Robb watched as he, his father, and their entourage entered the ancient-looking gates of the city Percy had been given. Already, he has seen a significant improvement in the old crumbling ruins that were here before. All the faces around him were of men, women, and children helping with the city's construction, and they had exhausted smiles.
"How did they get this much stuff done in only a week? We were only a week behind them, right?" Theon wondered as he stared at the sea of lowborns working on the ancient granite walls. Tents were set up almost like a temporary city inside the crumbled walls. Trade and bartering were happening for tools, flour, and other amenities. Everyone seemed cordial and kind to one another, even if they still saw tense faces. He didn't know much about city buildings but expected at least some more infighting with them, basically living out in the cold lands and being forced to sleep on the cold ground.
"Yes, they seem eager to complete their jobs." The Stark lord looked conflicted the entire way up to Sea Dragons Point, and it only deepened when he saw the eager, hopeful eyes of the people around him.
"What do you need, milord." A woman asked, carrying a small child on her hip.
"I'm looking for Lord Jackson as he was supposed to meet me at the gates." The quiet wolf of the North answered the lowborn women.
"Milord is working on a project that is taking his full focus. He should be at the Godswood." The Lady answered in kind before walking away.
"Only a week with Percy and the lowborn, who have already forgotten their place." Theon has had it ruff since his near-death experience and has gone back and forth from practically worshipping Percy's feet as a 'child of the drowned god' and hating on him for representing everything his people were not. Despite his rude comment, Theon had a point with the woman's brazen attitude when walking away from her high lord and the fact that the gates held no welcome party.
"Be nice, Theon; Percy is not from our lands and is not used to bowing to another… man." Neither boy was tricked, for both knew that what their Lord would say was mortal. Percy was something else and something to be feared. They were lucky enough to earn his loyalty before anyone else, and they went here to potentially punish him. With how these lowborns talked about their new lord, it sounds like they would find no help among these people.
They found Percy in a grove of trees, at the center of which sat a weirwood overlooking a saltwater pond, to which the man was sitting inside. He was in a complete trance, and the closer they got to the man, the stronger the trembling beneath their feet became. Arya was off to the side, and John was completely focused on watching Percy like a hawk with buckets of ice water.
"What is going on here?" asked a very confused Eddard, to which the entire party shared the same sentiments.
"Father! Gregaus asked us to watch over Percy as he does a project. It, unfortunately, is taking longer than we expected." Neither of Ned's children got up to hug him, as both Robb and his father expected.
"Sorry, Father, If we don't throw cold water on Percy when he begins to burn, he might die." John agreed with his sister as he stared at Percy's back, almost as if he looked away for even a second, the warrior before them would die.
"You must be the Lord of these lands. I haven't met a Stark in ages unless you count your two children." A voice from the red-leafed tree spoke in a sweet tone that sounded almost like bell chimes ringing. The small contingent of advisors, guards, and the two nobles all watched the supposedly extinct child of the forest stare back at them from the tree.
"I-I-I what?" This was the first time he saw his father genuinely dumbfounded at what lay before him.
"What? You think you Starks are the only ones trying to get the great and powerful Percy on their side?" The child of the forest jumped down from her branch and landed unnaturally light.
"How? I thought your kind was extinct." Before the Child of the Forest could respond, the ground shook, and the shaking increased further as the pool underneath Percy began to bubble and boil.
"He did it!" Arya shouted excitedly as she rushed over to the pool's edge.
"Did what?" Asked Theon as he looked around with what looked to be barely restrained fear.
"Connected the pools in the Godswood to the underground hot springs." Spoke Percy for the first time as he stood up atop the water as if it was as solid as a rock. Despite midday, the man's eyes glowed with a bright sea green that dimly illuminated the clearing.
