Chapter 3

Edwyle POV

The light shower of the summer snow fell upon Edwyle blanketing his dark, brown hair with spots of white. The mist of his breath blew out of his nose like the smoke out of a dragon's nostril as he shook it off. The snort that followed disrupted the silence throughout the party. Edwyle's steely grey eyes soon turned upon the visage of his brother Arthur.

"What is so amusing dear brother?" stated Edwyle annoyingly as he looked upon the laughing blue eyes of his brother. "Did something occur while we were travelling, I do not see a jester in our party."

"Oh, what amuses me is that the mighty heir of White Harbor is brought low by the falling of a light summer snow," said Arthur as he returned his Edwyle's steely gaze with a large smile.

Edwyle slowly exhaled in exhaustion at the antics of his brother. He could only look at his Arthur's bulky frame and feel drained by his ribbing. "Woe be the day you do not test my patience with your jests", said Edwyle as his eyes crinkled playfully while a hint of a smile fell upon his lips.

Arthur's loud guffaw soon breached the silence as his bulky frame shook with each laugh. "I'll always be here to get that stick that's shoved up your arse out," replied Arthur with a loud boom. Arthur's smile grew larger as the whites of his teeth showed. "You would be a miserable sod without me to lighten up your dreary mood," laughed Arthur.

"Go scout ahead with the outriders we will soon arrive at Stonetree," said Edwyle as his mirth shone in his grey eyes. "I'll buy you around at the next tavern if you can behave yourself till then."

"Am I that much of a troublemaking for you Edwyle that you'd bribe me with ale," said Arthur.

"Aye you are quite the scoundrel but if you behave till Stonetree you will be showered in all the ale you can drink," said Edwyle teasingly. His smirk grew as he could see that Arthur was growing more amused at their banter.

"I will do as you ask but don't think to order me around like this till you are Lord of White Harbor", Arthur stated jokingly. However, his gaze and smirk soon fell after saying that. The thought of his father's current condition soon resurfaced as those words left his mouth.

"Hopefully, it will be a longtime till then Arthur. Father must be getting better the coughs have not been as frequent," said Edwyle hopefully.

Arthur spurred his horse forward as he called out to the outriders to ride west with him. Edwyle's thoughts soon turned back to their father and his illness, 'Please be better father you still have time in this world.' The thought of his father's illness soon turned Edwyle's mood sour.

It had been a few moons since his father's condition had worsened. It seemed to have drained the life out of Brandon, sometimes it seemed as if he was a walking corpse. Already some of their bannerman had named him a living wight. His brother and himself had started to do a tour of House Greystarks domain once his father's health continued to decline. Edwyle was sure he had secured the loyalty of House Greenwood as the first part of his tour was to travel to the settlement of Greentree. The eastern port of their domain was in good standing as it continued to see trade from Bravos and Lorath. Though the keep of House Greenwood would need to be expanded and repaired. Edwyle's thoughts drifted to the disrepair of the keep, 'While the trade of the Greenwoods is going well, they need to focus on repairing the defenses of the settlement and the keep.'

House Greenwood has served House Greystark faithfully ever since the Bolton-Woolford Rebellion. House Greenwood is a branch family of House Blackwood. After they were driven out of the Wolfswood they settled on the eastern coast of the North just south of Ramsgate. They owned a small town and keep that oversaw some of the trade with the Northern Free Cities. Greentree has two sea towers looking over the harbor and can lift a sea chain to prevent enemy ships from docking in the harbor. The seawall of the harbor is made of stone. The harbor itself can field up to twenty warships and has room to fit merchant ships as they unload the goods to head to White Harbor along the Greene road. The curtain walls of the castle surround the entirety of the small town and even stretch to both sides of the harbor encasing it into its toney protections from a siege by land. The stone walls are around fifteen feet high and four feet wide. The keep itself is smaller, around the size of the Wolfsden. There main source of income was from trade with the Free cities in lumber, furs, and fishing. They are also connected to White Harbor along the Green road which spans from western to the eastern part of the Greystarks domain. The Green road spans around 170 miles connecting White Harbor to Greentree. It would take between 5-7 days travelling on horseback to travel the length of the road. While during the winter it could take between 14-18 days travelling through the harsh winters the North was known for.

