Symbol of Duty and Loyalty

"My lord, everyone is gathered in the training ground. All the preparations you want are done." While I was getting ready in my room, a maid came.

"Ok, you can go first. I'm coming now."

Finally it's time to meet my new men. (although they are kids) After tidying up for a while, I left my room and went to the courtyard. As I approached, I saw the children gathered by ser Rodrik, Jory, and a few guards. When I arrived, the wiggles stopped. They all looked curious. After all, they had been brought here by a younger lord. They only knew they would be better fed and cared for if they were chosen just to come here.

I greeted ser Rodrik and Jory before stepping onto the platform prepared for me. When I got to the platform, I could see the faces of everyone gathered. On one corner of the balcony overlooking the courtyard I saw my uncle and lady Catelyn watching me too.

Lady Catelyn, my relationship with her can only be described as neutral. She was angry that I had taken away her dream of being a lord paramount's wife in the first place. In time, anger faded, but indifference took its place. I guess when she realized that no matter what she did she couldn't make me lose my place as the lord of Winterfell, he realized that his anger was pointless and let things take their course. But I stop thinking about it and look at her again. Her belly is swollen. It's been 6 months since my uncle and her explained this to us. Lady Catelyn is pregnant again. I think it would be Sansa. Delivery should occur within 2-3 months.

It took me a few seconds to think about all of this and I turn back to my new men. Now I looked at each of their faces one by one. Some time has passed. After 5-10 minutes finally one of them couldn't stand it and asked

"m-milord, can you explain why we're here?"

I turned my head to the boy. Looks like 8 or 9 years old. He's a little tall for his age. He's neither too fat nor too thin. Black hair and eyes. He has a pretty ordinary look.

I looked at him but didn't answer. I waited a while. The boy looked at the reaction of those around him, as if wondering if he had done something wrong.

"what's your name?"

The boy immediately looked at me and replied hastily.

"my name is Bennet, my lord"

"Well Bennet, so you're wondering why you're here."

"I think you all think the same as Bennet. So let's satisfy your curiosity. My name is Torrhen Stark. Heir to Winterfell. I called you here because I need loyal men... Don't get me wrong, I know that every man, woman and child of the north is loyal to House Stark! What I want is a group of confidants. Wherever I go, whatever I do, whenever I do, men will come with me!.. That's why I summoned you. Today I will present you two options. The first is to accept what I have said here today. You can be my subordinate, my squire, my confidant, and most of all... a friend of mine. If you accept this. From today you will train with me and you will be well looked after. But this has a price. If you accept all these. You will eat, sleep with the man next to you, live with them for the rest of your life, and entrust your life to him if necessary. Just like they did to you! If you accept this today, your duty will be to protect the man next to you, the North and House Stark, to work for the interests of your lord, me... But the most important of all, will be your loyalty to me, only me!"

I immediately gave a signal to Jory and the other men. While they were doing what I wanted, I measured the reactions. Everyone looked surprised, but some of the children had a determined look. A few seconds later the men came and threw a short but long enough rope in front of each child.

Everyone in the courtyard, even the ones who brought the ropes, seemed to wonder what I was going to do with it.

"The ropes you see, You will carry it on your chest as part of your uniform if you choose to join me today... These ropes are symbols. If you agree to join me once, they are a symbol of no turning back! If one day you think of betraying to me or to your brothers or to the North, this is a symbol that you would rather strangle yourself than betray!.. This Symbols meaning that despite everything, if you still try to betray, I will strangle you with my OWN hands!!!"

"Your second option is to forget everything I said now and leave. There are men out there who will take you back to where you came from."

When I fell silent, the whole courtyard fell silent. Some of the children were scared. Some of them looked agitated, and the rest of them looked curious. For adults, the situation was different. Ser Rodrik and my uncle looked proud. Lady Catelyn was taken aback.

After a while one of the boys headed towards the exit of the courtyard. The other four followed him. There are 45 children left behind. Much more than I thought. I guess I underestimated the difficulty of being an orphan in the north.

"I see, so you guys choose to stay... You took an oath by staying here today! A lifetime oath of loyalty! All I ask of you is to remain true to this oath!.."

"You can go now. Maids and guards will show you your accommodation. Take your ropes with you. From tomorrow you will always wear it on your chest."

so I got off the platform as they went to their ward. Ser Rodrik nodded to me as I left the courtyard. When I came out of the stairs, I saw my uncle in front of me.

"You did very well today, lad. Keep going like that." Uncle Ned said with a proud expression on his face.

"thank you uncle. Now, with your permission, I will go to my room. I have preparations to make for tomorrow."

After a while I left my uncle and went to my room. I thought as I sat on my bed.

'A group of children, the oldest of whom is 12 years old, will not have relentless followers just because I made such a speech. But I planted a seed in their hearts. They already see me on a different level from themselves. The point now is to take that tiny bit of admiration and turn it into undisputed loyalty. It will be difficult, but I have time...'