They arrived at Winterfell; Damien was happy that the Lannister queen did not send guards after them. He realized that it must be the kings anger staying her hands. After breaking bread and salt with lord stark, they discuss the situation in the capital.
They sat down in Lord Stark Solar, Ned spoke, "I've heard you had trouble in the capital."
Damien looked at him amused, "just a misunderstanding with the Lannister's."
Ned shook his head in disbelief, "to think they would break guest right."
Damien, looked at the lord, "it does not matter now, we are back, and the king gave my house justice."
They began discussing trades between House Akachi and House Stark, going over the finer details of the contract.
In the sparring yard, a group of stark man and smallfolk gathers watching Lady Erza duel both Jon and Prince Gendry. Many can see that Jon had improved, since he left Winterfell, he could not stand a chance again the warrior lady, but now he his matching her strike though she still had the upper hand.
The prince and his war hammer made many thinks of a young king Robert, they heard how he defeated the mountain in his trial by combat. Something very few men in Westeros could accomplish. They see each one of his strikes looked powerful enough to break every bone in a man's body.
In the end, both boys yielded to Lady Erza, while she acknowledged their growth and pointed out their weaknesses. They left the training yard for the castle as the day was ending and everyone needed to rest.
The morning came and everyone was breaking their fast, when lords stark informed them of the ravens he received, from his bannerman.
Eddard looked at his guests, "Some of my bannerman, wish to meet the visitors from the west" this caught them by surprise, before they could respond, Eddard looked at the new prince. "They also wish to see the prince who fell the mountain" Gendry had an embarrassing look from the attention he was getting.
Damien chuckled, at his nephew embarrassment, and turn to speak to lord stark.
"We look forward to meet them Aswell lord Stark"
After 8 days many lords from the north arrived for the Fairwell feast lord stark is holding for his two children. Damien introduced his family and many of the lords who remembered Young Robert could not help but mention that Gendry was his father reborn.
The great Jon challenged Damien to a spar and the lords who witnessed it could not believe the speed and strength of the 13 landers. Jon and Gendry sparred with many lords and their sons; lord Stark was impressed at the progress his son was making under the teaching of Damien.
Damien was now in a meeting with Lord Umber, Karstark, Forrester, Manderly, Mormont, Bolton, Flint, Reed and Tallhart. Lord stark wanted to send some of his bannerman children to keep his two children company. After much discussion, Damien and his wives after assessing each boy and girl potential in politics and martial arts, agreed to have Jeyne Umber, Alys Karstark, Ethan Forrester, Wyla Manderly, Lyra Mormont, Domeric Bolton, Artos Flint, Meera Reed and Benfred Tallhart.
Damien understood that these lords were actually sending their children to the 13 lands, for political marriages first and companionship for the stark children second. A way to garner goodwill with house stark and the empire. He spent the next 4 days training his new wards and his wives help when it comes to courtly life in the 13 lands.
After 8 days they departed to the 13 lands.
Damien and his wards stood in front of the stark family, "you must always contact me" said a teary
Catlyn stark as she hugged, her daughter.
"Mom, I can't breathe" muffled an embarrassed Arya Stark.
"Promise you'll call" said Rickon as he hugged his eldest sister.
"I will" Arya replied with a smile.
Robb and Bran hugged their brother, and Eddard hugged his son and daughter.
Sansa was never fond of Jon and after giving a curt farewell, they watch as the 13 landers ride out of
Winterfell.
Once they left Winterfell behind, Damien addresses his 12 wards, "Now my wards, we will go to a land of
adventure and danger. But don't be afraid I will protect all of you." With that said he spurn his horse
forward, the other following him. It will take them about 5 days of riding before the reach the Sea
dragon point, the shore of the sunset sea.
On the 3rd day of riding, the decide to rest for the day, while the fire burning and everyone eating.
A group of bandits are riding towards them, Damien felt them. So did his wives. They looked at each other and with a nod, Damien looked at his nephew.
