Jon Snow
2 Weeks after...
Jon Snow's POV
"Hey, Jon. They say the knights and their Princess are exotic beauties. Ya think I can sleep with one of them." I shook my head at Theon's comment.
"Ha! You would be considered lucky if you even catch a glimpse of Sir Alicia's beauty with her armor covering her up from head to toe!" One of the Manderly soldier escorting us replied to Theon, causing the others to laugh.
"Truly, you jest. A woman as a knight? That's a good joke if I ever heard one. They're probably just bunch of women playing knights." Theon scoffed before his lips turn into a leacherous grin, "But I'm sure I'll teach them the joys of being a woman when I'm though them."
Then suddenly escorts went silent.
"Lord Stark, would it breach the contract with the Greyjoys if the kid dies in the hands of the foreigners." One soldier spoke up, addressing Lord Stark.
"Theon, behave yourself." The Lord simply glared back, silencing the ward.
I shook my head at Theon's behavior.
Currently, we are the Neck's riverbanks, riding towards the White Harbor to House Manderly.
For two weeks, rumors and hearsay have been circulating around the Harbor as of late.
Of how a gigantic white ship made of pure white metal arrived at its docks, damaged and in need of asylum from unknown pursuers. It was also said that it's owner is a young and beautiful princess of unknown roots, who's beauty surpasses any woman of the seven kingdoms and how her knights are just as equal to her.
But Lord Stark didn't ride from Winterfell to validate it's rumors.
It's because of what Lord Manderly sent to Lord Stark.
A simple breast plate made of unknown metal.
It came with a message that only Lord Stark knows. After that, for an entire week, Lord Stark had all his soldiers, all of his best smiths and all of the strongest northern men gathered in Winterfell for one purpose.
To break or pierce the breast plate.
Nothing worked.
Swords snapped.
War hammers and it's ilk broke.
Arrows bounced off.
And boulders crumpled against it.
It even led to a point where the Maester had one of the scorpion ballistas modified and used against the breast plate.
Instead, all it left was a measley scratch and a small dent.
It was unreal seeing it.
That's when Lord Stark decided to come down to White Harbor in order to meet up with Lord Manderly and find out where he found this metal.
He also had Robb, Theon and I join his departure to which here they are.
"I see it, the White Harbor." Robb said out loud as we pass a cliff, giving as clear view of the Harbor.
"Is that the Ship?" Lord Stark asked to one of the soldiers.
"Aye, My liege!"
I can only look in awe. Even from afar, the ship
dwarfs all other ships and even the Manderly castle with its sheer size.
How can someone build such a ship? Where did it came from?
Who built it?
I wondered in my thoughts, my curiosity having intrigued by the sight.
"Then let's make haste, I want to know what Wyman can say about this." Lord Stark ordered, urging us all to continue.
Our destination, White Harbor.
We soon found ourselves meeting the Fat Lord, Wyman Manderly at his castle. The fat lord giving Lord Stark a huge hug with his bulk before inviting him in his solar to discuss, leaving us behind to wander in the city.
"Come on, Jon. Let's take a look at the White Ship." Robb invited me, halfbrother leading the way with Theon spouting off his usual tirade for women.
"I bet they have pretty faces but ugly bodies under their armor." He proposed, taking account of the rumored armors.
"We won't until we see them, Theon and watch your mouth. We don't need you souring father's future talks with them." Robb rebuked.
"Ha! Why would Lord Stark even give them his time? They're just foreigners!" Theon said.
"It's because they're foreigners itself. Westeros doesn't get much foreign visitors apart from Essos and we all know what kind savage practices they used."
Slavery.
I nodded agreement with Robb.
Westeros' neighboring continent, Essos is a savage and barbaric land filled with exotic magics and inhuman practices like slavery. It's also home to the Dothraki, fiercest horse riders in the world to date and second to the wildlings in savageness.
"But I think father's concern is more about Manderly's new found steel." Robb mused.
"I remember that, I think I gave that damned breast plate a couple of hits with a war hammer but no damages." Theon comments.
"Wait a minute! You took a turn with it!" I exclaimed.
"And you didn't invite us." Robb added in disappointed.
