29 Chapter 29

Greatjon Umber POV, 293AC Moon 02

The lords of the North were cheering loudly for Ned's heir, praising House Stark for its generous gifts. As cheers died down Robb motioned for Scholars to pass around their works, as these books were distributed.

I opened my copy and began reading, The Inventory what an odd name. Every page contained some kind of flashy name for an object and a report on how to make them.

Cement, Concrete, paper, glass (better than the Myrish!), postholers, drills, screws, hard hats, running water, wheel saws, band saws, chain saws, mechanical looms, spinning wheels, spinning jennies, spinning frames and flying shuttle for thread mills, wheel-powered everything, blast furnaces that could make Steel by the cartload. Two or three of them could have changed their way of life. Hells, the trip hammer upended blacksmithing all by itself. All of them together? They'd needed a whole new word for it. And they got it. Industry. Industry that was all just materials and tools for the real stuff.

Ice fishing that didn't kill you overnight, maple sugar, beet sugar, soybeans, stone harvesters, and buriers that could turn poor land into farmland, the latter doubled as a harvester for one of the two new crops that could each make the North self-sufficient all on their own again, new farming techniques and tools that could improve existing crop yields tenfold (tenfold!). Hedge plows, planters, crop lifters, threshers, seed drills, and Gods knew what else would come out of the woodwork in the future (tenfold! At least!). And did he mention that the fucking crannogmen were probably going to feed the whole North by themselves by this time next summer? Rice! Where the fuck had that crop been all this time? What dog shit! Also, fuck the Reach! And fuck the Riverlands too!

Cast iron stoves, portable camp stoves made of steel sheets that weighed practically nothing (not plates, sheets), a portable melting foundry, handle-turned choppers, mashers, and grinders, canning that outlasted potting six times over (at least!). Them, tin cans sealed with cork and wax weren't heavy as sin either, they didn't shatter like wine bottles, they could stack into crates, they didn't shit or need to eat like goats or chickens, and they didn't slow down an army on the march, they'll let ships stay on patrol for months without resupply, and nobody would die of the runs. One be ever so sorry, Maester Whoresbane, but all the logistics you taught just turned to shit! And if they have to import cork by the shipload from the Reach? Fuck the Reach anyway! They had screw-on lids now!

Piped water, piped water in your kitchen, piped water in your privy, new soaps, soap for your mouth, brushes for teeth, cleanliness rules explained clear enough to make some fucking sense, public baths, public steam baths, in-house privies that didn't smell somehow, birthing forceps, cure for the fucking plague, Jon couldn't even fathom how many people weren't gonna die when these things started spreading. Sprogs. Sprogs everywhere! They wouldn't die and they wouldn't have to worry about starving! Didn't look like any of those extra hands would be idle either. Haha!

The new foods weren't as many, but they were as tasty after a winter of jerky, cheese, and porridge. Wedge pies, brans (Jon bravely didn't check them for barbs), fruit candied in maple syrup, boiled rice, fried rice, boiled potatoes, soup of potatoes, baked potatoes, salted fried potatoes seasoned in rosemary, and everything else under the sun (delicious!). Just reading about them had given him and every other Lord a hunger and an urgent need to try these foods.

Gods bless Ned and Catelyn because they ordered the servants to bring in a few samples of these new dishes. While waiting for dishes to be brought in he and everyone else came to the six pages describing the new drinks they had. Northern Blue, Vodka, Whiskey, Brandy, Rum, Beer.

He really couldn't wait. He needed this, Now. He turned to ask Ned to order some booze samples too.

"My Lords and Ladies, please enjoy a few samples of new foods and drinks that are mentioned in The Inventory. More will be available for the feast tonight." Ned had announced.

He and everyone else jumped to eat and drink everything that was in front of them. Ah! He could die now after tasting these new dishes. All too quickly the table was cleaned of food and drink.

Everyone then started reading the rest of the huge-ass book, the Starks had given them to see what other Winterfell's Wonders they had to watch out for.

There was some stuff about counting coppers, Double-Entry Bookkeeping or something, which will become the new standards to keep ledgers and submit reports and taxes.

When the war stuff came, the lords looked ready to just bend over backward and pull their knees behind their ears so Lord Stark could have his wicked way with them and begin the next stage of their lives. Though that might just be the drink making him remember things weird-like. Unlike before, though, there were as many nutty ideas as there were good.

