Bear Island

Bear Island -289 AC

A moon after arriving at Sea Dragon Point Hadrian and his uncle took a few of the captured Ironborn ships and left for the next destination of his journey.

While he would love to go back to Winterfell and spend some relaxing time with his cousins after so many moons away, he unfortunately still has a few important projects for the North that he would like to start getting off of the ground.

His time at Sea Dragon Point was very productive in Harrys opinion. While the castle was still a very long way off towards being completed, some decent progress had been made. The sewers and docks had begun proper construction, the castles grounds were almost halfway flattened and some basic shelters had already been set up for the smallfolk with more on the way. There were also a few small farms that were getting close to planting their first crops.

Overall, Harry was happy with the progress. While there was still a lot of work to do, he wasn't required to be there for most of it. Westerosi have been building far larger and more complex castles than the one he designed for thousands of years. As long as most of his plans for the infrastructure such as the sewers, walls and docks were followed, as well as his plans regarding the layout of the town, then the settlement should continue to grow in a more organised fashion than pretty much any other town or settlement in Westeros. Harry wouldn't be able to oversee every stage of the growth of the town, with how busy he is expecting to be and his uncle wasn't really capable of spending the entirety of the next few years overlooking the construction either. He still had to spend some time in White Harbour to learn how to run a port city and he still had to go on the sailing trip with the fleet that Hadrian was busy arranging with the Manderlys.

So Hadrian needed to find someone trustworthy and educated enough, whom could watch after the beginning stages of the construction. He doubts the construction of even the castle itself would be close to finished before Benjen got back from the trip. The actual town itself would probably have started taking shape by then but as long as it grows in the layout he designed it would be easy enough for Benjen to influence its future growth.

In the end he decided that now that Benjen is a Lord with a keep he needs to get married and his wife would be a good person to overlook the construction when Benjen wasn't there.

He didn't have too many plans for the growth of the city currently. Harry had never done anything remotely similar to designing and building a city before so he wasn't sure of everything he had to plan for. He would probably keep finding new problems he would have to fix as time went by. For now, the city would be divided into sections. Harry wanted the houses to be located closest to the castle walls in case of an attack as it would allow the citizens to be evacuated into the castle to safety far more easily. All the shops would be located in one area fairly close to the docks while all brothels and taverns would be located in another. Blacksmiths, goldsmiths, tailors and any other such profession would be found in another part of the city while any trades that might cause harm those around them, such as leatherworkers, would be moved outside of the walls.

Harry believed that Sea Dragon Point had taken major steps forward, towards being the centre of trade on the Western coast of the North that he knew it could be. In a decade he doubts he will be able to even recognise this place.

Still there were a few things he had to take care of before his uncle left for White Harbour.

For one, his uncle had to pick a new name for his new House. The only rule that Harry had towards the name was that it could not have the word Stark in it. House Stark had allowed members to form new houses before and repeatedly made the mistake of allowing them to use the word Stark in their names.

History had shown Hadrian that doing so was a bad idea. Future generations could try and replace the main branch of House Stark as the rulers of the North, as House Greystark tried to do. Even if they don't try and overthrow House Stark, they might believe they're bigger and more important than they actually are and might see themselves as deserving of certain privileges or statuses that are not available to other lords of the North. The Karstarks have been guilty of that in the past.

Hadrian would rather not leave any messes with a chance of civil war for his descendants.

Actually deciding on a name for his new House was something that was proven to be incredibly difficult for his uncle, so on Harrys recommendation he decided to wait and hear the opinion of his soon to be wife. Actually deciding on a wife for Benjen was surprisingly easy. There were a few unmarried noble woman around his age in the North that would make for decent wives.

Harry wasn't very happy to be deciding such a thing for a member of his family. It just didn't really feel right. Unfortunately he knew that this world was different from Earth and that it was expected of him to marry family members off for the good of his House and the North. Hadrian decided that he would do everything in his power to make sure that the other person had a good heart at the very least and that his family agrees to the match. He would never force any member of his family to marry someone they didn't like, no matter the circumstances.

