Authors Note: This story is AU. Changes will be made to ASOIAF as needed so that the story will flow naturally. I will do my best to stay true to the characters as they are represented in ASOIAF. Chapter one will be posted in a few days. I hope you enjoy.

Prologue

Winterfell, 276 AC

Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North; once more found himself spending his morning in his solar. The nearby window shutters were opened, allowing the cool spring air to freshen the room. A fire crackled in a nearby fireplace, maintaining the rooms warmth. In his right hand he held a goblet filled with warm apple cider, the spiced drink a favorite of his during the early hours of the day. His left hand rested on the cover of a newly discovered tome.

Maester Walys had brought it to him the previous day after he had found it deep within Winterfell's library. Neither he nor the Maester had heard of it before, though the author was a notable historian of the Citadel. Rickard had read another of his work before, The Watchers on the Wall. A history of the Nights Watch and the Legends told among the Black Brothers, an arduous read to be sure.

From what Rickard had already read and skimmed, it's content were impressive. It was the most well documented History and Legends of the North put to paper, that he had ever seen. Rickard was proud once again of his Great House, even now he could still find treasures buried within its storied walls. He looked down and traced his fingers over the cover of the work.

History and Legend of The Northern Houses by Archmaester Harmune

Written: 5040 CE

Rickard drunk deeply from his goblet before setting it to the side. He casually flipped past the first chapter, having already read it the previous night. When he got to the second chapter Rickard contemplated the title, Chapter two: House Coldborn. Warmth and excitement rose in his chest at the words. If there was one House in the North that he looked at with as much fondness as his own, it was this one. His eyes travels past the title and he began to read.

House Coldborn, to this day, prides themselves for their leal service to the Kings of the Winter. They claim that they were the first to bend their knee to House Stark, which I have verified through exhaustive research and testimonials. However, the oral histories of House Coldborn claim that it was to Brandon the Builder himself that they first swore service too.

It is my determination that House Coldborn was founded nine thousand years ago. Lord Royce Coldborn whom I have spoken to on many an occasion, claims that it was founded at the end of the Long Night. I still reserve judgement on this matter, for I have never found sufficient evidence to substantiate this claim. What I do know for certain, is that House Coldborn were the first of the many Northern Houses to swear its service to House Stark. What I have also determined is that unlike many other Houses, House Coldborn is not descended from a line of Kings.

This is a most peculiar thing for a Lordly House of the North. Currently, House Stark has ruled the North as its sole King for almost a thousand of years. As I described in exhaustive detail throughout the first chapter of this text, House Stark over the course of many generations conquered all of the North. They did this through right of conquest, like many other warlord kings of past and present. Their defeated foes were cast down as Kings, before being raised up as lordly vassals. Or if the defeated foe had sufficient feelings of indignation, they were destroyed utterly.

House Coldborn was never one of House Starks many conquered foes. From the oral histories of House Coldborn how they came to serve House Stark is as follows. Nine thousand years ago a young man named Rory became the leader of Clan Flint in the Mountains of the North. It was common at this time for one to became the leader of a clan through strength as often as it was by birth.

Rory, a warrior of some renown, challenged the head of his clan to a duel in "The Circle". Why he did this is lost to the annals of time, but we do know he was the victor of this challenge. Clan Flint readily accepted his leadership afterwards and followed him as willingly as they did their previous leader.

(The Circle is a fascinating tradition of the Northern Mountain Lords. Men who choose to duel in the circle, will select stout warriors as their shield bearers. These men, selected from both sides, will create a circle with their shields. The two men dueling will fight within this circle. It shares some similarities to the honor that Andals frequently use to settle disputes.)

(I have observed a few of these duels myself during my visits to the North. Unlike an honor duel among the Andals there is a much greater change of outside influence. I have seen with my own two eyes, how a shield bearer can have some small say in the outcome. In the current era these duels are no longer used to gain leadership of a clan or house, instead they are used to proves ones strength, skill and courage.)

After Rory became the leader of Clan Flint, he traveled with his chosen warriors to the other eight clans. One by one Rory challenged the heads of these clans to a duel in the circle and won every single combat. Once Rory won these nine duels he became something not ever seen in the Northern Mountains. The leader of a great host of men, not a simple chieftain of one or two clans.