"Gendry, we have company" he says catching his attention, the others looked around, trying to see if there are other people with them.
Gendry nod at his uncle, and placed his palm on the ground, "20 riders" he says, making Damien smiles.
He has been trying to teach Gendry the army sensory skill of detection. It took a while, but Gendry is able to detect enemies from a 20 miles radius, not bad for a beginner in Damiens opinion. Him and his wives are able to increase their range to 100 miles.
"Good, you and Jon should take care of them" Damien says, with a serious face.
Jon and Gendry saddle their horse and ride out to meet the bandits. Yoruichi feels the anxiety and worry of the others, "alright now, we should rest" she said with a reassuring smile.
Jon and Gendry are riding, already three miles from the camp. "How much farther" ask Jon.
"About two more miles and we will meet face them" he answered. They continue to ride in silence.
The riders come face to face, "Well looky here," said the leader.
"What business have you with us" Jon asks.
"Well, you see, you done pissed off, the most powerful house in Westeros, and by doing so, a debt must be paid" the leader responded.
"The Lannister's" Gendry and Jon both realize.
"That right boy, the queen did not take well to the humiliation she suffered in kings landing" the leader responded with a smile.
"Do you all want to die here" he gestures to the forest of the wolf wood.
"It does not matter; our instructions are to kill you and that Is what we will do." With that said, he unsheathes his sword, and his man does the same.
Jon unsheathes his blade and jump off his horse, he pierces the chest of the first rider he sees, Gendry was besieged by four riders, he concentrates and his fist glow in the dark, he launched his fist forward directly cracks the air in front of them, causing severe damage as the shockwaves directly pass through their bodies and the horses, falling dead.
Jon already on his fifth rider, who have died at his sword, now prepare for the charge of 3 more.
Gendry charged in, and with his Warhammer, smashed the chest of one rider sending him flying off his horse and blocking a sword strike from another, only to grab said rider by the head and concentrates his vibrations around it, resulting in crushing damage. Killing him like he did the Mountain.
Jon kills the 3rd rider with an upward trust, removing him from his horse. "Thanks" he said with a grin.
"Don't mention it, last thing I want is for Arya to have my head" they both laugh while focusing on the remaining riders.
Only 8 riders left, before them. All 8 was being more cautious than before. "They are not charging" Jon said.
"No, they are now taking us serious" Gendry replied.
"Do you have a plan" Jon asks.
"How fast can you kill them unmounted" he asks Jon.
Jon thinks about it, before answering. "Very fast, if you can unmount them" Gendry gave him a nod, and like a wild bull charge at the riders, who are surprised by the move.
Gendry hits the ground with a powerful strike, imbued with Crush. The resulting shockwaves hit the riders while also creating cracks on the ground, dropping them from their horse.
Jon uses the opportunity and rushes in, in a blink of an eye, 7 riders lay headless on the ground amid the opened earth and fallen trees.
The leader tries to get up only for Jon sword to be at his throat. "I was just following order" he said, scared shitless.
Gendry walked forward and look at him, he then looks at Jon, who sheath his sword. Gendry bend down to eye level with the leader, "Return to kings landing and tell the queen that Lannister's aren't the only ones who pays their debts, when I come back to Westeros, house Lannister will burn" with a look from Gendry, the leader scramble to get up, gets on one of the few surviving horses and ride away.
"Was it wise, letting him go." Jon asks on their way to their horses.
"Yes, I want Cersei to be afraid" Gendry replied.
"We will be gone for 8 years" Jon said.
"I know, but she does not now that, I want her to know that any day her house may go extinct and it's her fault." Gendry replied, only getting a laugh form Jon.
When they made it back to camp it was already dawn, "Seems like you two had fun," said a Grinning Arya. This caught the attention of the others wards who were not aware they had come back.
"Jealous?" Gendry says with a grin, earning a scowl from Arya.
"Alright we have a long ride ahead of us, saddle up." Everyone gets back on their horses and continues the journey toward their destination.
