Chapter 07

Robb's POV (Age 06), 286 AC

Robb's face had become stone after hearing these tasks. However, for the survival of his people from the next long night he had to accept this. Still, he had questions that needed answering.

"These abilities that are in stark bloodline are called wolfsblood which are tied to Winter Throne and can fully awakened only through it?"

"Yes."

"I have only heard and read stories about my legendary ancestors. But from what I could interpret Brandon 'The Stark' was Cold & calculating, Wild & martially gifted, and magically powerful. Hence our three bloodline abilities of Mind, Body, and Magic. Correct?"

The old man smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"Although I have only heard about him from all accounts my deceased uncle second ability of wolfsblood was stronger. Thus, his moniker 'The Wild Wolf'. By the same logic even without awakening, the first ability is stronger in my father. Henceforth, his moniker 'The Quite Wolf'. My question is, does the same pattern follow now? And if in awakened wolfsblood state, the weaker ability can be trained to at the very least mellow extreme one-ability personality?"

"Yes, and Yes" smilingly answered the old man.

"South must burn or be at peace for us to face the Other's. However, these tasks mentioned will only help North. Do you want me to let south burn? Why?"

"When gods of the seven, directed andals to cut down and burn weirwood tree and children. We were weak but wrathful. But your ancestor Theon 'The Hungry Wolf' appeased us by burning and killing andals in their homeland. And because there was no True Winter King at the time, children decided to flee North of the Wall.

The world has almost recovered from the effects of Doom. Magic will resurface. The Others will use that to completely reawaken which will delay magic for about another five years only. Magic resurfacing will be heralded by a red star. Dragons will fly again.

And amid all this, the Gods of the Seven, who are fooled by the way, and R'hllor, who went mad when his campion, your cousin Jon Targaryen, was stillborn. He just doesn't care about his Westeros followers. Both are pushing for war between mortals in Westeros and want to drag our followers into the war too. We are too weak to stop them directly.

Do you understand the implication of this? Stark bloodline could end. North would be too weak to repel the Others." The old man was silent for a few minutes but continued.

"Now first task can be explained very easily. Maester Luwin is trustworthy and is loyal to your father, then to keep, and lastly to the realm which is the exact opposite of the oath maesters take. His predecessor, however, Maester Walys was loyal to Olena Tyrell and the Conclave of Maester. There are very few places in the south where we can see. Highgarden is one such place as its weirwood tree was not cut down.

Your grandmother was assassinated on orders from both of them. Maesters knows about Stark's magical bloodline but not its abilities through old tomes and scrolls. Maesters conspire against anything related to magic. There are only three magical bloodlines south of the neck, the Royce, the Blackwoods, and the Daynes. All followers of ours and their bloodlines are dormant. Every house north of the neck also has dormant magical bloodlines except House Stark.

Olenna just wanted to hike up food prices but your grandmother was a formidable opponent. She was poisoned during childbirth which likely killed her. The intention was for the poison to kill Benjen too but he survived. After her death, Food prices increased without limit and Maester Walys poisoned your grandfather with words to make alliances with South, thereby alienating Starks."

Robb was barely controlling his anger but his whole body was trembling.

"Second task needs no explanation, Eddard Stark is an Arryn in all but blood. And your mother while she loves you, your siblings, and Eddard is an Andal which was a slave to Ironborn before Aegon. Thus, secrets need to be kept from them.

Same with the Third task. No explanation is necessary. Now, the fourth task, let's just say history without or as low as possible bias can be very informative.

As we told you during our last conversation, we have become weak. Our remaining power is being used up to have this direct conversation. Generally, gods stay silent as you might have noticed but we had to intervene." The old man gave Robb a sad smile.

"Fifth task. When you plant more weirwood trees it has four benefits, it helps in recharging magic, makes land more fertile, does the work of a hundred trees to keep the air clean, and helps us see more which increases our power.

For the ritual, dig below the weirwoods of every castle and bury a small sack that contains a bowl worth each of weirwood root shaving, weirwood sap, and your blood. And claim the land for you & yours. Within the borders, Northmen will live their life as they deem it to be. Magical attacks on the North will not work. Protection will also help in concentrating mana and prevent it from leaking to the world." The old man finished explaining.

"While your explanation was very informative and answers about letting Reach burn. Why it would have to whole south?"

"Dorne is the land of Oathbreakers. All of them at some point in their life has broken their oaths and did so without missing a heartbeat if it would benefit them. Crownlands are mindless sheep that have lords who are loyal only to Targaryens.

Stormland, Vale & Riverlands which are supposed allies are nothing but opportunistic swine. Orys Baratheon felt he was more worthy than Durrandon's bloodline, thereby dissolving it. Baratheon's have always wanted to usurp the Targaryens, always hiding their ambition. Arryn's just thought it would be good to weaken Starks.

Riverlands like Reach just wanted to sell more food and just as high a price. Moreover, Hoster Tully, your grandfather will sell you, his blood, into slavery if it makes his position stronger and helps House Tully unite Riverlands under them.

Do we even have to explain Iron Islands and Westerlands?"

"If I let Riverlands burn won't Starks be called oathbreakers?" Robb asked.

"A good question. While Catelyn Tully did nothing untoward to House Stark and the North. She even tried to accommodate as much as and more than her education and upbringing allowed. But besides selling food at a high price even with the alliance in place, someone in House Tully informed Brandon about the supposed kidnapping of his sister."

"What? If it's true someone used the Starks to start a war. But Uncle Edmure was only ten and two namedays old. Great-uncle Blackfish was near Castle Darry to subdue bandits. That left Hoster Tully, Lysa Tully, and one of the mother's friends, Petyr something. I have looked into it." Robb said in a determined voice.

"Old gods, you said the choice will be mine to make between being King or Warden. I choose to be King. I'll let South burn and even help it burn more." Robb said enraged.

"Good choice. We were hoping you would make this choice. Go, we need to rest now." Mist enveloped both of them and the old man disappeared and he woke up on the Throne.