XLI.

It hasn't gone so bad, has it?" Sansa asked under her breath to her older brother, a couple of seats to Ned's right.

"If you remove the fact that we had to leave the castle through the North gate escorted by the prince's retinue and our household guard, to re-enter the castle through the East gate to get in here, I think not." Was Robb's low, somewhat grim reply to his sister.

After having recounted the events of the last nine moons in a brief, concise, direct way and without going into too much detail, Ned proceeded to communicate that he had bended the knee to his nephew and announced to all the news brought by Prince Aemon the night before.

Taking advantage of the stupor mixed with widespread disbelief in the north courtyard audience, he adjourned the harvest for an hour and half to lunch. After that period of time, Ned's bannermen were to convene in the Great Hall of Winterfell, where each of them could express their opinion or doubts regarding everything that had been revealed that morning. Ned had the hunch that almost all he had said about the last nine moons wasn't barely processed at that moment by his bannermen and smallfolk. Something understandable by the amount of secrets revealed, truths that completely altered the political and social reality of Westeros, as well as the open proclamation from the existence of magic in the world.

Magic that was accompanied by prophecies, return of legends brought to life and arcane rituals of fire and blood that brought life to people who have been dead for fifteen years in some cases, and in others, directly caused Ned's nephew, in some magical way, to have been in the Conqueror's skin more than three hundred years before.

To say the least, the reactions of his bannermen and smallfolk at some points in Ned's narration were curious.

Therefore taking advantage of the generalized disbelief and confusion, before there were reactions to what he had told, Ned and his family quickly descended from the makeshift platform, surrounded by the household guard and the prince's entourage.

Unsurprisingly, the announcement that the wildlings from beyond the Wall now lived in the Wall and in Brandon's Gift, being a province of the Freehold of Valyria and Westeros, sparked reactions that led to verbal lynchings against Ned's nephew, the Targaryens, the wildlings, Ned himself, and the Watch.

More surprising were the cries of 'Praised be Visenya!' without a doubt coming from small folk among the believers when he revealed the drive behind all. Rhaeny's Dream in the year two before the landing and Visenya's Ritual in Dragonstone Caves' the thirteenth day from the fifth moon of the tenth year of this age and the accompanying prophecy enunciated by the Warrior Queen herself.

'I believe that soon the Warrior Queen will also have her representation at the altar in the North Courtyard.'

Undoubtedly some of the revelations given by him had exalted the almost zealot fanaticism of those who previously already showed a certain fanaticism.

'Deep down I have done nothing more than confirm some beliefs widespread among the Believers and the Faithful. The strange thing is that what for some proves the mediation of the Old Gods, for others it proves that the Gods are Aegon and family. '

Ned certainly had no intention of intervening in the religious beliefs, much less trying to correct

some things that were beginning to become dogmas of faith between his people and in some cases, even bannermen.

'Between the two groups there will be religious differences, but they both support Lyanna and Aegon and the Targaryens almost fanatically.' He mused somewhat alleviated.

No. The problem was not there. Nor in the small folk. The problem was that basically Ned was asking his bannermen to declare themselves in rebellion against the King of the Seven Kingdoms whom they themselves placed on the Iron Throne sixteen years ago, to acclaim as a new King the one they unknowingly usurped by supporting Robert. As if that were not enough, finally join the Freehold of Valyria in one way or another. As a vassal Federated Kingdom or as a Province of this.

'Fortunately, the threat of the Others, the various resurrections, the existence of dragons and the magic component behind all the occurrences, added to the swings in the mood that the previous revelations produced, have allowed me to postpone the moment of clear things up and convince my bannermen without it being a public show.'

Ned had no doubt that by tomorrow rumors of everything he had said would begin to circulate frantically in the North. And from there to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. For this reason, it was imperative to ensure the loyalty of the lords from the North. And for this, now Ned knew he should be persuasive and conciliatory when the situation requires it and blunt and dry if necessary.

Thus, after a hasty lunch in the family quarters, he was now in the central chair behind the lord's table in the Great Hall of Winterfell. Waiting for his bannermen to converge on the room so they could argue late into the night if it was necessary. Each lord had a right to speak, and speak they will... and shout, and curse, and reason, and cajole, and jest, and bargain, and threaten, and walk out, and return to their houses sullen or smiling.

But the meeting that day would not end until all the issues had been dealt with, the marriage commitments accepted, Roose Bolton deal with, and the new distribution of lands and lordships confirmed and sworn.

His daughter, his son, Prince Aemon, Benjen, and himself were now seated behind the table on the dais in the Great Hall.

Rickon had stayed with Osha, Beth Cassel and Master Luwin in the latter's quarters to take his daily lessons. Ser Jaremy and Small Jon were each with basic testimonies for the remainder of the meeting waiting to be called in a side room attached to the Great Hall. The Household Guard was present in force on the Hall, guarding the four corners of the room, the access corridors and the great doors from the Hall. Accompanied in their duty by the twenty men of the Targaryen army accompanying Prince Aemon in their black armours and scarlet wool cloaks.

