Give the boy a break

The next few days passed just like that.

After dropping the news of "potential" war the Mormonts, Dustins, Ryswells, Glenmores, Umbers, Karstarks, Forresters, Seaworths and Hornwoods hastily made their preparation trusting in the report.

The Dustin's were already know for their talent in gathering information, even better than Varys, they even sold some of them to merchants, Lords or other people so no one doubted the validity of the findings inside the alliance.

For the young ones nothing much really changed.

They trained like they usually did, only now with more intensity and vigor as the shadow of war gave them the motivation they needed.

Then breakfast and lessons in different subjects from the group of teachers till the midday and again training. On the evenings they usually rested and had fun together or separately.

Brendan was learning from Qyburn directly.

To no surprise, he saw how the girls from Sunspear integrated into the group swiftly. Only the Northern cold bothered them the first few weeks, but the novelty of Neverwinter rewarded their struggle.

It's unimaginable how much can be achieved with people that are able to talk with each other, listen to each other and make their own deductions and decisions without outside influence or prejudice.

There were few unexpected events though.

To everyone surprise Asher Forrester and Obara Sand started to disappear together from time to time.

At first, no one said anything crediting both of their behavior to their wild nature, but when the boy, or more accurately now a man was spotted by his sister Mira while walking out from the Dornish girl room in the morning, everyone now had a reason to make fun of them.

Since she was already 16 and Asher only a year younger Brendan didn't mind at all.

There were no ill feelings, everyone just had fun teasing them untill Asher manned up and proudly shouted "she is my woman" during one sword training session.

Be that as it may, it did cost him a beating from the girl.

Even Brendan cursed at seeing her proficiency with the spear increased once again, yet even for the stubborn Obara it was difficult to hide her happy smirk while she walked back.

Fortnight later the group packed and accompanied Brendan on his way to Winterfell.

Brendan was sitting close to the fire, they were already about to reach their destination after few days ride thanks to the better roads.

He wasn't alone, as his companions sat there with him and all around soldiers with different coats of arms on their covers sat close to their tents in front of the fire and joyfully interacted with each other.

In just these few weeks they all formed a bond while suffering through the training and sharing their joys together.

On his left shoulder, 14 years old Nymeria rested her head, on his right, 13 years old Tyene sat as close as possible slightly intoxicating the boy with her fragrance.

Further to his right, Obara and Asher under one warm cloak and just next to them Rodrik Forrester and Elaena Glenmore did the same.

Opposite of them, Dacey and the ever silent Sandor.

Brendan had to admit that the girl attacked swiftly in fights and in love and Sandor was clearly at the disadvantage, even being older by almost seven years.

Like that wasn't enough Alysane, like a shadow moved with SmallJon everywhere he went and everyone was almost sure they will end up together since the big man didn't dislike her company.

Matthos and his brother, as well as the Ryswells went back to their castle's so they couldn't accompany the group.

Mira went back with the Tyrell delegation to Highgarden to stay as a handmaiden to Margaery, as was arranged by her mother Elissa, to the disappointment of Harrion Karstarks so the Forrester brothers lost their chaperone.

It wasn't planned by the youths, but maybe because of raging teen hormones they started to get together.

Brendan wasn't surprised, he knew well that in this world even 12 years old still children in his mind already gave birth, to his disgust, Rhaella Targaryen was 12-13 having her child, Eleanor Mooton 13, even Old Frey wives were not much older than that.

He didn't like it, hated it even, but as long as the girl had her first flowering she was treated like a woman...

Boys on the other hand could go to war as soon as they learned how to hold the sword, Baristan the Bold had his first turney somewhere between 8-10, even now in their camp there were 7 or 8 name days old boys serving the knights in the escorts of the nobles gathered here. This wasn't his old world, but he didn't care.

Similar can be said about the Legions as young, freed slaves choose to work for them as supporting staff, training to one day join their ranks.

Eddard Karstarks stood close to Noya and Torrhen went back to help Lord Karstarks with the preparation.

Brendan was sure that the Starks already heard rumors about the Ironborn actions, before he left he sent a raven to inform his Lord about his arrival.

Brendan never planned on hiding the rebellion now, since it was almost time and no one could stop it, what bothered him more was the silence from Rodrik the Reader.

"Why are you daydreaming Brendan? Can't wait to see your future wife?" SmallJon laughed.

"Not really Jon, why would I do something so stupid while having two red hot Dornish women in my arms?!" Brendan joked and placed his arms under the cloak around Nymeria and Tyene laughing, as did the men around him.

"Any yet you still won't make a move..." his smile froze hearing every word that came from Nymerias mouth like a bucket of cold water.

Even Loki made a nose sound similar to laughter, earning himself a growl from Laika and a bite from Red as they were resting just behind their human brother.

"Give the boy a break Nym, I'm sure that in 2-3 years you would have problem walking in the morning after he is done with you." Obara rescued the boy, but the sound of laughing all around only intensified proportionally to his red face.

"He is 12 already, almost 13. Father at that age..." she didn't finish when Tyene joined.

"Don't compare the Northmen to the Dornish, we have our ways of life and values, they have theirs." Tyene said and everyone around nodded.