They were heading towards Stonetree, the seat of House Whitewood. A bastard of House Greenwood formed the Whitewoods. They were once vassals to House Greenwood before the Woolfords conquered the western coast just south of Ramsgate. The Whitewoods had joined House Greystark during the Bolton-Woolford Rebellion. While they were not as wealthy as their cousins. They did earn enough to gain them a fearsome reputation from bandits. The Whitewoods were tasked with protecting trade along the Green road had performed admirable. The forces of House Whitewood are calvary as they needed to be swift while patrolling the Green road. Whitewood calvary are known to be some of the efficient light calvary in the North. Though they are not to be compared to the calvary used by the Rsywells of the Rills. The light calvary are used as a force to hunt down and destroy any bandits while in war they perform as excellent scouts and outriders. While one of the poorer bannerman to the Greystarks they do acquire wealth through the tolls and some trade they get from their domain. The castle of Stonetree is more of a small wooden fort with a wooden palisade and a small keep on a hill overlooking the Greene road.

Edwyle has confidence that the Greenwoods would succeed in their repairs and hopefully look to expand the settlement further. It would be paramount to the North to have another larger port city on their side of the North to help facilitate more trade. It would even offer more security as with a larger city it would help fund the expansion of the Greenwood fleet. The slavers of the Free Cities had started to increase their presence on their side of the continent and had been going further North of the wall. His hatred of those slaving scum twisted his face in a grotesque visage like a snarling wolf, 'Those slaving scum have been growing bolder every turn of the moon. We must start to shore up our defenses and might have to place sanctions on them if they dare raid our shores.' The urgency of having the Greenwoods repair and expand was at the forefront of his mind as they continued along the smooth gray stone of the Green road. Soon Edwyle could see the returning outriders alongside Arthur as they galloped down the road in great haste. He could one new addition to the scouting party. The dark, grey steel embossed Direwolf on the breastplate of the rider was familiar to him though. It looked like they had a new addition to the retinue. He was about to say something witty but held his tongue as he looked upon the horrified look upon his brother's face. He spurred his horse to meet them as he could see the look of panic on the messenger's face.

"Arthur what has happened to have you ride as if the Stranger is chasing you," questioned Edwyle as he grew more confused the closer, he got to Arthur and the outriders. Soon they came face to face as their horses slowed down to a halt.

"The Starks, the Starks that is what brother. Lord Rickard and Brandon have been slain," said Arthur with a horrified look on his once joyful face. "They have been executed by King Aerys we are going to war with the crown."

"That cannot be brother the Starks would never betray the King. They have been loyal to the Iron Throne since King Torrhen bent the knee. What is this blasphemous you are speaking of," Brandon said horrified at what was said.

Tears started to form in Arthurs eyes as they fell down his face in twin rivers of grief and heartache. He slowly drew in a breath as his horror soon turned to rage, "Blasphemy is what King Aerys did to them. Word has come from White Harbor that King Aerys has had them executed. He burned Lord Rickard in his armor as Brandon strangled himself trying to reach a sword that would save Lord Rickard," shouted Arthur as his rage reached a boil. His face turned red with anger even as the tears continued to streak down his face.

Edwyle's face grew icy even though the wolfsblood in him grew hot like a blacksmith's fire. His rage turned chilly as he mustered the courage to answer his enraged brother. "We must make haste to Stonetree. We must muster all our available forces to aid Eddard. Has there been word of what we are to do?" said Edwyle.

The messenger soon came nearer to Edwyle. "My Lord we must return to White Harbor Lords Brandon and Barthogan have sent word out to all vassals to muster at White Harbor. They have begun preparations for the men-at-arms and levies to board the fleet to hopefully depart for the Three Sisters. As currently Lord Eddard has been seen on the isles," stated the messenger.

With a deep breath Edwyle soon shouted to all men around him, "We make for Stonetree to send word to my father. We will muster what men we can there and depart for White Harbor. We must answer the Targaryens madness with war. For revenge and justice, For the North," shouted Edwyle passionately as he wheeled his horse in the direction of Stonetree. Alongside him Arthur and the men shouted out like a roar of massive beast and soon all of them were racing down the Greene road.

Benjen Stark POV

The missive from the Greystarks weighed heavy in his hands as he gazed upon the black direwolf on the seal. His mind began to wander at the choice he had made that night in Harrenhall. 'What is I told father or Brandon that she left,' thought Benjen sadly. His thoughts continued to be about his missing sister and the deaths of his father and brother. 'Why did I not speak up…Why did you have to run away Lyanna…Why did you have to be some hot-headed brother…Why did you all leave me?' thought Benjen as his bloodshot eyes once again rained tears upon the letter in his wavering hands. With an agonizing breath Benjen broke the seal of the letter and looked upon they Greystarks message.