Below the dais and to the right, Sigorn Thenn, Rykker's squire and Dryn, Ned's page. Standing on either side of the large table, Ser Rodrik Cassel and Jory on the left side of the dais, Ser Andrew and Desmond on the right side.

Ned's brother snorted at the understatement Robb previously said and quipped, "Don't be so negative Robb. Compared to how it usually goes this part with your cousin, there is no need to celebrate or mourn deaths. Throwed rotten vegetables and tomatoes, the occasional insult, threats and disbelief were to be expected. And thinks that Aegon has a fucking gigantic dragon backing him up. So I think Sansa's right. Hasn't gone so bad. Could have been worse. Much worse."

"Our wolves, Winter, and her mate are also quite impressive, Uncle Benjen." Sansa chirped to her uncle's words, as she tenderly caressed her she-wolf that was lying under the table on top of Robb's

wolf.

"You are certainly right, niece." Benjen replied softly to Sansa as he glanced at the two huge direwolves sitting on their hindquarters under the dais where the table stood, and then added "As much as we explain some things, magic is a complicated thing to understand and even more difficult to accept. If you add that we are talking about a matter revolving an issue for which many of these men rose up in arms sixteen years ago, to overthrow based on a series of lies and half truths, whom today we want to hail as King ... Well, I think that after what you have seen, you might have an idea how well went for Aegon with the Freefolk, the Nightswatch and the Umbers... I can assure you that the first meeting between your kingly cousin and the Great Jon was not a pleasant thing to behold."

"Come on brother Benjen. Don't exaggerate. You are going to make our young lady believe that His Grace has to kill someone every time he tells the truth of his story." Prince Aemon japed in a low voice,sitting to Ned's left. And now with no hood to obstruct the view of the distinctive features that caused the dumbfounded stares of Ned's Bannermen as they entered the Great Hall.

Ned's Brother looked to his left side, across Ned towards the Targaryen, raised an eyebrow and pursed his mouth.

Prince Aemon chuckled. "You rely on a very small base to draw your conclusions, brother Benjen. The Freefolk only respects the might, and Bran's life was at the stake in that case. With the Umbers was a misunderstanding, fault of the wildling rapist who then Aegon judged. However, Aegon had nothing to do with the internal rearrangement of the Watch. There Thorne, Rykker, Noye, Pyke and yourself are the responsible for the small purge that took place. And as is well known, sometimes it is necessary to cut the weeds so that the tree grows strong."

The once-old prince's comment caused both of Ned's eyebrows to rise almost to his hairline.

While he knew some of the details from what had transpired with the Wildlings from beyond the wall, Benjen at no point went into detail about how the discordant voices and possible traitors within the Nightswatch were silenced. So now he was surprised to hear the direct participation of his brother, as well as members of the hierarchy of the order itself, in a kind of internal coup to ensure the loyalty of the Wall's brothers to Ned's nephew.

'It already seemed to me that it could not have been as easy as putting two million golden dragons and a wight in front of Jeor Mormont for him to give Brandon's Gift and half the Wall. What I wonder now is whether Aegon is aware of this.' Ned mused inwardly.

"That about Bran is what you told me about the one known as Rattleshirt, isn't it Uncle?" Robb questioned his uncle, while looking askance towards the prince.

"Indeed, Robb. One of the worst scum from the wildlings beyond the wall. He wore an armor made of bones. The noise of his armor gave him the nickname."

Sansa raised her left hand discreetly to her mouth, to cover a gasp of horror at what her uncle was saying.

Noticing the uneasiness, Ned looked in her direction, gave her a warm smile and said, "Easy Sansa, your brother Bran was unharmed. From what I know, your cousin finished the wildling before he could harm Bran."

'And from what your uncle told me, your cousin cut him in two with his sword before the wildling in question could even react.' He added to himself between amazed and disgusted, while inevitably

glanced to his right in the direction of Benjen.

Sansa looked at him somewhat surprised, pulled herself back into her pose and mask and replied "Oh," she paused, glancing in Sigorn Thenn and Dryn's direction at the foot of the dais and to the right. "It's ... Is it safe to have people like that among us?" Ned's daughter asked softly and her voice somewhat shaky, as she cocked her head to the right.

"Don't fret, my lady. The worst ilk of Free Folk did not accept your cousin's rule willingly. They still roam beyond the wall, in the western regions. Being a constant annoyance to the brothers of the Shadow Tower. The Weeper and some even worst than him." The prince anticipated Ned in assuring Sansa about the wards that swarmed the castle. "All the boys and lads who took his place at the Wall, with the Umber or here in Winterfell are faithful and loyal to His Grace and the Freehold. Many want to join the army. Others wants lands and royal grants in Essos. A few have the ambition to become literate and educated under my or Tarly's tutelage when they are of age."