This great host, which I believe to be around five thousand strong, traveled out of the mountains and headed further north toward what today would be called Last Hearth. During this march Rory encountered another host, many times the size of his own. House Coldborn's oral history states that this host was led jointly by Brandon "The Builder", King of Winter and an unnamed Red King. Rory then left his host and spoke with these two Kings and soon after Rory joined his host to the forces under The King of Winter.

From there they traveled further North, along the way they were joined once more by a group of men under the command of a man of towering height, named Umber. Now with a combined force, I believe to be at least thirty thousand strong, they traveled into the far north. Towards what would be the lands beyond The Wall today. There are no records of this battle taking place. What little evidence I have been able to gather comes from ancient first man runes and oral legend. But it is said that this group of men fought and won a mighty battle. The losses were said to have been catastrophic, less than half the men that marched from their homes ever returned.

Even with this great victory won, the work was not done. The remaining men joined together to raise The Wall. Seven hundred feet high and three hundred miles long, it is an impossibility made real. Legend's say that Brandon the Builder enlisted the aid of the children of the forest as well as Giants to aid in its creation. Dear readers, I am a skeptic by nature, but for once I must agree with the legends. Having traveled to The Wall myself I can think of no other conceivable way to create such a structure without the aid of Magic.

With the contraction of The Wall now completed, men began to return to their homes. First the men following the Red King left, few were sad to see them go. Then the men following the one called Umber, who were given warm farewells. Rory however remained and for more then a moon he talked with The King of Winter. When the talking was done, Rory swore his service to The King of Winter and in turn Rory was named as Lord of the Northern Mountains. To never kneel to any besides the King of the North whos name is Stark. Rory took the name Coldborn for his house.

It is at this point that what little facts I have get even more muddied. It is my determination that The King of Winter first traveled with Rory Coldborn to his homeland within the Northern Mountains. Once there he constructed a powerful seat from which House Coldborn could rule as Lord of the Northern Mountains. In the foothills above what is today known as Coldborn Dale, Brandon built a stout Castle. Today this castle is called Mountain Home.

Once this task was done Brandon Stark left the Mountains to construct what is today known as Winterfell. Rory Coldborn became the first of his house. With a strong castle now to defend his people and the title of Lord of the Northern Mountains, House Coldborn began its many millennia of rulership over its lands.

Within a few generations the House sigil was created. Ten sanguine laurel crowns on ermine surrounding a argent bulls head on a sanguine shield. These laurel crowns represent the ten victories won to create the House Coldborn of today. They took on the words "By Blood and Valor."

Lifting his eyes from the book, Rickard reached to the side and picked up a strip of silk. He then placed it in the book and closed it. He always enjoyed reading about the long history of the North. He took pride in the accomplishments of House Stark and the other Houses in its service. More importantly, this chapter helped him come to a decision he had struggled with for more then a few nights.

House Coldborn had been loyal in their service to House Stark for countless generations. Young Artos Coldborn, his ward, was a son that would make any father proud. But more importantly he had the qualities of a strong lord and loyal bannerman. Diligent, Brave and Honorable, he followed his orders to the letter and was thorough when completing a task given to him.

The only major flaw Rickard saw in his character was his pride. But what lord wasn't prideful, especially a young man of six and then years. Rickard didn't believe that his pride would get in the way of his duties as Lord of Mountain Home.

The North had been stable in recent years, it had been a long road, recovering from the last war. The return of many men after fighting The War of Ninepenny Kings had been a troubled time. Some bands of broken men had risen, but the lords of The North had seen them destroyed ruthlessly. Now that the hard times had passed it was time that he looked forward without reservations.

Winter had ended shortly after it had begun, lasting hardly more than a year. Spring was upon The North and it was time for crops and families to grow. Rickard had been sending ravens to every Lordly and Masterly House of the North to find a suitable candidates for his recent plan.

"Better get to it then." Rickard mumbled to himself, rising from his leather backed chair. His long legs took him to the door of his solar, upon opening it he found the expected guard standing sentry.

"Old Tom." Rickard addressed the man standing outside his door, with hair more grey then brown and a scarred face. Tom had seen more years of service then any other fighting man in Winterfell.

"M'lord." Tom replied, turning his body to face Rickard and bowing.

"Get a runner to Artos and have him meet me here, the sooner the better." Rickard commanded the man. His voice and face stern.

Tom bowed his head once again "As you command M'lord", before quickly turning around and walking down the hall towards the stairs.