"Before you berate me for killing the Boltons, how about we move to a more crowded place," Percy stated clearly, forgetting again that Ned was supposed to be his liege lord, not that Eddard had any mental room to complain after seeing an extinct species hang around Percy as if it was the most normal thing in the world. A testament to the collective shock of the group was that Eddards frustration and anger towards Percy's lack of honor was forgotten. On top of that, no one seemed to notice that it was weird for Percy to want a berating about killing a public figure to be done publicly until they were in the middle of the camp with hundreds of eyes staring at them from all around.
Percy, likely noticing that he would have to initiate the conversation, asked, "So what did you want to talk about? You did come all the way from Winterfell."
"You sure you want to have this discussion in such an open and public place?" Eddard asked Percy once he had regained his senses.
"Yes, this place is as good as any." Percy was acting like this would just be a normal conversation between friends. He wasn't even giving it his full undivided attention. As soon as he entered the camp, Percy began to help with odds and ends tasks. He picked up a heavy log here and moved a bunch of stones there, always keeping up with the group but never letting a task go unhelped.
"Perceus, a fortnight ago, I found out that the late Lord Roose Bolton was found murdered in his keep by unknown assassins. I believe this was a retaliation for his attempt on my family's life. You and only half a dozen others were aware of this attempt. You, out of all of them, were the most bloodthirsty for revenge against the Boltons." Stark looked more severe and grave with each passing word, as if he dreaded them.
"You suspect me of treason against the Boltons because you think I retaliated for the assassins." Percy's voice sounded matter-of-fact and almost bored?
"Yes…" Percy's cavalier attitude was throwing off Lord Stark and everyone present.
"How could I have sent the assassins so quick? I would have to have sent them before the attack on the castle in the first place. My assassins would have had to have been ghosts or something to move that quickly." That last statement sounded almost like a joke with the amount of amusement that laced it.
Percy was admitting to the attack without actually verbally attesting to the crime, Robb realized with a jolt. He wanted the word to spread about what he had done and to be seen being berated by Lord Stark himself. Percy was taking the blame and clearing the Starks at the same time.
"Do you confess to the crime?" Stark asked Percy to cut to the chase.
"Nah, I don't feel like admitting anything. If you have proof, I'll gladly accept any punishment, but until then, I plead the fifth." That last comment confused everyone: 'Plead the fifth.' What does that mean?
"I don't have any proof." The Stark looked almost relieved to have the ability to admit that.
"But if I were to have done it, then I may or may not have found evidence of treason against Starks by the Boltons. There may or may not be ancient Stark skins underneath the Dreadfort, and they will be arriving in Winterfell by an unknown traveler so the said family can bury their dead properly." Percy continued making sure that everyone knew who actually committed the crime. Silence wrapped around everyone in attendance like a thick blanket suffocating everyone.
"Well, since I have no proof, my men and I will stay here for a week before we head back to Winterfell. The King has asked me to inform you that your ceremony to officiate your ascension to Lord of Sea Dragons Point will be in a moon's time. It will take place four days after the arrival of the next moon."
A few days later, Arya found herself in the courtyard, hitting the same log repeatedly; however, instead of a stick, she had managed to move her way up to an actual sword, one whose blade was blunted, and it felt amazing! It was heavier than all her previous sticks combined, and it showed through her diminished accuracy in her strikes. When Percy gave her the practice sword, he instructed her that it was a tool for killing and nothing more. It should always be handled as such and never drawn unless she intended to wield it. Along with giving her the blade, he showed her how to properly care for the blade, for 'this weapon is an extension of yourself and needs to be able to have your complete trust' to quote her new teacher.
Thud
Thud
Thud
Bark flew all around the makeshift practice ring, which was only one of the few spaces in the camp that held no tent with each hit. Around her were various men who had volunteered to join Percy's new guard or were previous guardsmen of Winterfell and had moved with Percy for new prospects. Many were giving her looks for her 'daring attempt to do a man's job' or something like that. Arya honestly doesn't care about what these men think, especially since Percy berated them when they complained about Arya training with them.