In the end there was a clear choice who would make the best wife for Benjen in these circumstances. Even better in Hadrians opinion, is that the marriage would help him lay the groundwork to start on his next project for the North. The next journey of his trip would allow him to kill a few birds with one stone.

A short while after leaving the shores of Sea Dragon Point Harry and Benjen come upon their destination.

The rowing boat hit the side of the small dock with a thump. Harry wasted no time in hopping off of the boat and onto the dock before walking towards where he saw the people in charge of the island waiting for him with the classical greeting of bread and salt.

As he got closer the Mormonts all dropped onto one knee. Harry really should have been more surprised than he was at the action. As it was he barely raised an eyebrow.

Dropping to your knees like that is generally reserved for the king. It didn't really surprise Harry that the Mormonts would do so. While House Stark bent the knee to the Iron Throne three centuries ago, for many in the North nothing changed. The North barely had any interactions with the Seven Kingdoms over the centuries and as a result most of the older, more remote Houses still treat the Starks as if they were Kings. As if House Stark either never bent the knee or their bending the knee meant nothing to those Houses in the first place.

The mountain clans were who immediately came to mind when Harry started think along those lines. For the Mountain Clans he is 'The Hadrian'. He is the Stark of Winterfell and that is all that matters to them, as that was all that mattered to all their ancestors. They couldn't care less about what some southern king said. If Robert Baratheon went to the home of the Mountain Clans and tried to command them, he would quickly find himself being brutally killed. The only ones they will listen to, the only ones they have ever listened to, is the Stark of Winterfell. They are some of Hadrians poorest and most savage people. Despite that, they are also possibly one of the most loyal.

The Mormonts were another House that never really changed the way they treated the Starks. They may have stopped calling them 'Your Grace' and showing all deference's that were supposed to be given to royalty but they never stopped taking the words of the Stark of Winterfell as law. Ahead of even what the Iron Throne says. The same can be said for almost every House in the North, even after almost three centuries of being ruled by the Iron Throne. It doesn't surprise him that they are extra respectful with him due to what he has done for the North so far.

For most Houses in the North, The Stark of Winterfell was King in the North in all but name and the few Houses that don't treat the Starks like that, such as House Bolton or Whitehill, would probably end up being a problem one way or another in the future.

As Harry and his uncle finally stopped in front of the gathered crowd he spoke. "Rise." All those present did so without hesitation.

Of House Mormont, only the women were present. Jeor and Jorah Mormont travelled South with the army. He was told that some of the Mormont woman wanted to join in on the battles but Hadrian guesses that Jeor decided to leave them at home to look after Bear Island in the end.

Maege Mormont was an older woman with broad shoulders and large muscles. She was a warrior through and through, much like many of the women of Bear Island. Despite this though, she was still very attractive for her age and was no doubt even better looking in her youth if her daughters are anything to go by.

As she stood she towered over Hadrian. " I have bread and salt prepared for you and your men my Lord."

Harry smiled at her before taking a small piece of bread, rolling it in salt and eating it. Afterwards he went to great the rest of the Mormont woman before the oldest, Dacey showed him and his uncle Benjen the rooms that they would be staying in.

The Mormont keep was a simple place. It was a decent size, comparable to the size he was building the castle at Sea Dragon Point, but it was made of wood while that castle was going to be built of stone from the start.

Harry knew the Mormonts were a poor House. One of the poorer Houses in the North even. They were extremely loyal though and had been since the founding of their House thousands of years ago. Harry would see this loyalty rewarded and that the Mormonts soon had enough gold to upgrade their keep to stone and improve some of the other defences on the island.

Later that night, after he and his uncle had dinner in the main hall, they found themselves seated in the main solar of the Lord of Bear Island in front of a large oak desk. On the other side of the desk sat Maege Mormont who was fidgeting slightly as she seemed extremely uncomfortable behind said desk.

Harry took a sip of water from the wooden cup he had before he decided to start the conversation on a topic he knows lady Mormont would probably be more comfortable with than the main reason he came to Bear Island. After taking his last gulp he spoke. "My Lady, we have been away from any source of news for over a moon now. Would you happen to have had any news in regards to the war with the Ironborn? "

Harry felt a slight smile threaten to break free from his face as he saw Maege Mormont start to relax her tensed shoulders now that the topic was on something she was comfortable discussing and she could put off acting as a lord about to be burdened with important decisions for a few moments longer.