The trebuchet would mess up forts right proper and there were ideas for an arrow 'multi-loader' that could make bowmen right terrifying (just what the legs of lasses had to do with archery, Jon hadn't the foggiest). And maybe the signaling towers. Other than the canning and everything else that would splash over of course. Those YiTish-looking wheelbarrows would solve a lot of their travel problems too, outside snow days. Pike, crossbow, and shovel, that's all he had to say. Well, maybe one of them 'entrenchment tools' instead, especially if they had to dig their latrines away from camp.

Maybe there was something to be said about wooden armor, at least if it was made of ironwood, but linen armor just sounded insane. Though maybe it was only meant for ski scouts in winter? Lamellar was a better idea in Jon's opinion.

When sailing finally got its turn at the end, the only surprise was Lord Stark's command that most of the new ideas not be implemented yet. Or, at least, implemented but not deployed. Outside the North anyhow. Robb wanted them to be all strategic-like.

Why was he thinking Robb was Lord Stark when Ned was still alive?

Their new fleet (and hadn't that been a surprise) and everyone on it had been snuck into the North via Widow's Watch and Ramsgate. Ser Wyman Manderly had gone and made it happen, using planning, knowledge of the routes, and some new contraption called a compass that looked like magic when he showed it off. That's how the trade mission Little Robb had sent had traveled so fast, they didn't need to stay close to the coast to navigate, the ships traveled through Open Waters without losing any ships and in half a time too.

Other surprises like new shipyards. And new ships. And construction yards in the many cave river mouths dotting the coasts. Insofar as they made coin enough for it from everything else anyhow, and they were sheathing ships in copper, which would be held back until the next war that nobody wanted to guess about because they didn't want to ruin the good mood any.

There was also something about Black Oil and something called Lantern which would replace candles and whale oil torches.

Something called the Northern Measurement Scale. Standardizing Length, Weight, and Time measurements. Measurement of Length being in Centimeter, Meter, and Kilometer. For up to 50 meters it could also be done in the old system of Inches and Feet. Measurement of League was scrapped altogether.

Measurements of Weights were in Grams, Kilogram, Quintal, and Tons. Measurement of Time somehow became most simple and accurate. It was done in Seconds, Minutes, and Hours.

The most maddening of all is a Clock. A device that could be used to measure time.

Madness. Pure madness.

There were some things that he was too dumb to understand but this Inventory

"Now, while you must have read through The Inventory, let me explain a few things.

As you have read, the gifts given to you are also written in this book. The idea is that any house can make its products for its use but if it would like to sell it then that's another story. I have looked at your lands and the business that I have told you to pursue will be the most profitable and easy to do in your lands, however, I would like you to try and implement the new business ideas." Robb said while walking among the lords.

"House Stark has a vested interest in the betterment of the North. Since I did the majority of work to procure these things for you I would like to point out that while they are gifts they are not free. So the business that you, My Lords and Ladies, start with my gifts to you will be a partnership with a 90/10 split in your favor." Lord Robb said looking around the tent.

"House Umber thanks House Stark for its generosity. We will stand with you now and always as we have for the last 10,000 years." I roared standing up facing the boy.

As soon as he did that other lords also gave their approvals. Whitehill cunt was having second thoughts, he will be needed to be watched.

"You don't have to thank me, Lord Umber. Credits for all the inventions are with the Scholars I sponsored, Grandscholar Marwyn and the rest of the Scholars have done outstanding work. House Stark will keep being the sole sponsor of Winter's Knowledge Hall.

You all can request Scholars from the Knowledge Hall to enter into your services. It will be like hiring services of someone, not like a maester. There is no oath of celibacy, they will have a family that's living in the North and will be loyal to us. I have set up Schools throughout the North, I would like it if you encourage the smallfolk to learn to read and write. The Healing Halls that have also been set up have reported that medical treatment for smallfolk has reduced illness and other ailments throughout North."

Lord Robb moved between the tables looking at every lord. There were some cunt Lords who were questioning Lord Robb's decisions, before they could rally together he would have nip it in the bud.

"Lord Robb, you are the Stark of Winterfell. You command us, we will follow. However, I have a question about the gifts that have been given to us by House Stark. Wouldn't it be better to have the Lords and smallfolks focus on utilizing our every resource to grow? Wouldn't telling the smallfolks to attend these schools would be dividing the time that could be better utilized ?" I asked the question standing up.

The whole tent was silent. Before Lord Robb answered he gave a small smile.

"Good question, Lord Umber. But what I want is to increase the number of literate people in the North. I am not telling them to become Scholar but from what I have experienced while traveling through North, an illiterate person could only perform the task given how he was taught to do but a literate person would look for a way to improve or look for a new way to do the task.