"Randyll Tarly?" Robb exclaimed in surprise, drawing even more glances to the raised table.

A clouded look passed through Prince Aemon's eyes, before he pursed his mouth. "Not that Tarly, but his eldest son and his former heir, Samwell. Randyll Tarly, I doubt he will go near a book unless it is to be used as a throwing weapon." Despite the attempt at a neutral tone, contempt was evident in the tone of the former Maester.

'I do not understand.' Ned mused to himself. 'Why does the prince hold contempt for the only loyalist commander who was able to defeat Robert?'

Despite the curiosity that the subject and the fact that somehow two relatives of high lords from Westeros were in Prince Aemon's entourage aroused in Ned, glancing ahead, he could see that the Great Hall was already packed to bursting.

Three rows of long lateral benches on each of the sides had been placed that morning in the Great Hall. Where Ned's opening speech was supposed would have taken place before the massive influx of people prior to the open of the Harvest Festival happened.

Some seated, mostly standing, the bannermen from the North were in their entirety in the Great Hall at Winterfell.

Some swirled and mixed with other lords, some isolated surrounded by their families and entourages. What seemed clear is that just as previously during the narration of the events from the past that had led to the events that were taking place in the present, there seemed to have been a division between Ned's bannermen and in the North itself. Something that was graphically more visible due to the placement of the benches in the room.

To the left of Ned and the dais, to the right of the Great Hall, were the ones he definitely had to start labeling as possible and more than probable faithful to his sister and nephew.

To the right of Ned, the left of the Great Hall, those who had been most hostile to Lyanna, Rhaegar Targaryen, Aegon, and everything to do with what was happening at the Wall.

Surprisingly, some seemed to have changed their previous positions.

Especially significant was the fact that Lady Barbrey, Lord Ryswell and their sworn bannermen were now at Roose Bolton's side. Along them were also The Knott and the Norrey from the mountain clans, Lord Yoren Bole from King's Grove sworn to the Glover, Lord Yoren Ironsmith from the Blue Hills sworn to Ned himself and Lord Lake from the Lonely Hills sworn to the

Umber.

Rickard Karstark, like the Flint from the mountains and the Flint from the Fingers seemed to have clearly sided with Aegon, which by default made them loyal to him.

'It helps in this case that they are all kin to a greater or lesser degree.' he mused while gazing to his bannermen.

The Big Bucket Wull and The Liddle seemed to have followed Torghen Flint's lead, although Ned had no doubt that sooner or later they will protest about the presence of the Wildlings in the North.

The Manderly, as well as their bannermen seemed to continue to favor what was happening in the North, although Ned felt that they were possibly the most skeptical to everything related to magic and the return of the Others.

The latter was something predominant in all those bannermen who did not have their domains close to Winterfell or who had not had contact with magic or the Targaryens themselves in some cases.

This especially applied to Lord Jharl Fisher of Stony Shore, Lord Helman Tallhart, Lord Halys Hornwood, Lord Ondrew Locke of Old Castle, Lord Brandon Overton and Lady Lyessa Flint of Widow's Watch.

What happened on Aegon's name day. Or what happened three days later in the North courtyard with the irruption of the dragons, weren't the best kept secrets during the last nine moons. T he shouted conversation between Ned's sister returned from the dead and Ned's brother-in-law also returned to life, together with Aegon's proclamation stride the Black Dread, with every inhabitant of Winterfell pending their words, caused the truth to spread without a doubt to the domains near Winterfell. Surely today being the confirmation to wild rumors that Lord Cerwyn or Lord Gregor the Good must have heard from the mouth of eyewitnesses.

None the less, all those bannermen were sided with the faction from the North spearheaded by the Umber, Mormont and Howland's children. Therefore at first, he considered them to be more favorable to what he proposed.

He glanced at the prince, who seemed to be like Ned, analyzing the bannermen from the North and what might happen next. The formerly elderly prince did not seem concerned and his position was relaxed, something that assured Ned.

'If anyone has reason to be nervous other than myself, it's him. No one should recognize him for whom he really is and despite everything revealed, except for some lords, the Targaryens are still the object of hatred. Aerys tarnished the Targaryen name almost beyond repair.'

"I think it's time, Ned." Benjen interrupted his musings, in view of the murmur that filled the Hall.

He tilted his head slightly and affirmed what his brother said. Dragging the chair back to be noticed, he rose to his feet, as tall and straigh as he could.

Tapping the table with his left hand, in a powerful voice Ned said dryly,

"My lords, we are going to start with the traditional gathering that takes place during the Harvest Festival. You may renew your vows towards house Stark, accepting that we have a new overlord and king. Or you may become an enemy of my house and that of my nephew, sister, son and daughter. During this morning I, to the best of my ability, have explained the truth to you. Truth that I have been hiding, or that until a few moons ago, I did not even knew. I understand that now I

must been seen as someone not so honorable as before this morning you though. But I honestly have explained the motivations in my actions and the why in these."

