'...THE NORTH WILL BE READY...'

POV: Dacey Mormont;

Torrhen's Square.

On the night of the celebration of the 'Champion of the Tournament'...

Dacey, had tried hard to convince, her cousin, that she too could drink the alcoholic beverages served at the banquet...

The answer was always 'NO'.

The banquet had yet to begin, many Lords and Ladies had yet to take their seats. Lady Dustin had not yet arrived...

Even though, Dacey, was only 8 years old, even she understood that her cousin, Lord Jorah Mormont, was sad because of love problems...

Currently, the little girl and Jorah, were standing near the 'Winners' Table'. Dacey, couldn't resist and asked her cousin:

"Cousin Jorah, Lady Dustin, has rejected your proposal of engagement? Is that why you are sad?"

"...Not really, Dacey. I don't think you're old enough to understand..." Jorah replied, frowning slightly.

"I AM!!!...I am a woman, after all!" Said Dacey, in an angry tone.

"...I was not 'rejected', if we can call it that...Lady Barbrey asked me to wait...She gave me this token as a promise." Said Jorah showing Dacey, a yellow silk handkerchief, with a brown bear embroidered on it.

"Huh? Wait? And why? For how long?" Dacey asked sharply, taking the handkerchief.

"I'm not sure 'why' exactly...but the wait is two years. I think she still needs time to grieve for her husband William...I was a fool not to think of it sooner...I forced her hand and put her in an 'uncomfortable' position...that's why I'm sad and worried, Dacey." Explained Jorah.

"How strange these 'Northern Ladies' are...I mean if she wants to be called 'The Widow of Barrowton' again...that's her choice...But, cousin Jorah, what are you going to do? Are you really going to wait for her for two years?" Dacey asked curiously.

"...Yes, Dacey. I will wait." Jorah replied, with a firm tone.

"....mmm...Yes...you're right. Maybe I'm not 'Lady' enough to understand." Said Dacey rubbing her chin, with a confused and thoughtful look.

"Ahahaha!...Dacey...if tonight, 'you behave'...tomorrow we will order that armor you so desire." Said Jorah managing to get his first smile of the night.

"REALLY???! I'll even be able to get a club made??! " Dacey snapped like a spring and tried to ride the wave.

"Sure!...But only if you don't overdo it...Are we agreed?" Jorah asked.

"YES, YES! PROMISE!!!" Immediately replied Dacey jumping up and down.

"Now go, find your friends and have fun." Jorah.

"Thank you! Thank you cousin!!! I mean, Thank you my Lord." Dacey corrected herself by pulling back from the impetuous embrace.

About two hours later...

Dacey, was sweating at the table with a dozen other young Northern scions.

"Get it?! Tomorrow my cousin, he's going to make me some new armor!!! Can't wait!!!" Said Dacey for the fifth time to Duncan Tallhart and Domeric Bolton, seated opposite her.

"Yes Dacey, we are amazed, elated and impressed..." Domeric.

"Domeric!" Duncan, rehearsed his peer's sarcastic response.

"Ah, of course...I do apologise, my Lord. After all, I'm just a 'poor Mormont' who wasn't washed in vats of gold and fed with silver spoons until I was seven!..CRHASJSB NKLNbkdsbkjbsdkujs sjkbsdkjb skjbdkjs kjjsbkjb....." Dacey, continued an endless scolding....

"Did you see that?!...Now who's stopping her?" Whispered Duncan towards Domeric's ear.

"It was going to happen sooner or later anyway! "Domeric justified himself. The two boys, over the last week, had been bombarded by Dacey's constant reprimands and countless challenges thrown their way...

"Look! Your uncle's up." Hearing those words, Dacey stopped and turned around intrigued by Leobald Tallhart's likely announcement.

End POV.

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POV: Leobald Tallhart;

Torrhen's Square.

Two minutes before two new friends berated each other....

