Going North III

- 276 AC -

(Brandon Stark POV)

"So what do you plan to do?", I ask Father as we discuss the seasons and what to do about the shortage of food during the last winter. Summer started in 275 AC, making it a year-long now. We don't know when the next winter will come, but we aren't ready in the North. 

"I'm not sure. Judging from the last winter, we have to change something drastically. We were cutting our food storage far too close.", Father says. 

"That terrible?"

"Aye, we were close to having to spend the exorbitant prices for the little food the Free Cities would grant us."

"How much is the Reach charging us then? Are they giving us a minor cut this time?"

"No. And I don't want that either. We Starks don't beg for food. If we need more, we will have to find other ways of acquiring it.", Father is far too stubborn in that regard. He doesn't show weakness ... ever. But for the sake of his family, he would do almost anything that is necessary, except sell his honour. 

"What about the friend of Ned? Robert Baratheon?"

"What about him?", Father asks. 

"Didn't he create these guilds which are getting rather popular for selling almost anything you could want from the Seven Kingdoms? Their assortment is rumoured to be endless.", I say. 

"Don't be naive, son. Nothing is limitless in this world. But it might not be a bad idea. We will have to judge his character when he arrives here.", Father says. He has his thinking expression, which he always has when he is seriously contemplating something.

"From Ned's letters, I'd say he holds this Robert in high regard. And Ned was never one to follow someone blindly.", I tell him.

"Aye, you're right. I trust Ned's character. But I will still want to see the lad for myself. There is no such thing alive as an ambitionless Lord in the world, I already told you that."

"Aye, I remember. But-"

*BANG*

The door crashes open and Lyanna rushes in.

"Father, Brother!! They're here, they're here! Come quickly!", she shouts and rushes out again.

"..."

"..."

"*Sigh* ... let's go, son."

"Aye, let's go.", I say with an amused smile. 

.

We are all standing ready to receive Ned and his friend, Robert Baratheon. The lad is famous in all of Westeros already and he is only one year older than Ned. A renowned healer and skilled merchant if the guilds are anything to go by. And from what Ned told us, he is something of a perfect human, who can pretty much do anything he sets his mind to. I wonder ...

Father, Mother, Lyanna and Benjen all wait for the group to arrive. We can see them riding towards us, with Ned and another young man riding in front. Ned has grown up well it would seem. He looks stronger and more mature than before. But his grey eyes haven't changed. He still looks like our Silent Wolf.

The other young man though ... looks much older than the 14 name days he is supposed to have. Strong jawline with attractive features, something any maiden would dream of. He looks strong and confident, like a warrior. However, there is something that sets him apart from my brother, and that's his casual smile I see. He looks calm and collected as well as interested and amused. Learning from Father has given me a good sense of people and from the long hours I observed him interacting with other Lords. This young man ... looks like a Lord but a competent one.

The group stops and both Ned and Robert dismount from their steeds. I can see the smile of Ned and understand his wish to greet us more intimately. But he stops himself because of 'proper decorum'. I hate those things in these types of situations. Why should we act like strangers towards our own brother? I can see that Lyanna is also hating the moment and it takes everything she has to not run towards Ned and embrace him. 

"Father, Mother, I have returned.", Ned says with a big smile. Father and Mother smile as well and Mother gives Ned a small hug.

"We can see that, Ned. Good to have you back.", Father says. 

"..."

"..."

"What the f*ck is this? Is this a traditional Northern greeting? If it is I say f*ck that! You haven't seen Ned in years and this is how you greet him? Go on embrace each other, exchange bodily fluids or whatever and show some emotion, for crying out loud!"

"..."

"..."

No one says anything for a while but after a moment, I can't help but smile brightly. 

"Haha, well said.", I say and get a look from Father which I simply ignore. Mother is also smiling and so is Ned and Lyanna. 

"Bahahaha, you look like deer and not like wolves. My name is Robert, nice to meet you.", Robert says with a wide smile. He approaches Father and Mother. 

"Well met, Rob-", Father starts but is interrupted by Robert embracing him in a bear hug.

"Bahahaha, none of that formal stuff. Ahhh, so you are Rickon Stark, the father of this silent wolf. I have to say, you did some good work. Jon almost ruined him for you, but don't worry I helped shape him right. Bahahaha. See Ned, that's how you greet someone you like. Now you do it!"

I can't help but widen my smile. What is it with this one? He seems to lack a gate to his mouth. The words just keep coming out without a gateway. It's amusing to watch Ned and Father be uncomfortable and awkward with the situation. Ned seems to know this side of Robert, so this wasn't the first time. Or he just knows his character. 

Robert moves to Mother, takes her hand and kisses the back of it gently. 

"Lady Lyarra Stark. I finally know why the Northerners don't want to travel south. They had two beautiful jewels right here in Winterfell."

"You're a charmer, Lord Robert ... I mean, Robert. Welcome to Winterfell.", Mother smiles gently. She likes him ... that was fast. But I guess, seeing Father like this is fun to see. 

"And you must be the second jewel.", Robert says to Lyanna. Oh, I wonder how he will handle our She-Wolf. She is nothing like the usual ladies who swoon over-

"I'm no jewel. I'm Lyanna Stark of Winterfell."