He stopped for a moment, sighed, and looked straight ahead with serious grin his head held high.

"If you want to express your points of view and opinions regarding what I have told and done, you are within your right. But believe me, if after this meeting the North does not come out united and rallied under the Dragon's banner, I doubt very much that we can face the threat that lurks beyond the Wall."

After that Ned sat down again, waiting to be addressed for the first time. Looking out of the corner of his eye, he could see how his son was anxious and moved his right foot up and down.

Moving to the center of the Great Hall, the first to intervene was to be The Flint.

"The Ned, we are kin. And blood to me is above oaths. Where House Stark leads, we The Flint of Breakstone Hill will follow. But tell us The Ned, why should we fight to seat a King on the Iron Throne who is absent conquering lands in Essos? Why should we shed blood again for that dammed chair? Shouldn't Lya's boy being here claiming his rights? And what it's going to happen with the wildlings once we beat the Others? Will they stay where they are? Or will they revert to their no so old ways?"

A round of 'Ayes' was heard through de Great Hall.

It seemed that even those supposedly loyal to house Stark where reticent to fight for Aegon. And that the wildlings south of the wall were a sore subject to almost all of his bannermen.

"If he could, I'm sure our King would be here. But his duty demand him in Essos nowaday. Lord Torghen, his grace does not ask anyone to fight for him. In fact, specifically the morning after the ritual I asked Aegon why go to Essos instead of asserting his rights here with the support from the North." Ned replied, to add in a voice that exuded certain pride in his nephew. "The answer that King Aegon offered me was the one that convinced me that bend the knee before him was the right path, and that I had been very blind in my decision making sixteen years ago."

He paused in his speech, ran his right hand through his hair, then rested it on the table.

"My lords, you know what my nephew answered me? He told me that when he conquered Westeros three hundred years ago, he left the North for last because of the strength of his warriors and the respect he had for us. So that he could gave us the choice to not shed blood against him. Therefore, and as a man who has the blood from the North in his veins, he adamantly refused to use the best warriors Westeros can offer to fight a war that is currently unwinnable. Or if won, would offer a bleak future and an unstable reign. Something that would be the last thing we need to face the threat of Darkness."

For those who believed in some of the wild things Ned had said that morning, that the Conqueror had that opinion of the North and that now his nephew refused to use the levies from the North as armies to regain his throne in search of avoiding shedding lives and blood from the North, seemed to be a great compliment and reason for pride.

"Aye!" roared The Great Jon, whom now stood next to the Flint. "The Dragon has the best for the North in mind! Sixteen years ago we were used by greedy southern lords to usurp him and now he forgives us and even wants us as the most powerful kingdom in Westeros. That's why he doesn't want us to fight for his Throne. Let be others whom die for that cursed chair for him while we prepare ourselves to fight against the Ice devils!!"

Another round of 'Ayes' was heard, but this one less numerous and noisy.

Lord Halys standing in front of the second row of benches on the right side of the Great Hall, added doubtfully.

"If this Dragon Reborn does not want us to fight in the South for him, what does he want us for? What does he need us for and what do we need him for? Why not declare ourselves as an independent Kingdom again? In this way we could save face with respect to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, showing us neutral. If there really is a threat coming from beyond the wall, why antagonize the King of Westeros? Why not ask for help to both of them instead of choose between them?"

"Coward!!" Claimed The Crowfood.

Despite being in the sector that Ned had mentally labeled as the Faithful, Lord Halys's words were received with considerable contempt by most of those standing there. Specially by the members of House Umber.

"You're too afraid if we finally have to fight against those prissy southern knights. My two sons died on the Trident by the lies and schemes from the gray rats and the fucking septons fighting the fucking silver prince army. I will spit at Aerys's name until the day I die. But that doesn't make a son responsible for the sins of his mad father. I admit that having to see him alive again and not my children, has not earned the prince my sympathy. I recognize that Lyanna and Rhaegar could have relayed their situation better. But even if the two of them never had met, we would still have gone to war for the accursed throne. If we gave and lost so much to an unjust cause, why not join the just cause now? King Aegon has given my daughter back to me and now I even have grandchildren. Wildlings no longer plunder, rape, or steal in the lands of the North. Poor sod the one whom tries. My lords, does it seem little to you what his grace has already achieved in the North? That which he has given us without asking for anything in return, leaving to ourselves to decide our fate instead of subduing us."

The Umber spoke with passion and vehemently, attracting all gazes to him.

"Where the hells do you think the gold came from for the prompt tax payment Lord Stark made to the Iron Throne? Where the hells do you think all the gold for the North improvements project comes from and with what intention is that investment being made? Tell me Halys, how many Kings of Westeros have invested a gold dragon in the North or in the Wall? I say that in view of a King who in nine moons has done all that and more for the North, at least we owe him vows and loyalty."

This time a greater number of 'Ayes' was heard, although they were being answered with certain boos against Aegon, the silver prince and Lyanna. Almost all from his bannermen located on the left side of the Great Hall.