It also helps that with smallfolk being able to read and write they won't be swindled by any merchant who would otherwise take advantage. There are many benefits to having an educated smallfolk."

Many lords nodded hearing Lord Robb's words. He gave him another smile and continued moving up and down the table between different lords.

"Now before we move toward the next topic let's take half an hour break."

Robb Stark POV (Age 13), 293AC Moon 02

"Let's start the meeting again", I said as lords and ladies sat down on benches eagerly to continue the meeting.

"Grandscholar Marwyn, Please bring out the map." As soon as I said that Marwyn motioned some Novices to bring about a huge roll of map. In the center of the tent, novices unfurled the map and went away to stand behind Marwyn.

"This map shows us our home. After your business has been set up and you all start earning some coins, I want every one of you to hire Scholar and Master Builders to fortify your keeps and surrounding towns. Lords on the Western Coast will be given generous loans so they can improve their wooden keeps to stone and concrete keeps."

Lords nodded at the command. After looking at every lord I continued.

"The North has a huge problem that is the small settlements all around our kingdom, and those small settlements are difficult to defend so men wouldn't march to war but stay to protect them, one of the first things we need to do is to group small settlements and create big ones, more easily defendable and that will free tens of thousands of able-bodied around the North." The sound of ayes echoed in the tent.

"During the rebellion, the North could field fifty thousand men, maybe more, but it took a huge time to gather them and I wanted to save my sister so I only took twenty thousand to be fast.

We of the North were always martial people and with the huge addition of the Free Folks, we gained even more men because you can't survive beyond the wall without knowing how to fight. Do not forget that the North is the second most populated kingdom after the Reach even if there were huge tracks of land deserted.

And now with my son working to increase our overall strength, we will have a population boom." Father spoke up.

"After fortifying our keeps and building large villages, we will focus on securing North as a whole from any invasion. Scholars have designed some new ships." I said pointing towards miniature ship models that novices have started putting on the sides of maps.

"Lord Wyman Manderly, I am appointing you as Admiral of the Eastern Fleet. Lord Jorah Mormont, you will be appointed as Admiral of the Western Fleet. Do you both accept?"

Both of them went to their knees and said loudly, "We accept, Your Grace." Everyone broke out in cheers and no one questioned me being referred to as a king.

As cheers died down I continued, "I want 150 Carracks on each coast. They will be fitted with ballista, scorpion, and trebuchet, along with Carracks appropriate numbers of Caravels, Hoy, Cogs, and Longships will be built. Half of this fleet will be sponsored by House Stark.

Every minor lord will be allowed a maximum of 5 Carracks and major lords 10 Carracks for their defenses if they want to build so. No restrictions on numbers of trade vessels."

All the lords cheered. "I have hired shipwrights with the help of Iron Bank. Most of them will go toward the Western Coast to help Mormonts. Lastly, 3 man-o'-war will be built. 1 each for House Stark, Manderly, and Mormont.

There are 2 more remaining projects that need to be discussed. If you direct your attention toward the map again, you will see the grey and red lines. As you can see, only kingsroad, marked in grey, is functional.

The ones marked in red are proposed roads, from every major keep, roads will converge to Winterfell. Other auxiliary roads will also be developed between keeps. These roads will strengthen trade and fast military movement.

But The Northern Road Projects will have to wait. Most likely we won't be able to start it for a few decades with our Business & Food Projects and The Fortifications Projects ongoing." I saw many lords nodding.

"My last project is more ambitious than others. I want to create canals.

Joining The Sunset Sea and Fever River to White Harbor, this canal will help ships circumvent Southern Westeros and help the North become rich through trade.

Extending the White Knife further into the Wolfswood passing through near Castle Cerwyn and Winterfell so we can float logs, lumber, and woodcraft straight to market and so that I can move forces to Deepwood Motte or Bear Island faster if necessary. This will also help provide trade to the hidden city that The Children and The Giants are building deep in Wolfswood.

Linking Long Lake to the Last River also extends it to Last Hearth.

Linking White Knife tributary to Weeping Water and Torrhen's Square." As I finished explaining The Canals Project and looked around the lords and ladies were looking baffled at me.

"My Lord, how will we have enough men to work on the Canals?" Lady Barbrey Dustin asked.

"If Canals were to be dug out by humans it would have taken an extraordinary amount of time. By my estimates around 10-15 years for just the canal connecting the eastern and western shores.

The Giants will be digging canals and Elder Leaf has agreed to use magic to form a small but concentrated earthquake." A few were skeptical about using magic but said nothing.