Theon shrugged, "You didn't ask and I only sneaked in to get a hit in before the guards took it away for more tries. Damned thing was too hard, I tell you!" He boasted.
We shook our heads at his misadventure. Both disappointed we didn't get a chance to try it out for ourselves too.
As we entered the docks, we finally saw the White ship at its fullest.
I can only gape in awe at the ship.
It was too big. Bigger than any ships made in history of Westeros.
What's intriguing is that it's entirely made of steel based on its metallic sheen of its surface.
"How do you think its capable of floating? Metals doesn't float and everyone knows it." Robb wandered out loud.
"Magic perhaps, bet one of the knights is a witch!" Theon answered.
"Shut up, Theon." I warned him, reminding him of place.
We are visitors here, part of the Lord Warden or not, we need to show respect.
The ship itself is weirdly designed.
It's was akin to a horse.
Having four protruding legs, two pointing at the front as it's bow with the other two as it's stern. For its head, it had a huge elevated tower at the center of its body with what looks like a crow's nest.
A very huge crow's nest.
What made it more curious is the fact it have wings. Why would a ship need wings?
Suddenly, we heard a commotion at the nearby city guards.
"Come on, boys! Get your bets in. They about to start their spar!"
We are all confused at the city guards until we saw them.
The knights.
Covered in steel and armor, they walked on top of the ship's bow.
There were three of them.
Ones a winged knight, its wings made of interwoven spears while the other two are identical copies of the same armor.
"You think the winged knight is the captain?" Robb whispered beside me as we watch the knights take position on the bow.
"I don't know." I replied.
One of the identical armor took place on the other end while the winged knight positioned at the other. The final knight took position in the middle and raised their hand.
A duel?
No, a spar.
"Begin!" An unmistakably voice of a woman came from the knight in the middle.
And then they moved.
Fast!!!
One blink and the two knights are already at the middle, clashing with glowing blades, causing sparks to rain on their forms. It created an ethereal glow among the clashing knight as they basked under the sparks.
"What are those swords!" I heard Theon say but I ignored it to watch.
The red and white knight took charge, breaking the clash and slashing downwards. The winged one took a step back before spinning it's blade for a stab to which the other knight simply sidestepped.
It then went under the winged knights guard in order to bisect them with their blade.
I gasped in awe as I watched the knights wings unfold, allowing them to flip in the air and attack the same time, forcing the other knight to block and get pushed off.
The knight's wings then folded once it was on stable ground and raised it's blade to the other knight.
They were visibly angered and it clashes against the other knight in a furious dance of blades.
Sparks flew and various maneuvers were thrown.
Yet the spar is not going anywhere, they are both equal.
The red knight is fast and agile but the winged knight is very adaptable and defensive, blocking and weaving from the red one's attacks with ease but unable to get a hit in.
It wasn't long before the spar became a draw, much to the city guards disappointment.
"Did you all see that?! How in the seven hells are they capable of moving like that with all that armor?!" Theon exclaimed in disbelief of what he just witnessed.
"There's now way those are women! It refuse to believe that!" He continued.
"Still want to sleep with one of them?" Robb asked him.
"Not in the seven hells, those aren't women. Those are man ladies for sure!" Theon reasons.
I scoffed at the thought.
The Manderly escorts already validated that claim so he will be very disappointed quickly.
We then returned to the castle after the knights took their leave inside their ship.
Yet my thoughts lingered around them.
Can I be as good as them?
Ned Stark's POV
"So, this is the ingot?" I asked Manderly as I grabbed the unassuming block of metal. It's light yet felt so sturdy in my hands.
"Yes, my liege and that's just one of them. Currently, we have over 70 at this time but over 65 is in stock. Hidden and safe from thieves." Manderly replied.
"Oh, why so?" I wondered. Why add security for a lump of metal.
"You did receive the breast plate I sent over to Winterfell, my liege?" I nodded to confirm, "Then would it pique your interest that it took a week of nonstop of backbreaking hard-work and about 20 blacksmiths working together to make that piece?" He said with a smile, a smile I knew to well if his found a good deal or new business avenue.
If the South have the Lannisters and then the North have the Manderlys.
But still, 2 weeks and 20 men?