Arya stopped her abuse on the tree when breaths started coming out in desperate gulps. Taking a break from her grueling training, he slunk over to the bench with the barrel of cool water and dumped some on her sweaty head. Back in Winterfell, she would never even think about wasting clean water as it was harder to come by, even for a Lord's daughter. However, with Percy's ability to simply summon it from the sea, he pulled out all the salt and unsanitary bits, and it quickly became a limitless resource.
"You have improved remarkably." Commented her father from the side of the ring. "Your sister has yet to pick up the blade and hates every minute of her training."
"Thanks, Father," Arya said with a nod, as she was too exhausted to do anything else.
"How is your needlework? Is Septa Sandra to your liking? I've heard you have given her no trouble."
Arya scowled, in truth that was a lie for she had given the Septa problems at first, but Percy quickly snipped her behavior in the butt. He had told her, 'You do not need to like needlework or the other lessons the Septa teaches. Hades, you don't even need to respect them; however, you made your father a promise. Starks don't break their promises.' After that conversation, she put the required amount of work into her lady duties as was expected from her.
Her father's eyes softened if only a tad, and he commented, "You enjoy the blade."
"Yeah." Her father seemed to see her, the true her, for a moment, but then he composed himself back into the Lord he was supposed to be.
"I expect you to continue your lady training, and remember this doesn't mean you will become a knight." He then strode away without another word. The sea green-eyed Lord, who had heard the conversation, got up and followed his liege lord.
The two nobles walked side by side for a while until Percy spoke. "She looks up to you here; they all do."
"I am there, father. " Stark spoke as if that explained it, though a smile did cross his lips.
"Yes, especially Arya and John. Unfortunately, some people are born a square peg in a world of round holes." Ned had never heard that analogy before but could guess the meaning.
"It is the way of the world. The way things have always been."
"Tradition isn't always the best way. The world doesn't have to be one shape or one color. It is more beautiful the more difference is shown." He spoke so passionately that Ned was lost in the young man's vision. "My mom bakes this treat called cookies, which are usually brown like most breads. However, we started a tradition where we will always dye them blue. It spread to all other meals, and now we have blue food as a staple. That little joke and spark of individuality helped me get through the toughest times." Percy looked at Ned with earnestness and a little pleading before continuing with his point. "Arya is wild and strong. She is very much like your symbol. Loyal, stubborn, but protective. She wants to be a warrior and fight in battles, yet the world she was born in tells her she should want to marry and be a mother above everything else. They tell her this without a good reason, snuffing out her spark and flame. Do not be the reason that spark is extinguished forever, for that will be a crime."
"It is her duty and expectation. She can have her hobbies on the side, but like the rest of the nobility, she has to do her part."
Percy's eyes darkened ever so slightly before he changed the subject, "What about John? I am trying to give him a home and family here, but it shouldn't be my responsibility. He is your… son."
Ned's eyes snapped towards his bannerman with fear in his eyes. The way Percy said son made him suspect the Demigod was aware of John's true patronage. Eddard quickly looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. They had walked into the Godswood without him noticing, far from any prying eyes. On top of that Percy had somehow lost the contingent of guards, making them the only two people around.
"What of my son," Eddard emphasized son while staring at the Demigod.
"We both know he is not your son," Percy stated plainly, skipping to the meat of why he got his Lord alone. Eddard's heart skipped a beat at the simple declaration.
"What are you talking about? John is my bastard; he even has my looks!" Eddard was clearly trying too hard to act inauspicious to be believable.
"You really need to take lessons on how to lie. Though it's never going to work on me." Percy bluntly told the Lord to decide it was probably the best way to get through the stubborn Lord.
"How could you possibly know when I am lying?" Eddard was getting desperate, and if Percy didn't play it right, Eddard might just drop the conversation in an attempt to minimize the damage.