"As Lord Mors has well said, my nephew has already made large investments and is executing vast projects in the North. Those that I am developing in my fortress and domains are part of this. So Lord Halys, if my nephew does not want to us fight for him in the South, is because he wants the best for the North. And if he asks us to fight, it will be against the enemy from beyond the wall. Also, I think that sooner rather than later, King Aegon will be the King of Westeros again. So in the end we will be pledged to the Iron Throne. Also our independence is something that is currently unviable. We depend too much on crops from elsewhere to keep our people fed. The Long Summer is ending and Autumn is waiting for us. After that, probably the coldest winter in history. How many more crops can the North produce before our lands freeze completely? Where do we have a navy to defend our shores from naval threats? From where do we get the gold and

silver necessary for our expenses and people? Nay, I say, Lord Hornwood. Independence is a chimera, which if carried out, is doomed to failure. By joining the Freehold as a Federated Kingdom we will be able to have a political and economical autonomy similar to what we would have as a principality and the same and more advantages than we now have being one of the Seven Kingdoms sworn the Iron Throne." Ned said, while nodding towards the Crowfood and pointing towards Lord Hornwood.

"Lie!!" exclaimed the Norrey rising from the bench where he was seated behind Lord Ryswell. "All lies!! It is all an excuse to justify that the Targaryen has been the one who allowed the enemy beyond the Wall to invade south of it. Our enemy are the wildlings. Not stories to scare children!!" The big lord from the mountain clans spat while pointing towards Ned.

Some 'Ayes' were heard in the Great Hall, though mostly came from those around The Norrey and The Knott.

"Do you dare to name my father as a liar?" cried acidly Robb, while doing the attempt to rise from his chair. Attempt promptly aborted by Ned's right had on Robb shoulder.

"Didn't know? Himself has already said that has lied for five and ten years, you green boy!!" scoffed the Norrey, then cocked his head glancing towards the Guards, to finally rest a cold gaze on Robb "Without your wolves and guards around, I bet you aren't so brave! If your great father were here to see Targaryen's banners and a Targaryen in the raised table at Winterfell's Great Hall, he would have died again. I don't care about whom sits in that dammed southern chair, but I care that the Lord in the North at the least, is not a Targaryen's lap's dog." spoke the Norrey harsh and with scorn in the voice, pointing now towards prince Aemon.

The Targaryen seated to Ned's left, half tilted his head in the direction of The Norrey, grimaced half-smile half contempt and waved the right towards the big mountain clan Lord with raised silver left eyebrow.

The Norrey's attempt to head for the raised table and the prince was quickly interrupted by Winter's black mate rising on his four legs, while snarling threatening towards him. Direwolf which towered over the Norrey and seemed very protective of all those seated behind the raised table.

"It seems to me that we have another coward in our midst." bellowed the Great Jon for some chuckles at the Norrey's pale face, forehead beaded in sweat, eyes fixed on the great black direwolf, as he slowly retreat the couple of steps he had previously advanced.

Although Ned did not liked it much, among the Umbers, the Guards, the Targaryen soldiers and the Wolves, especially Winter and her mate, it seemed were quickly intimidating all the discordant voices that arose.

"You laugh, but you are another lapdog from the Targaryens and from this impostor we have as The Stark in the North, Umber!! How much gold is the dragon-spawn giving to you? How much does your loyalty cost?" sneered the Knott.

The until that moment laughing Great Jon changed his expression for one bordering the murderous.

As the Giant from Last Hearth took a couple of steps in direction towards the benches on the left side of the Great Hall, Great Jon Umber raised his right hand, until that moment always crossed at his chest under his furs.

'I can see why he want to keep it hidden.' he thought to himself as he saw two fingers of the Great Jon's right hand at totally unnatural angles.

"This is the cost from my loyalty Knott!! A broken hand and two fingers that will never be in their position again!! I am fortunate that they are the pinky and the ring finger, so I can continue to wield my greatsword. This was the courtesy I got from the dragon when I tried to cut him in half showing my loyalty towards the North you cunt! Because of those here, with the exception of Sigorn and myself,"

The Great Jon trailed in his speech, while pointing his chin at Rykker's squire.

"None of you know what it is to face Aegon Targaryen with a sword in his hands. He could make me pulp. He settled for breaking my hand, four fingers from my deft hand and leaving my right knee swollen for a moon. None of you, save those who were here when Visenya's ritual and the arrival from the dragons happened, know the kind of beasts that the dragons are. Knott, you question my loyalty. Know that this almost leads me to an anticipated death. When through a wildling in my lands I learned from the presence of the Wildlings upon the Wall, led by a Targaryen none the less, few of you will doubt what my reaction was. Many of you know of my feelings towards Lyanna in the past and how Lord Rickard repeatedly rejected my requests for engagement with her. More of you who know what House Umber lost in the Rebellion."