"Impressive. But I still don't know why you wished my presence here and I don't care about the rumors of a foreign princess seeking asylum in your home." I said to him.
"Well... The princess part is true but Lord Stark, this is not about business."
"It's about consolidating power." I narrowed my eyes.
"I don't play the Game, Wyman and so you are."
"I don't, my Liege but with current events and happening across the seas and here. Its not bad to be prepare for winter."
"What does your little birds told you?" I asked him.
"In Essos, the Targaryen girl is now ripe for marriage. His brother is looking for a husband with an army for her. They want the throne back." Manderly revealed, making me sigh at the foolish boy.
No, Essosi would help him. Yes, they will take the girl as their husband but no sound minded man will cross the seas to take Iron Throne for nothing but as second fiddle to their him or his wife.
"And in Westeros?"
"Jon Arryn fell ill, my liege. He is dying." I shut my eyes, frustration and helplessness coming to me.
Jon Arryn was like a second father to me. He took me and Robert under his care as wards. He taught us how to be men, to be honorable and to be a good man.
And now his on his death bed, so far away.
I sighed.
"And I suspect if the hand of the king succumbs, the king will most likely come to take you as replacement." Another problem.
Damnit, Robert.
"Yet it doesn't answer why you want me to endorse this... Deal you have with the Foreign Princess. For all we know, she could be just another Targaryen girl, with a whole sleight of enemies hunting her down and bringing her war in our home." I told him brutally.
"Yes, I do suspected it but..."
"But what?"
"Talking to her and visiting her ship in past two weeks, I came to one conclusion."
"What is it?" I asked impatiently.
"... They are desperate. So desperate for revenge."
"What?" I blinked in confusion.
"She and her crew may hide it very well but I saw it. They are desperate to spill blood of their enemies. They want as much blood as Robert does when he started the rebellion against the mad king."
"How can you be so sure of it."
"Because, they value nothing."
What?
"I offered them gold once to buy the ingots but they insisted on food and supplies for their upcoming voyage. Gold is nothing to them. And with the way the are bargaining, they are in a hurry."
"So that's why we must act fast and secure their trust and loyalty, I want you take them as part of you vassals, my liege." Manderly said.
"What? But they are foreigners, Wyman. The north won't accept them. And how does this connect to the upcoming winter?" I replied.
"For your protection, my Lord! As right now, my best smiths are toiling and hammering a set of armor for you. Impervious to any arrow or sword, light but sturdy. You'll be safe from any danger!" Manderly exclaimed.
"But the real value of the foreigners is not their resources but themselves."
"And why is that?" I asked.
"... Just one of their knights can end the Mad King rebellion by their lonesome." Manderly whispered.
"That's not plausible." I rebuked.
"It is if you saw their armor. Compared to any smiths or the work of Valerians, there works will be like comparing a the Queen and a pig."
I raised an eyebrow at the comparison.
"But their most valuable resources is their knowledge."
"Hmm, elaborate."
Manderly then stood up and opened the window of his solar, presenting a beautiful sight to me.
The White Ship.
"Of all written history in the world, that's the first ship made of metal and steel." He said beside me.
"And those billowing smokes at the south, those are our new furnaces. Bigger and hotter but still needing 2 days to melt a single Gundarium ingot."
"And it was made by one of their knights who is also their Smith."
I nodded at him. Yes, the knowledge of how to make a ship and furnace of this caliber is very valuable.
The ship alone can dominate the entire Baratheon Navy if it has a crew and the bigger furnaces just sped up the production of metalware and silverware from utensils and weapons.
"Oh, look it's look Lady Alicia and Sir Mika is sparring."
"A woman? So the rumors are true?" I turned to him.
"Aye, and don't be fooled by her gender and watch."
And so I did.
And I realized.
These people monsters of their own right.
There skills surpasses any swordman in Westeros and their Armors made sure of the gap is unreachable.
Just one of them is more than enough to end the rebellion years ago.
"So what's you decision, my Lord. Will you take them as foreign vassals?"
"No."
Wyman was stunned and disappointed.
"Because I have a better deal." I told him before turning away from the window, not before looking at the bastard child of the Starks.
End Chapter