Arthur Stark was an oddity in the North and when someone mentioned this it was said with the utmost of respect. It was odd to see a young lord of the North, one of Eddard Stark's children no less, so unconcerned with the way of the sword and honor. That is not to say that the second son of Eddard and Catelyn could not hold his own in both categories, but unlike most other boys he did not aspire to be a knight that the songs were written about. Arthur was a thinker, but he wasn't like those that wanted to complete their chains and become a Maester. Where the Maesters looked at the world and asked why, Arthur was of the mind that he looked at the world and asked why not. He was an inventor if a label was needed for someone.

Like all young boys, Arthur had had a fascination with all things related to fire and explosions and so by the time he was seven, there was a construction project that everyone in Winterfell had pitched in for a laboratory. Before it had been constructed, there was a fire almost every week and everybody was tired of jumping at random explosions. He had been able to invent a few things that Eddard Stark saw the potential for in warfare and those were promptly hidden from but a few eyes. Not all explosives were made for warfare of course and with the right concoction he was able to make certain object fly into the sky and exploded in a multitude of colors. There was no longer a celebration at Winterfell that did not have a few of Arthur's 'sky lights' prepared.

As Arthur grew and expanded his mind, his inventions followed suit. Discovering a new way to meld glass, Arthur had created an entire building out of the new glass and then proceeded to fill it with plants. To the surprise of them all, the building was much warmer than the surrounding area and it could be used for crops year round. While they would never produce the same amount as those in the Reach or Highgarden would be able to, they would produce a lot more than they had been able to and perhaps even when winter finally descended.

While his family appreciated his inventions, Arthur's childhood was filled with large times of loneliness. His way was not the way of the North and while his mother and father tried to connect with him, it was difficult to find any connection. The went for his siblings and half siblings and at times he felt that his twin and older half-brother looked down on him. It hurt sometimes when only Arya was interested in what actually went into the process though she was still more interested in swords and the like. It was perhaps a good thing that his family didn't know of his other, less savory activities.

Right now Arthur was with half of his family as they followed their father to dole out the king's justice on a deserter of the Night's Watch. This was something that all but his mother could agree on. Theirs was the Old Way and if you could not carry out the sentence yourself, then there was no reason to place it upon someone, especially when you considered the death sentence. However, he did agree with his mother that Bran was perhaps a bit too young to experience it. When he first witnessed his father dispense justice he had nightmares for a week afterwards, though Robb had never said anything to that effect which might have been another strike against him. Hopefully Bran would be up to the challenge.

"Don't look away," Arthur heard Jon whisper to their little brother, "Father will know if you do." That's because there are currently three men watching us, Arthur thought snidely. Arthur's first witness of the king's justice was actually the second time he had been brought along as he had looked away. He knew that he was being watched, but even that didn't stop him from turning. Death was a part of life and he had made many new items to deal death much more effective, but that didn't mean he wanted to see it any more than he had to.

On the way back, the groups stumbled upon a dead direwolf that had been felled by the antler of a stag that had been found not too far away. They had also found her pups though two were farther away than newborn pups had any right to be. Jon had taken the albino while Arthur had taken the other. Their siblings were amazed with their pups, their mother not so much, but she couldn't say much against the sigil of the Starks. Even as they sat together to think of names, Arthur could feel the exclusion that the family unconsciously forced on him because he was different. Even Jon seemed to be more a part of the family at the moment than I was.

Silently the lone wolf of the North made his way out of the room, his direwolf following just as quietly seemingly already sensing her master's intensions. He didn't get far before his father found him wandering the hall. "Ah Arthur, has everybody already found a name for their pups?"

"I wouldn't know father," He shrugged his shoulders, "I decided that it was not the place that I was wanted or wanted to be there, so I left a few moments ago."

"Arthur," Ned began, but Arthur was quick to put up one of his hands to forestall any argument that would come from his father.

"Please don't. I am no Robb who can be placated by simple words or Jon who slinks away after being reminded he is a bastard. I may have Northern blood in me and the lords may appreciate my discoveries, but I am not Northern in a traditional sense. I do not believe I would fit well in any area of Westeros for that matter."

Eddard Stark's face was grim, but he offered no protest to his second true born son's word. It was the truth as much as he and Catelyn didn't want to admit it. Arthur had tried when he was younger to fit in and be a part of their family, but as he grew older he spent more time in his lab and less in the yard or on a horse. As Arthur mentioned, the lords of the North appreciated his inventions, but they thought he was an odd boy that held no place among them. "Then what do you want Arthur?" Eddard sighed.