Spoke deeply with solemnity the Umber, while hunching on himself. Then made a bow towards Ned and the raised table, straightened his posture and crossed his hand again to his chest under the furs.

"Although while I was trying to kill him they were trying to explain much of what Ned told us today to me, I was unable to accept or process anything. I was blinded by my fury and by thinking that I had the father in front of me, instead of the son..." The Great Jon chuckled humorlessly, shrugged and followed on what he was saying. "When I arrived with my party of two hundred at Eastwatch I was only able to recognize Ned's girl. I mistook his grace for the silver prince. And I soon thought that he was trying to repeat history, but with Princess Arya ..."

The Great Jon shook his head.

"Ned may have screwed up ten and six years ago. But now he's trying to fix it. His nephew is a fucking somber brooding man and the fucker never smiles. But he's bonded with the Black Dread. He's the best warrior I ever faced or seen. He has a good head, is blunt, honest, sincere, relentless and he knows perfectly well the threat that looms over us. And most importly, he knows the North. He is a Dragon, but he is also a Wolf. He feels the North as his own and wants the best for us. With the string of insults I directed at him, plus my mad attempt to end his life, which almost resulted in Lyanna being seriously harmed, he had all the reasons and rights to kill me afterwards. But he didn't. On the contrary. He took the iron out of the matter and soon explained everything to me, inviting me to join him in his effort to reinforce the Wall and in the fight against the fucking ice spawns."

The Umber lowered his head in shame, let out a sigh audible to all present and returned to raise his head, glancing to the front.

"My price, Knott, is that the King I follow must show me that he is capable and worthy of being followed by me. Aegon Targaryen is. Like Eddard Stark has shown himself worthy of ruling the North, for it takes a real man to admit faults, mistakes and acknowledge that he had not been completely sincere in the past."

A round of loud 'Ayes' could be heard through the Hall, filling Ned with pride.

'If after the stunt from today they continue having faith and loyalty in me, maybe I have not done everything as badly as I thought. I won't be Brandon or Father. But for the first time in my life, and

thanks to having told the truth, a weight has been lifted and I finally feel that I am a worthy Lord in the North.'

"I saw Robert during the Rebellion, fucking wenches and maids left and right while he was getting drunk every night. During the mornings afterwards he whined about the kidnap of his beloved Lyanna and about the dragonspawn. Like everyone here, we know that his reign is being a disaster at the treasury level, plagued by corruption and the power really is wielded by the Lannisters and the princess of his. He is fucking and drinking in his way towards an early grave while the Seven Kingdoms are ruled, if we could say that, by the Old Greedy Falcon. Whom if he could, would burn our sacred trees and build septs in their place. My lords, I think that is an unworthy king to follow."

Some coy 'Ayes' could be heard, though Ned didn't knew if it were on behalf of his nephew or on behalf what the Umber had said about Robert and his reign. This time without being followed by boos.

'It seems that what the Great Jon has told about Aegon has reassured some of those who were doubting.' Ned thought. 'Or at least he has managed to nullify the boos and pointed some blatant truths from Robert's reign and rule.'

Rising from the bench on the left side from the Great Hall, Lady Barbrey now headed toward the center of the Hall. "My lords, if I may?" she cleared her throat, framed herself with him and addressed directly to Ned.

"You returned Willam's horse to me on your way back home to Winterfell. You told me that my lord had died an honorable death, that his body had been laid to rest beneath the Red Mountains of Dorne. Now I know he died fighting against the ones who guarded the son of your sister. An honorless death. Betraying a son from the North to give power to the likes of the Lannister and Tully. You brought your sister's bones back north, though, and apparently, those of her husband too. But you couldn't brought the remains from my cousin or my lord husband. You couldn't think before attack three of the finest swordsmen Westeros had. No. You had to do whatever Robert and Arryn told you to do. Now is the same, but with your then usurped by us, nephew. You're only a mouthpiece, a puppet whose strings are being pulled by that dragon with whom Lord Umber seems to be in love."

While some chuckles could be heard at the barb to the Great Jon, Lady Barbrey trailed in her speech and pointing at him, with bitterness in her voice said accusingly;

"Why should we continue to pay homage to you? You've been fooling all of Westeros for fifteen years and if it wasn't for foul magic and Fire and Blood rituals, you would have continued to fool even your own nephew. Sixteen years ago you preferred to side with your friend the whoremonguer and the old man from the Vale rather than with your sister. Your blindness cost me my love and my husband. Now you tell us that we should break up in our oaths to the king we hailed five and ten years ago following your stead. Nine moons ago, your nephew could not even know who his true parents were, but now you and your lackeys believe that he is the one to guide us against this supposed threat from nursemaid stories and tales to scare children."

Brandon's former lover took a couple of steps towards the dais while guarding her distance with the direwolves, then turned and faced the lords. With a surprisingly powerful voice, she addressed everyone present.

