs. A breed with very thick and long hair that looks like wool in winter but changes to curly, light, and shiny bristles in spring. It was introduced by the Ibbenese, and its meat was delicious, especially when prepared by his head cook. Its meat had become extremely popular in the Gift and even in the North, where innovations brought by the Night's Watch's trading partners arrived a little later.

"Do you also feel that this place is different from the rest of the North?" he asked.

"Yes," confirmed Jeyne. "I think they're the settlers. It's a strange mix."

"I wish everyone followed the Old Gods," Jon complained. "The Seven remind me so much of you-know-who."

"Don't think about her, Jon," Jeyne replied, rubbing his cheek. "Now you have a wife who loves you and a people who respect you. Besides, times are changing. My father told me that the North remained isolated for a long time and that would change thanks to trade. Do you know why he allowed me to marry you?"

"Because I'm the son of his lord?"

"No. My father is a loyal servant of House Stark, but he also loves his children. He knew you would become an influential lord and could give me a good life. He trusts your abilities and says you're a worthy son of Lord Eddard Stark."

"Your father said that?"

"Yes, he told Gaston and me in private. So please don't spread it around, he's had enough with Lady Stark's intrigues."

Jon didn't say anything. He just walked back to his tower in silence. For the first time in a long time, he lived in a place he could call his own and he couldn't wait to become a father. He couldn't wait for the newly founded House Helder to start increasing its members.