"To be left alone as I experiment, but I know that will not happen for much longer and I doubt any of my brothers would understand once they take over for you. Perhaps I should do what you once thought of doing father and rebuild Moat Cailin. It would give the North another defense and keep the strong ties between the Houses Reed and Stark. I know I will be forced to take a wife as expected of me, but I do not want a wife that Sansa aspires to be. Perhaps I take after you more than any other as I want a wife that would challenge me and that I can love fully. I know that you and mother do indeed love each other, but I've heard stories of your paramour and I want to be challenged."

Ned nodded slowly, "Let your mother and I think on it. While you are old enough to be considered a man, you are still second in line to the seat of Winterfell. Perhaps we shall have an answer in the morning."

"Thank you father!" Arthur was quick to bow his head and continue towards his workshop. Ned watched him go with a faint smile. He was immensely proud of all his children and Jon, but he was perhaps even more proud of Arthur who went with what his heart told him and did not allow others to determine his future. It was a sad fact that the boy seemed to be in a wrong era.

-The Odd Wolf-

"So what should I name you?" Arthur asked as the direwolf pup as he set her on one of the tables. Theon and Robb had given him the girl as a slight insult, but Arthur didn't mind. He would not be the one to help his brothers keep their wolves away from female dogs when they were old enough. Curiously the pup tilted her head in confusion as if to ask why he was asking her. "You are far more intelligent than the average dog are you not?" Arthur chuckled. "How about Athena?" He asked after a moment's thought. "I've heard that in a little known religion she is their goddess of wartime strategy and intelligence."

The direwolf seemed to mull it over for a few moments before making a small yip and nuzzling into Arthur's hand. Laughing slightly at the feel of her wet nose, he moved to gather a bit of powder as well as a bit of flint. "Now Athena, since you want to be my direwolf, you need to get used to my habits. I create quite a bit of explosions and flashes as I try to drive my family insane." Seeing that he had her attention, Arthur struck the flint and set off a small explosion of light and noise.

Athena snuffed and shook her head, but beyond that didn't react in anyway Arthur had thought she would. "You are something more than a simple direwolf I do believe. Even the brave Northern men still jump at small explosions." Knowing that his new companion was comfortable around his activities, Arthur let his mind and body wander, occasionally talking to his new pet before he was interrupted.

"Arthur!" The cause of his newest interruption drew out his name as if to scold him. He didn't need to turn of course to find out who had interrupted him, but that was rude or so his mother had said. "Why did you leave all of us?"

"Tell me little wolf, and littler wolf," He said nodding his head to Arya's direwolf pup, "How long did it take for someone to notice that I was gone? I know it's an unfair question, but the point remains that I was not needed at the moment and you and all of my siblings are well aware that I prefer to be here rather than anywhere else."

"Why though? Robb and Jon like to be in the yard, why don't you?"

"Tell me Arya, why do Robb and Jon enjoy their sword lessons? Why did they take these lessons in the first place?"

"Because they're supposed to?" Arya offered tentatively after a moment's hesitation.

"But why?"

"It's tradition!" Arya exclaimed much more confidently this time.

"But why? Who decided that this was tradition where the men learned the sword and the ladies tasked to run the household? It's been hundreds of years and we still have the same duties and expectations as our ancestors had and why is that? The royal navy hasn't changed since Aegon the Conquer first appeared in these lands and they still use the same model of ships. Why? I did what I was expected to do, but I don't want those that come after me to have to do the same thing. I do not care if I am considered weird, if I want to see the world change, I have to be the one to step up and show the change that I want to see. Perhaps, one day fathers will be able to allow their daughters the opportunity to learn how to fight with swords if they so want to." At the end Arthur sent a grin and a small wink towards his sister who smiled brilliantly at him.

"There are hundreds of stories about knights with their swords, vanquishing evils and falling in love with their lady. I think I've heard the tales enough that they just sound boring to me and I want something different," Arthur shrugged. "So little underfoot, why did you come find me?"

"Oh right, it's time for dinner and it was my turn to come and get you."

"Right," Arthur nodded, noticing how late it had actually gotten and putting a stop to what he was doing. Ruffling his sister's hair, Arthur had her slung over his shoulder and ran to the dining hall as Arya squealed on his shoulders with a laugh, their two direwolves scurrying to keep up. None of them noticed the figure of Ned Stark in the shadows as he had come to see what had taken his children so long. It was his father's privilege that he had overheard his children and it had sent him thinking. Perhaps the discussion with his wife would be a bit more important than he first assumed. Once again Eddard Stark had never been more proud than at that moment.

A/N: I'm partial to this story and I hopefully will be able to write a similar one, one of these days. Arthur isn't one for the Game of Thrones, but his presence will affect the games all the same. As always, this is up for adoption and if you want a good crossover that somewhat thinks like this, Mr. Chaos, has written an Ironman crossover and named it A Man of Iron.