"Why not tell his kingly friend about Lord Stark's treason? Or better yet, what reasons do we have for not sending him his head and that of his whole family? His father's greediness, sister's selfishness, his false honor and naivety have already cost the lives of many good men from the

north. Why should more die for whatever the cause that he thinks is right at the time? Why should we continue to submit to his rule or that of his nephew?"

Heavy silence gripped the Great Hall. Some of his bannermen were exchanging uncomfortable glances, while some seemed utterly repelled by what Lady Dustin had just brought up. Others, however, seemed not to rule it out.

To his bewilderment, the one he feared might be the greatest threat to House Stark, had barely made a gesture or a grimace since he sat on the edge of the bench on the left side from the Great Hall closest to the raised table. Roose's cold gaze on everything, but almost always observing the reactions of the lords from the north, more than those of Ned and his family.

Lord Tallhart rose to his feet and exclaimed "What you say, my lady, is treason."

Lady Barbrey scoffed and spread her arms, "Treason to whom? Treason to what? Which treason precedes which?" she asked harshly and coldly. "The treason from the order of the Maesters to the lords of Westeros? Lord Rickard's treason to the North? Our treason to the rightful lords from the Seven Kingdoms? That of Lord Eddard to the Stag King? That of the Oaf King towards his grandmother's family? I only emphasize that there are more options than to follow blindly House Stark and that with so many treasons that have occurred in the last twenty years, it is difficult to know which action is considered treason and which as blind loyalty."

Some 'Ayes' were heard after Lady Dustin proclamation, but were drowned with the boos towards the bitter's lady words.

Ned could feel the gathering beginning to slip out of his control. Lady Barbrey's speech was one that crossed barriers, which until now seemed to have been respected during the morning and the beginning of the meeting with the bannermen.

Robb was hiding it well, more than afraid, angry and scowling at Lady Dustin words. But Sansa was beginning to show signs of fear and uncertainty under the facade that Ned's daughter had built.

'Add that the first to launch threats has been the one that Sansa sees as one of her role models and with whom my daughter has developed trust and a good relationship, without a doubt it must have moved Sansa.' he mused darkly.

Benjen, on the other hand, had a vein marked on his forehead and looked furious, about to snarl in Brandon's former lover direction.

"Pah!! Threats under guest rights. How low you fall, Barbrey." spat Ned's brother. "Your problem, Barbrey, is that you are bitter since my brother Brandon refused to intercede on your behalf with my lord father. And in that, I can assure you that Walys had no intervention. My lord father was not going to give up his precious southern alliances, even if my brother had asked." Benjen sneered, pointing to the Lady of Barrowton "Nor Brandon was going to marry you. To my brother you were one more notch in his conquests. Be grateful that it was to Ashara Dayne whose life he ruined and not yours." his brother concluded with harshness and contempt.

Lady Barbrey responded physically as if she had been slapped, her mouth half open in a sneer of contempt and rage. She stared coldly at his brother. She was stopped from retorting with further threats or insults by her father, Lord Ryswell. He had risen from the bench, to put his right hand on her daughter's right shoulder, which seemed to make the Lady of Barrowton recoil.

A dry cough and throat clearing to Ned's left drew his and all Northern Bannermen's attention to the person sitting to his left behind the raised table.

"May I say a thing or two, My Lord Stark?"

Somewhat astonished that the prince asked to speak, he nodded slightly.

The prince rose from his chair, glanced left and right into the bannermen in the Great Hall, and then fixed his gaze on Lady Dustin.

"My lords and ladies of the North. I do not know if you have paid attention to some of the said things this morning or not. But if you have, you must know that the Freehold considers the North, or at least House Stark, as a vassal. Likewise, the Freehold has a province with almost one hundred and fifty thousand people within three weeks of brisk march from where we are today. Tar nu Fuin. The Forest Under the Shadow. In that province there are about twenty-four thousand men and women ready to fight as ordered by their lord. And I can assure you that the person responsible for giving that order will give it, if a single hair of the Stark family is touched."

The words from the prince hung heavy on the Great Hall. The threat behind these, clear to all.

"And that's not counting what could happen if my nephews and niece come with their three dragons to do justice on behalf of the Freehold." Aemon Targaryen said nonchalantly, while resting his hands on the table.

If the Targaryen's previous words had plunged the audience into awkward silence, now many had winced and were keen to look down at their feet. This was especially evident in those who had raised contrary voices, booed the Targaryens that morning or in Lady Barbrey herself, whose expression seemed to show that she was realizing that she had gone a step further than she should.

"So please, my lords and ladies of the North. Before throwing threats under guest rights, think about the consequences that your words, as well as future actions, can bring to you and to your houses." the prince said in a surprising deep voice, harsh and cold, never trying to mask the threat present in his words.

After that, the Targaryen sat down to Ned's left again, wearing that grimace that seemed a mixture of half smile and half contempt.