To the Acting Lord Paramount of the North Benjen Stark,

News has reached White Harbor from Kingslanding. Lord Rickard Stark and his heir Brandon have been slain by the Mad Tyrant. House Greystark has raised troops and supplies to aid House Stark to defeat the second coming of Maegor. We share the grief and desire of vengeance against House Targaryen. We will bend the knee to the Stark of Winterfell and aid him in these dangerous times. We have sent word to our vassals of our upcoming task. We recommend that you begin to muster all forces of the North to answer your brother Eddard's call.

- Lord Barthogan Stark of the Wolfsden

With a weight he has never experienced before Benjen called Maester Luwin into the Lords solar. His voice was filled with grief and anger, "Maester send word to all our bannerman we must muster our forces to face the Targaryens. We must avenge my father and brother." Benjen's rage shook Maester Luwin as the young lord looked upon him with the eyes of a predator.

"Of course, my lord it will be done. I feel your pain too, but we must be smart about this. Your brother, Eddard, is still down south in the Vale. And your Uncle Torrhen is still in Essos my lord," said Luwin hesitatively.

Benjen said coolly, "Send the missives Maester House Targaryens days are numbered. Send word to all houses and my Uncle. We may need the support of the Company of the Rose." Benjen's bloodshot eyes once again grew heavy as his body slumped further into the ironwood chair. "They Greystarks are mustering and will go to Eddard. In the meantime, we must mobilize the entire North to face the south. We do not know who will stand with use in our time of need," said Benjen as he once again felt the weight upon his shoulders.

Maester Luwin soon stood straight as he mustered the energy to head to the rookery. He would have many letters to send to see to the mustering of the North's full might. He slowly thought of what to send to Torrhen as it had been years since the man had set foot in Winterfell. His gaze grew heavy at the thought of the carnage the wolves would cause to get vengeance for their slain Lord and his heir.

Torrhen Stark POV

The smell of salt and sea soon entered his tent. The Company of the Rose was encamped just outside the gates of Bravos. Time had been kind to Torrhen as he still maintained the slender and muscular build of his younger years. His black slowly graying hair reflected the candlelight as he worked at his desk. He stood at six feet with large shoulders and muscles even though he was starting to grow gray. His lightly trimmed beard and long face gave way to his typical Stark features. He slowly felt as if something has gone horribly wrong. He has not felt like this since the War or the Ninepenny Kings. His gaze soon turned from the letter towards the direction of his homeland. It had been many years since he had left Westeros for Essos. He had become a low-ranking soldier in the Company of the Rose. As time went on, he climbed the ranks to become the Captain of the mercenary company. With a slowly building sense of unease, he headed toward the city of Bravos so he could hear word of its going ons. He could not shake this feeling even as he headed out of the tent. 'Why do I feel this great unease? I must head into the city something must have happened in Westeros,' with that last thought Torrhen flanked by his guards headed into the city of the Titan.

Authors Note: Just a heads up this will be a longer Authors note. I want to change the Stonels from blacksmiths to having a more mercantile focus. This will include them being very proficient at running the docks of White Harbor but also may have some of their members acting as captains of the eastern fleet. They will also open and run a small bank located in White Harbor as I have taken some inspiration of the Medici's for House Stonel. I will also include the overview of the Manderlys as they are located on the western coast ruling the Seadragon Point. I have also taken in consideration that Benjen is too young to rule the North in Eddard's name without a regency council. I have also decided to create an OC character who is Rickard's younger brother. I thought it would be an interesting idea that he left Westeros to become a sellsword and is recalled to help Benjen rule while Eddard is participating in the war. I thought it would be interesting to have Rickard's brother also become the captain for the Company of the Rose since I wish they had been more included in the show. I just think it would have been smart to have them in the service of the Starks during Roberts Rebellion or even the War of the Five Kings. I also plan to tweak the amount of troops the Greystark's vassals can call upon. Please leave a review about these ideas. The feedback would really help me flush out this story.

Character Description: Edwyle is around five' 10" one of the shorter Greystarks. He has dark, steely, grey eyes. He is of a slender but toned build compared to his brother. He has deep brown hair some may confuse with a lighter black. His appearance is very grim and is known for the classic Stark look. He has a long face as do all Greystarks and has a full beard. Arthur Stark is similar in appearance to his Uncle Barthogan. They are both of a larger, more broad-shouldered build. Arthur is around six' 5" and is very muscular though he does have the start of a beer gut. His eyes a clear blue while he also has the same long face and dark, brown hair he shares with Edwyle. He also has a rounder face than Edwyle and he has more of a joking/joyful disposition than his brother.