Every lord and lady took a few minutes to assess different construction projects and slowly started giving their acceptance.

"My Lord, I have a question. Who will become the new Lord of Moat Cailin? And any new keeps that might be constructed?" Lord Gregor Forrester asked.

"My brother, Brandon Stark, will be the new Lord of Moat Cailin and Shield City. My youngest brother, Rickon Stark, will be Lord of Black Harbor. Black Harbor will constructed on the mouth of the Fever River. Other Lords have my permission to set up small keeps within their lands and establish Branch Houses if you so wish to do so."

"Aye, My Lord. That's a good plan. Although My Lord, what about Skagos, Stony Shore, and Sea Dragon Point? If we are to secure the North, we can't ignore their strategic potential." Lord Rickard Karstark asked.

"What you said is true. And I have thought about it but I haven't reached any decision yet. I am planning to invite 3 Southern Houses to move to the North. These 3 Houses are, House Royce, House Blackwood, and House Dayne. All 3 are of First Men descent.

I think if given the opportunity, they will be of great addition to our nobility. Think about this proposal and let's vote on it, My Lords and Ladies." As I finished discussing I sat down at my table. Novices rolled up the maps and put a small box on a stool in its place. Lords were huddled together and discussing the vote.

After half an hour, every House representative had cast its vote. Lords of House Umber, Mormont, Reed, Karstark, Dustin, Glover, Manderly, the Mountain Clans, the Thenns, Dusseren, Rayder, Cerwyn, Cassel, Giantarm, and Haltija wrote 'We know no King but the King in the North whose name is Stark.' Other Houses also gave their approvals except one, Lord Ludd Whitehill had voted No.

As the announcement was made all the Lords cheered.

"I have 1 more announcement and 1 request.

Surveyors also discovered oil seeps that the Scholars have aptly named Black Oil. It can used as a fuel instead of Whale Oil. With the help of Elder Leaf and other Children, I have discovered that this Black Oil is spread throughout the North. My announcement is that House Stark will establish an Oil Well and start selling it but we won't take full profit.

The distribution will be 25/50/25. 25% of profits will be taken by House Stark and 50% of the profits will be distributed to every Lord of the North equally. The remaining 25% will be used for the betterment of the North, like constructing and maintaining Roads, Schools, Canals, and Healing Halls. Any objections?"

No one said anything, so I continued, "My request is for every Lord to follow me to Godswood, I have to show you something." As I said that, my family, and guards started moving towards Godswood. After a few seconds, Lord started following me.

As we reached the Heart Tree guard had secured the whole Godswood. Midnight and Winter were sleeping near the pool and the pups (already as tall as Pony) were playing and running around. Many Lords were feared to come any closer.

"My Lord and Ladies, please encircle the Heart Tree. Put your hand on the Roots or Bark and close your eyes." As I gave out commands, except for Mother and Baby Rickon, everyone did as told.

The next moment he saw that he was standing somewhere with ice everywhere. Mountains of ice could be seen could be seen at the horizon. He saw three rangers walking through the ice, though the visibility was clear.

"You all are viewing my memory. We are inside the Lands of Always Winter. My two fellow brothers and I were on a ranging operation. This is when I first met them." Bloodraven said standing beside him. "Who are you? Whom did you meet?" Greatjon asked.

"Bryden Rivers. Bloodraven. As for whom you will see." Bloodraven said looking intently towards the three rangers. Suddenly wind started to blow and a dense fog came. The visibility was low. An unearthly screech echoed through the surroundings. The rangers stopped, drew their swords, and started to look around.

"They are coming", Bloodraven said gazing in a certain direction. 

I followed Bloodraven's gaze and saw two otherworldly beings coming towards the rangers on horses. They had very pale skin and glowing blue eyes and mist was surrounding them. The horses too reflected their riders, but looked rotten with some of their flesh and skin missing.

Remembering Old Nan's stories and recalling records I had read, I said, "I assume they are the Others." Bloodraven nodded at that. Every Lord started cursing at that point.

One of the two Others came towards the rangers and attacked them. The first ranger blocked the Other's first blow but his sword broke into pieces as it got into contact with the Other's unnatural blue sword. The man gaped at that and the next moment the Other killed him. The second ranger also followed the same fate. The Other then moved to the third ranger and attacked, who also blocked with his sword. But unlike the first two, his sword did not break. Both the ranger and Other looked surprised and they started to fight. It was clear that the ranger was more experienced as he was gaining the upper hand. The hood of the ranger fell off displaying his pale white hair. 