"I apologise for my slight, my Lady."

"I'm also NO LADY!"

"No? Then I must apologise once more. You see your brother told me all about you. How you love to knight and sew, how you love to listen to old nan's stories about knights in shining armour saving the princesses and how you despise horse riding and sword fighting. Yes, he told me all about it.", Robert nods sagely while he 'reminisces' about Lyanna's likes. 

"..."

Oh no.

"NED!!!", Lyanna screams and tackles Ned to the ground. The two then begin to roll around in the mud. Ned tries to deny Robert's words, while Lyanna screams at him for 'telling lies'. Benjen watches all of this with laughter, Mother holds her hand in front of her face to hide her chuckling and Father ... well Father looks like he has seen ghosts. The lack of manners seems to have frozen him. 

And Robert ... well ...

"Bahahahahahaha, what an amazing family you have Ned. I'm going to like it here."

"Hahaha I think I'll like it as well.", I can't help but join the laughter as well. 

.

.

(Rickard Stark POV)

The situation has finally gone back to normal. What happened back there ... I have never experienced anything like it. It wasn't even a lack of decorum or an insult. The boy just pulled all the right levers and all hell broke loose. 

Robert Baratheon.

What an interesting young man. A southerner. Someone we Northerners would have a lot of trouble accepting in our midst has managed to break the ice between our family within minutes of arriving here and gain the entire family's hearts by storm. I understand the letters of Ned now. They make all too much sense. How could you not idolise someone with this amount of charisma? 

I'm probably the only one who is still wary of him. Someone who arrives here and can do that has to have something in mind. He knew us far too well. Although, that is not entirely true. Lyanna was only the final nail in the coffin. He embraced me before that. I have to admit it was well played. I will have to keep an eye on him. He is too perfect. 

After I finally gained some semblance of order and separated Ned and Lyanna, I sent them both to clean themselves and brought Robert to the feast which was prepared in honour of Ned's return and our guest. 

I have been observing Robert for the duration of the meal and so far, he has yet to say something insulting, demeaning or arrogant. He is impossible to speak badly of. How can someone be this perfect? It has to be a lie, it is the most obvious conclusion. However, almost all of the things he speaks of can easily be checked. 

And it is actually Ned who speaks for Robert, while Robert tries to make it seem less than it is. Ned has been captured under his spell. I will need some time alone with him, to understand the situation better. 

.

"So, Lord Rickard. Brandon told me about your troubles with the last winter.", Robert says. 

"Did he?", I say and send a look to my son, who doesn't look at me, no matter what. 

"Aye, he did. I always thought you were taken advantage of by the Reach. If the prices, Brandon told me about are accurate, you are being cheated of your money and I would stop doing business with the Reach."

"Even if I wanted to do that, it is impossible. The North doesn't have anything to pressure the Reach with. They hold all the cards.", I say a bit annoyed that he speaks to me like I am new to this. 

"Not necessarily. You see, things aren't always as they seem. Small threats can go a long way.", he says mysteriously. I find it ridiculous that a boy of 4 and 10 tries to lecture me about the economy of the North. 

"Listen, Robert. I appreciate your interest in the matter but-"

"If you don't listen to my idea, you won't know whether or not it's any good. And if it's a bad idea, you would gain something bad about me, would you not?", he asks me with a slight smile. 

"You ..."

He knew. He knows I am looking for a fault. What a dangerous boy he is. 

"Alright, what do you have in mind?"

"Simple. Start to do business with the Merchant Guild.", he says like he found the solution to all our problems. 

"That's it? Honestly, I expected more. Surely you don't expect me to run from one problem to another. Doing business with the Merchant Guilds will only put more money into your coffers. I hope you understand that we aren't that close that you-"

"I think you misunderstand something. The Merchant Guild is independent and not at all under me or House Baratheon. They are to pay taxes for their existence which was made possible through me and my brother, but we don't gain anything from their sales."

Ah, there it is. The mistake and proof that he is still only a boy. He made a small but grave mistake. He thought he could control the Guilds with loyalty? He is naive and soon, the guilds will gain far too much power for him to have any semblance of control over them. How sad. I almost feel sorry for him. But that is life. He will grow from this experience. 

"Is that so?"

"Aye, that's the truth. My idea is this. You can go and ask for the guilds to sell you the food you require. As you do that, you will not buy anything from the Reach at all for a time and only from the Guilds. This way, the Reach will notice something is going on, as their revenue will be much lower. They will find out about you doing business with the Merchant Guild which has lower prices than they do. They will get angry about this at first and throw a fit. But that's just the way they are. Flowers, am I right?

But things will get interesting after that. They won't be able to do anything about this. They will find out that the few cities that have a small branch of the Merchant Guild love them for their fair prices and a wide variety of goods. So they will either make themselves unliked or not. 

However, one way or the other, eventually, they will have to accept the harsh truth. They will have to lower their prices drastically if they want to keep their revenue somewhat intact. And then the decision is in your hands again. You could appear like the benevolent Lord who accepts them and decides to be honourable and help them or ... you don't."

...

This man ... is dangerous.