She released a breath she was holding before speaking. "The last letter we received arrived three days ago. My brother Jeor wrote to speak about the war and about what is happening so far. It's the least the bastard can do after leaving me here to rule while he gets to go fight. Damned idiot. "

She took a deep breath before continuing. "My apologies, that was unbe-"

Harry interrupted what she was going to say by waving his hand and speaking. "Nonsense my Lady. I find it quite refreshing actually. Don't hold your words on my account."

She smiled slightly. "Very well. Then my idiot brother wrote me a letter that arrived three days ago. From what he can gather, the Redwyn fleet was destroyed by Euron Greyjoy in the Ironborns opening raid against The Arbour. While Rodrick Greyjoy was attacking Moat Cailin, Victarion Greyjoy successfully destroyed the Mallisters Fleet and Euron Greyjoy damaged the Hightower Fleet. None of these victories were without costs for the Ironborn and their victories would only get more expensive. The combined forces of those two Greyjoy brothers descended on the Lannister fleet. Unfortunately for them, Tywin Lannister is as cunning as he is cruel and laid a trap for them. Jeor writes many of the Lannister ships were hidden in secret coves near Casterly Rock and that when the Ironborn attacked what ships were visible, they ambushed the Ironborn from behind. He says Lord Lannister lost most of his ships and Euron and Victarion escaped in the end. They lost most of the ships they had left though. The Ironborn won't stand a chance against the Royal Fleet now."

Harry feels a tension in his shoulders that he didn't even know was there start to drain away at her words. While he expected the news that the Ironborn were losing the war, he still had some fear for his uncle in the South. So it was a relief to hear the war was going even worse for the Ironborn than he expected. They had lost most of their ships and probably thousands of experienced men by now and they still have to face the might of the Royal Fleet. Hadrian doubts the Ironborn even have enough ships left over to give the Royal Fleet an actual fight after all of their losses. The war should be over in a few more moons.

Harry responded. "That's good to hear. The Ironborn have been a nuisance for long enough. It's about time they faced some consequences. Still, there numbers will grow and they will come back and continue being a plague on the North unless we use this opportunity to strengthen our coasts. To that end there are a number of things being done. Sea Dragon Point is well on its way to being developed and once it is my uncle Benjen will become its Lord. Still, that leaves a question of whom his wife shall be. That is why we are here my lady. After some discussion between myself and -" He looked over at Benjen who was staring at the table, blushing to the tips of his ears. He smirked slightly. "-my uncle, we have decided that there was one candidate that was ahead of the others. So as the Stark of Winterfell I would like to arrange a betrothal agreement between my uncle Benjen and your daughter Dacey."

She leaned back in her seat with a slightly stunned look on her face. "I would have to speak to Dacey about it before I can confirm the betrothal but I believe she will be just as honoured by the offer as I am. "

Harry smiled. "Of course my lady. I wouldn't want to force either of them into a miserable marriage. Speak to Dacey and find out what she thinks. If she is in agreement then I would like for the marriage to take place in about six moons or so, depending on when the war ends. In a little under a year Benjen will be making a trip for me with some of the Manderlys and I would like it if he was married by then. Preferably with a child on its way."

Maege Mormont smiled slightly. "Aye, I don't see there being any problems with that. As long as Dacey agrees."

Harry nodded. "Excellent. I look forward to hearing her answer."

He looked back at his uncle who was still staring at the table as if hoping that we will disappear if he ignores us hard enough. He never expected his uncle to be so shy.

Harry shook his head before looking back at Maege Mormont and deciding they should speak of some other topics. "We will come back to discussing the smaller details involved in the wedding once Jeor gets back from the war. There were some other reasons that I decided to make the trip to Bear Island."

She leaned forward, looking intrigued. "Oh?"

Harry relaxed into the back of his chair. "I'm not sure if you have heard or not yet but I have begun to make preparations to make use of some of the new resources and wealth the North will begin building over the next few years to start to develop a proper professional Northern Army."