"The human body is fascinating. Don't get me wrong; I failed biology and have no interest in pursuing anything in the STEM field. However, like most people, I am still a little intrigued by how we work and why. Do you want to know something I discovered?"
Eddard was too overwhelmed to respond, and he didn't even know what they were talking about. He didn't even know what some of those words meant, but he didn't like where this was going.
"I discovered that the human body is about seventy percent water, and I control water. I can feel it move, swirl, and shift around me at all times. I feel the permafrost below our feet, the water vapor in the clouds, the snow on the fields, and the water in the sea. I can tell you things about the water I shouldn't be able to know. For example, the water in the hot springs throughout the city is approximately one hundred and twenty degrees." Percy was intentionally looking away from the Lord, almost as if he was ashamed and a little scared of his own power.
"That's how you killed those assassins with your mind. You controlled the water inside their bodies." Eddard didn't like the implications that the man in front of him didn't even need to get close to a man nor hold a weapon to kill them. He felt sick at the idea of someone manipulating another being's life's blood. This was Percy that sat in front of him, so he tried to gather his revulsion and fear.
"I can feel your fear. You don't have to hide it. Everyone feels it when they learn about what I can do," the man said with a broken sadness. How much has he seen? What sort of life leads one to figure out an ability like that?
"Anyways, what I was trying to say before I got sidetracked was that I can tell when someone is lying to me. Their blood tends to pump faster. Add other little tells of their body language, and you get an absurdly accurate lie detector."
"You truly know that John isn't my son then," Ned said like a reluctant fact.
"Yes, and I have a pretty good idea of who the real parents are." Percy finally looked back towards his Lord before continuing. "Lyanna seemed to be a wonderful person. Rhaegar, on the other hand, seemed like a piece of work, and I am glad the man is six feet under."
"You guessed exactly right. I found my sister on her deathbed, holding her son. Her last words were her pleading for me to protect him, and I saw how much anger Robert had towards the Targaryen house. John was the last true-born alive and the biggest threat to Robert's crown. Luckily, John looked more like his mother than his father, so I could pass him off as my own."
Percy looked dumbfounded at the revelation of John being trueborn. "I thought Rhaegar was already married? That monster of a man killed his wife and children after the Lannisters were allowed into King's landing."
"He did; Targaryen, since the time of Aegon, the conqueror, has been allowed legally to marry multiple women. It has just fallen out of practice since it caused ambiguity about who the true heir is." Eddard looked disgusted at the prospect of a Targaryen polyamorous marriage. Maybe it was polygamous since it was one man and multiple women? Percy doubted the laws allowed the women multiple partners. The idea of polyamory, polygamy, or even the idea of incest among the previous royal line didn't bother Percy, primarily since he was used to the Greek gods. As long as the women consented of their own volition, which Percy heavily doubted, he had no issue with plural marriage.
"You must know, Percy, that you can not under any circumstances allow anyone else the knowledge you learned here today." Eddard stressed this to the still-amused Demigod.
"Sure, but why is John not yet aware? I can understand mostly everyone else. What I can't understand is why John or Catelyn. He deserves to know the truth, and we both know how much better your marriage would be if she knew."
"It's safer if we let the secret die with us."
"John feels like an outsider of his own family! His own aunt treats him like a pile of shit. The world he lives in calls him slurs and automatically assumes he is a lying, scheming criminal whose only purpose is to die in some battle for his father. That takes a toll on anyone, especially if you have been told this since birth, so forgive me if I say you're an idiot for believing lying to the boy will get you anywhere." Percy looked about, ready to punch a hole in a wall with his clenched fists and furious stare that seemed to penetrate Eddard's soul.
"I refuse to take the risk. We are not discussing this further."
"I disagree, but I will trust you for now. If the information starts to drive a bigger wedge between your family or if it becomes too dangerous not to share, we are circling back to this." Percy began to walk off, likely to finish his project connecting his city to the hot springs underneath the North.