"Well, whatever it is I'm not jealous Brendan." Eddard said.

"And why is that Karstark?" Noya was curious.

"At the beginning of the year father took Alys to Winterfell to see what the young Lord is like. Let's just say that his visit wasn't to Lady Stark liking. Don't get me wrong, she was polite and kept to the etiquette, but the coldness that emanated from her was as if meeting a white walker." they joked around.

"It's still to early, the child is like what 3? I have plenty of time to enjoy my life." he took his hands from under the cape that covered the three of them and cut a piece or the boar they hunted earlier from the fire for the girls and he himself took a generous gulp of warm wine.

"I heard the Lady doesn't like the North much, looking at the way they proposed the marriage to you, you do know what it means right?" Harrion always could see the underlying motives. It's really a shame that such a brilliant mind had to go through so much in the original story.

"It's not like the North likes her either Harrion. They are or maybe were afraid or even felt threatened, especially after we formed the alliance." Brendan said offhandedly.

"And?" Daren Hornwood pushed.

"And that's it. I still will swear my oath of loyalty to Lord Eddard Stark."

"Lord Eddard or House Stark?" Dacey whispered and under the groups gazes Brendan only smiled innocently.

The rest of the night went uneventful and the next morning they were about to reach Winterfell.

Brendan woke up next to the girls, "it's warmer like that" they said, but like always nothing happened. The boy was stubborn to wait till he is at least 15.

After packing up the camp they were on their way.

=== Winterfell ===

Lord Stark again felt the headache coming when he thought about the rumors he heard from the merchants passing through Winterfell.

'War...' he stared at the paper describing the state of his men, and one thing was sure, the North was weak after the last war.

He stood up from his chair and walked to the window.

From inside of his Solar he watched as his boys trained with the Stark master-at-arms Rodrik Cassel.

Just a year ago, his second daughter was born, now Robb, Jon, Sansa, Arya were his light and the reason to keep the North together. Ned was well aware he is not a good ruler, he was never trained or meant to be one, just as his younger brother Benjen was not.

Everything was supposed to be Brandon's from the beginning.

When the thoughts wonder to his brother on Ned's lips a small smile inevitably crept in, he could almost see the posture of his young nephew, standing shyly with his two wolves in front of him.

Eddard already heard about the boys return and expected him to arrive in the next few days to fulfill his duty as the new head of the house.

'I'm afraid it will be on your back for the next few years dear nephew' Ned calculated in his head the strength of his sworn houses.

To no surprise the forces allied to his nephew were the strongest by more than half surpassing the rest. It was quite normal as his nephew didn't work with every Lord the North to the extent as he did with the other 8 families.

That, and his Lady wife were the reason Eddard didn't agree for the 9 to increase their numbers again.

And the issue with the Bolton's...

House Mormont 3000 men and 20 ships, House Forrester 2000 men, Glenmore 2000 men and 20 ships, Karstarks 6000 men and 10 ships, Umber 6000 men, Ryswell 6000 men 30 ships, Seaworth 2000 men and 35 ships, Hornwood 3000 men, and finally Dustin 6000 men...

Eddard wasn't blind, he already knew about his nephew scam with the "Castle guards" and them being in the thousands for the sole purpose of protection of Neverwinter and other places, the Warden of the North just chose to close his eyes and pretend ignorance.

Even if Eddard knew: 1, he didn't care as the men were not used outside the Dustin controlled lands and 2, everything was done in accordance to the King's law.

In total the Warden of the North counted about 34000 men and 115 ships in the alliance alone.

Ned didn't know why the Glovers backed out from the lucrative cooperation, he made a mental note to check with Kat later, his wife was now days a frequent guest in Deepwood Motte.

'More than a half...' if the houses in the alliance were to threaten his position as his Lady wife said, he would stop them, but if only she knew...

Ned was sure his own blood will not betray him, and the chosen families in the group were the most honorable, noble and loyal of them all.

Lord Stark was certain about it the moment he looked into the boys eyes for the first time.

Last news he got from Neverwinter was a couple days after Brendan left with the kids from other houses for Winterfell and Lady Barbrey came back just after him.

Eddard almost couldn't sleep because of the excitement of being able to see the boy again, he was worried for the last five years, not being able to locate the child, not even knowing where to look.

"My Lord?" Jory, the Captain of his guards asked from outside the door. "Maester Luwin asked for audience."

Eddard was annoyed, it's not like he doesn't have enough problems already.

"Let him in." he answered and the next moment saw his old friend coming inside with a hasty step.

"My Lord! Banners and more than few thousand riders approaching!" the old man's voice broke. "Dustin axes, Mormont bears, Umbers, Karstarks and others!" his behavior was bizarre, like he was afraid of something, at least that's the feeling he gave to Ned which the Warden decided to brush off in all his excitement.

Opposite to the old man expectations, his liege smiled as he swiftly stood up.

"Finally!" he grabbed his cloak and moved to the door.

If he would just take a moment longer, he would be able to see Luwin's shadow speeding up in the direction of Lady Katelyn chambers as his body shook from fear.