She nodded her head. "Aye, Jeor wrote about it. He didn't really explain in many details but he said it sounds like a sound idea to increase the strength and protection of the North. "

Harry smiled. "I'm glad to know Lord Mormont agrees with me. Right now the final structure of the army has not been decided yet. All that really has been decided is that there will be an army. All the Lords of the North will gather at Winterfell a few moons after the war with the Ironborn is over, in order to give their advice and opinions on how such an army will be structured."

Harry continued speaking before Lady Mormont could say anything. "This is only slightly relevant to the other reason that I am here. The army will be important no doubt, but it will only consist of one part of the Norths protection. The army will handle conflicts on land with the south but we need more than that. So I am also going to be creating a proper navy. It will be a part of the army. The main reason I came all the way to Bear Island when I could have just sent a raven offering the betrothal, is because Bear Island is so far looking like the best place to station such a navy and I wanted to see the Island with my own eyes and speak to you and your family in person before I start making up proper long term plans for creating such a navy."

She shifted slightly in her chair. Understandably nervous of the idea of having an army not under the direct control of their House stationed on the island. Hadrian already considered this and he had several things planned to make the Mormonts more comfortable with the idea. Perhaps to even make them embrace the idea.

He spoke again. "I understand how it might make one uncomfortable to have a force not under their direct control stationed so close to home. That is why I would also like to start investing in a training academy."

She scrunched her eyebrows together. "A training academy?"

Harry tried to think of how to make his explanation as simple as possible. He would need to keep his explanations simple for most lords unfortunately. "When my uncle Benjen goes travelling with the fleet one of the tasks I will have for him will be in the finding and hiring of experienced and well learned men. It is my hope he can find several experienced sailors and perhaps even a retired naval commander who might be willing to travel to Bear Island and teach what they know to our navy in the form of an academy. I want this academy to give the best possible training. It is my hope that the sailors that come out of it will be some of the best in the world. Now the Navy and Army will largely promote based on skill. It will also teach how to lead to certain promising students. It is my hope that House Mormont has some members of their House, male or female go to this academy. Then I have no doubt that you Bears will be leading the Navy. It is not my goal to have an army you are uncomfortable with on your shores, I would much rather your House leads the army. I just want to make sure that they are the best when they do."

It was even true. Wherever he put the military academies, they would be bound to be influenced by the Houses whose lands they found themselves on. The military itself might not be beholden to those Houses over the entire North but those Houses would still exert some amount of influence just based off the fact they own the land. That's why he decided not to have the Navy stationed at Sea Dragon Point. The area is already bound to grow wealthy in the future. He can't afford to grant them too much power. As even though the militaries will be mostly merit based in the future, nobles will still get ahead quicker just off the fact they can afford a superior education and the fact that they will constantly be looked at for leading positions. So he chose Bear Island as the place for the Navy and the Naval Academy. That way the rising powers of Bear Island and Sea Dragon Point should balance each other out. The Mormonts would be probably be leading the Navy on this side of the North for at least a few generations. The army should strengthen them immensely but it will not be there army and they shouldn't be able to use it to rebel against House Stark.

He could see Maege relax her shoulders slightly now that she was starting to understand what he was getting at. In fact now that she seemed to comprehend that House Mormont would either be put in charge or at the very least have some influence over such an army she seemed to start getting quite exited.

He held up a hand before she could speak and spoke. "This is just a basic outline. I will need to go over the details with the entirety of your House and Lord Manderly to find compromises we can all accept."

He watched her reign herself in. She bowed her head. "Very well my Lord."

Harry stood. "Thank you for this meeting my lady. We will speak more in the morning once we are all rested. This is going to be a long term project my lady and there will no doubt be many ideas exchanged and discarded before we are done. In the next few days you can show me around Bear Island for good locations to build a military port and a naval academy.."

She smirked. "Understood my lord. I look forward to seeing what the future holds. Goodnight My Lord. Goodnight Lord Benjen. I am going to tell Dacey about the proposal now. "

Benjen stuttered. " G-Goodnight My lady." Before fleeing out the door.

Harry laughed while following.

Next chapter Thursday 4 May 2023.

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