'It seems to me that all Targaryens have certain haughtiness and arrogance. Although it is true that they usually have which with they can back up their words and attitudes.' he reflected, still half stunned by the defense the prince had made towards Ned's family.

Lord Glover took advantage of that moment to get up from his bench, took a couple of tentative steps towards the center of the Great Hall where The Flint and the Great Jon still were.

Staring down at Prince Aemon, Galbart Glover said dryly and somewhat hostilely. "A dragon seed you may be, but you are nobody to give orders to the wildlings upon the wall. You can be the bastard uncle of Lyanna's boy, the dornish girl and the silver prince, for what I care. Today's meeting it is only for the Lords of the North. It is quite an insult that those of whom we are discussing are not here. Not happy with that, they send us a dragon seed on their behalf." scoffed the Glover.

Ned's brother raised his right hand to his face and Ned wanted to bang his head on the table at the words spoken by the Lord of Deepwood Motte.

'Good thing Rykker isn't there. I doubt he's as forgiving of Lord Glover as he was of Robb last night.'

Lord Glover's words seemed to amuse the prince, chuckling before rolling up his sleeves.

"Oh! My lord, haven't you heard?" the former elder Targaryen said mockingly after revealing his two bracelets. "Magic roams the world free again. What is a visual and physical spell when my predecessor Visenya is able to resurrect people who have died for more than a decade with a spell and a ritual?" at that moment the prince opened his left bracelet, instantly transforming his appearance into that of an old man, stooped, with hardly any silver and white hair. Eyes pale as milk except for small flashes of lilac and purple at the edge of the iris. "Also if we listen to my great-uncle Aegor Rivers, my whole line is bastard. According to him and others, supposedly I descend from the one who gave me my name. The Dragon knight. Surely my lords are familiar with him. My name is Aemon Targaryen. Prince Aemon Targaryen, lord of Tar nu Fuin. Eighth or ninth in line to the lordship of Valyria. Son of Maekar Targaryen, the first of his name. Brother of Aegon the fifth of his name. And nowadays, the citizens of the Freehold of Valyria in the North of Westeros, are my subjects. I am the lord. Therefore, I am the one who gives the orders."

Even the voice of the newly aged prince had changed. More shaky and less powerful. But just as mocking and haughty.

Widespread reactions of astonishment, disbelief, wide-eyed and choked sighs in surprise took place throughout the Great Hall. Even Ned and his family, who were beginning to have a certain familiarity with magic, were stunned. Sansa's mouth was wide open, her eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her sockets and her eyebrows were raised almost to the hairline. Robb's stupor seemed to grip him, opening and closing his mouth like a fish.

'By the old gods !! I myself don't know how to react or what to say!'

Looking back ahead, Ned could see Lord Manderly's heir rubbing his eyes with both hands and

even the Mormonts seemed impressed at the prince's sudden change.

The only ones who seemed totally unconcerned about what had happened were the Umber, Sigorn Thenn, and Ned's own page. 'Surely the Umber must have seen this before and the people from beyond the wall don't show much surprise at magic. They take it for granted. I think they must even be jaded of it.'

The prince closed the bracelet around his left arm and instantly, his physical appearance changed again to give way to the one he had worn since Ned met him the night before.

It was somewhat unsettling to say the least.

The one who seemed to recover to everything said and seen in the last minutes was Lord Wyman Manderly.

Sitting heavily on the bench, the mere movement of the Lord of the Mermaids made the wood creak beneath the plump Lord of White Harbor.

"Lord Stark, Prince Aemon. I do not deny the truth of what you say, nor do I deny the occurrences that you have related to us this morning. It is difficult for me to believe that Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen have come back to life and that Lya's boy has inhabited in the skin of the conqueror." Lord Wyman trailed, tilting his head slightly to the right. "But it is a leap of faith that I am willing to take after everything I've seen and heard. I have too much information and rumors telling much of what has been said today. Coins with the faces of Princess Lyanna and Prince Rhaegar, as well as Princess' Arya and Prince Bran, runs in my domain. There are also coins minted with the faces of the Dowager Queen Rhaella, Queen Rhaenys and King Aegon. My merchants trade with braavosi, lorathi, norvosi, pentosi and qohorik all of whom trade in name of the Free Bank of Valyria and The Freehold of Valyria."

"But I also believe in political cunning and wit. I understand that creating an external enemy around which to rally under a banner is an attractive option for someone who wants loyalty from a people. When you are a legend yourself, you need to create an equally legendary enemy. Because otherwise people will be reluctant to rally under the banner of someone who is already powerful." Sarcasm was practically dripping from Wyman's Manderly mouth as he spoke.

"What are you implying, my lord Manderly?" He asked, voice low and dangerous.

"I do not imply anything, my lord Stark. I seriously doubt about the existence of the Others, my lord. It all seems too coincidental to my taste. And at my age, I find it hard to believe in coincidences." The Lord of White Harbor answered him.

"We've proof from them." he ground out. "Ser Jaremy!" Ned shouted afterwards.