'So this ranger is Bloodraven.' I thought. Finally, Bloodraven slashed the Other with his sword and the Other burst into a thousand ice pieces. Bloodraven was panting and then looked towards the next Other who had yet not joined the fight. This one looked more regal with bluish armor and an ice spear in his hand. The Other then made some kind of gesture. The two fallen Black Brothers then got animated back which Bloodraven did not see, and stabbed him in the back. Bloodraven gasped and fell after the first blow. The animated corpses repeatedly stabbed him in his weakened state and then went towards the Other, and soon all of them disappeared into the mists. Bloodraven lay there in a pool of blood.

"That one is the Night King. They could be killed by Valyrian swords as you saw me killing one of them with Dark Sister. Let us go back Lord Stark." Bloodraven informed him. 

They were back in the godswood. Lord Jorah immediately retched to his side while the others sat down stunned by what they saw. "By the Old Gods, that is terrifying." William Dustin mumbled.

"They are real. The Others are real. Tales were true." Galbert Glover was speaking to himself.

"Fuck. Knowing about the threat and seeing it with our own eyes is different." Greatjon agreed and Lord Howland nodded.

"So that was what happened to Lord Bloodraven. Joer and Maester Aemon deserves to know of this." Lady Maege declared. Image of Bloodraven smiled hearing that.

Father asked, "You should have been dead. If not from the wounds but from the cold."

Bloodraven replied, "Even I thought so but I was not dead. When I opened my eyes, I was here surrounded by the Children who using their powers nursed me back. But I was wasted. My hands and legs had stopped functioning.

They then gave me a paste of Weirwood trees prepared with their magic and my greenseer abilities woke up. Since then I was always lying here surrounded by these roots. Some of them even grow inside me but I cannot feel them. As I had all the time in the world, I honed my skills as a greenseer. I have been watching you. All of you. All your lives, with a thousand eyes and one."

"How did Dark Sister get in the hands of Prince Rhaegar if you last wielded it beyond the wall?" Lord Howland questioned.

"I had arranged with Children to give it to Aemon at Castle Black. When Rhaegar was getting married to Princess Elia, Aemon gifted Dark Sister and 2 Dragon Eggs to Rhaegar.

Rhaegar believed himself to be the one to fulfill the prophecy. So he searched for Blackfyre too. And acquired that too covertly by killing the Commander of Golden Company at a Volantis Traven." Bloodraven answered.

"King Of Winter. Command Us. House Manderly stands with House Stark." Lord Wyman said kneeling. And soon everyone was kneeling to me, except my family, Elder Leaf, and Bloodraven.

"Lord Reed, Lock down the Neck to Southerner. No one comes North. Lord Giantsarm, commands three-quarters of all adult Giants to start working on repairing Moat Cailin and digging a canal. Elder Leaf, the Children will be escorted throughout the North. Maintain the Weirwoods, that will strengthen the Old Gods.

Every Lord already has their task, establish a successful business and fortify your Keeps in case the Wall falls. Every smallfolk, Men, and Women, will work in shifts. One 5-hour shift of their regular work and another 3-hour shift to train. Children will go to 3-hour School and 5-hour martial training.

I know many of you will not want your daughter and wives to wield weapons but to defeat this evil, Every Northerner. Every First Man, Every Giant, and Every Child of the Forest will have to stand united in the Second War for Dawn."

As soon as he finished these words Lords of the North started kneeling.

"To the House Stark of Winterfell, we pledge the faith of (Castle/ Keep Name), the faith of House (Various House Name), the faith of all its sons and daughters, all its children true. Hearth and heart and harvest we yield up to you, my lord. Our swords and spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you. Call on us at need and we shall heed. In war. In peace. In life. In death. To the House Stark of Winterfell, we pledge our faith, now and always. Above all else in this world. Above all others.

We swear it by earth and water. We swear it by bronze and iron. We swear it by ice and fire. We swear it by blood and weirwood."

As they finished their oaths I started.

"To the North, we pledge the faith of Winterfell, the faith of House Stark, the faith of all its sons and daughters, all its children true. Hearth and harvest I promise you, my own. Our swords and spear and arrow I ever will command in service of our peace and kinship. We shall grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail.

I swear it by earth and water. I swear it by bronze and iron. I swear it by ice and fire. I swear it by blood and weirwood."

"My Lords, After King Robert's death we will secede from the Iron Throne. The Crown of King of Winter is already with House Stark, We shall have the Crown of King in the North too."

The cheering that broke out was heard till Wintertown. The feast later became a celebration of life and death, of becoming richer and stronger. This was a celebration of fear and hope.