Leobald, was sitting next to his wife Berena, now in her fourth month of pregnancy. He looked around the room carefully. All the Lords and Ladies had eaten and drunk. The banquet was the best ever prepared. House Tallhart had sought out the best cooks available from all over the Seven Kingdoms. Even two cooks from Bravoos and Dorne came... The wines were the best of the latest vintages. The ale selected from the finest casks in the Stormlands. The spirits produced, by House Tallhart and now Umber, were the most popular of all...

Now that everyone in the room was full, drunk, carefree and amused, Leobald decided it was time to act. He sought out the gaze of his brother, Helman, for one last confirmation.

As soon as Helman nodded in agreement, Leobald rose from his chair and walked to the centre of the room.

"My Lords!...My Ladies!" The hubbub of the room, subsided and all eyes were on the man who caught their attention.

"I would like to thank you all again for responding to our invitation and gracing us with your presence." Leobald.

"Aye!!!", "Sdung! Sdung! Sdung!" Voices of agreement and banging of fists on tables accompanied Leobald Tallhart's thanks.

"Thank you all!...For emptying our pantries and coffers before Winter!" Said Leobald ironically.

"Ahahaha!!!", "Bring more barrels!!", "Aye!!", "Gurahahaha!".

"But now...my Lord...I would like to answer many of you...

Answer your question 'Why can't we bring gifts?'

Some of you already know the reason, to others it is not yet clear..." Leobald.

"Yeaaa?", "Tell us what you want boy!", "How can we repay House Tallhart?", "What can we donate?"...Many Lords answered in curiosity.

"Lord Eddard Stark. Do we have your blessing? Can House Tallhart, make this request to the North, my Lord?" Leobald asked in a respectful tone, looking at the Protector of the North, seated on the table of the 'Guests of Honour'.

Eddard Stark, rose from the table and replied:

"If House Tallhart, thinks the time is suitable, proceed, Lord Leobald."

"Thank you, my lord." Said Leobald bowing to his lord.

"My Lords...now that my House, has had permission from House Stark. I call upon you!

My wife and I would like one thing from all of you as a gift for our unborn child...

'A United North', my Lords." Leobald.

"AYEEE!!", "YEAAAA!!", "FOR THE NORTH!!", "FOR TALLHART HOME!"... Shouts and cheers of approval echoed through the room. When the situation calmed down, Leobald resumed speaking in a louder voice.

"ME, MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY... WE WANT THE NORTH TO NEVER AGAIN SUFFER HUNGER, POVERTY... AND COLD!"

"YEEEAAAARRR!!!" All the men in the hall cheered in unison.

"THAT THE OLD MEN, NO LONGER HAVE TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES AND LEAVE THEIR HOMES NEVER TO RETURN! JUST BECAUSE THEIR GRAIN IS NOT ENOUGH TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES!"

"AAAAYEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

"LET A MOTHER BE FREE TO GIVE BIRTH TO HER CHILD! WITHOUT FEARING THAT THE FROST WILL TAKE IT AWAY!"

"YEEESSSS!!!" In addition to the men, many ladies also joined the chorus.

"BUT MOST OF ALL...

WHAT I WANT MOST OF ALL IS THAT WHEN THE DAY COMES, WHEN MY SONS OR DAUGHTERS, ON A STORMY NIGHT, WITH THE ICY WINDS BLOWING AND THE SNOW REACHING THE TOP OF THE WALLS OF MY MANOR, WILL ASK ME: 'FATHER, CAN WE HELP THEM? CAN WE HELP THE PEOPLE WE HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT FROM THE EVIL OF WINTER?'... Leobal paused for a moment... the anticipation of Lord Tallhart's words was great...

"TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER...'YES, WE CAN!...WE CAN HELP OUR PEOPLE!'..."

".....YEEEAAAAAAAAARRRHHHGHHH!!!! ", "AAAAYYYEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!", "SDUH! SDUH! SDUH! SDUH! SDUH! SDUH!"

Everyone in the room cheered or slammed their cups and mugs down on the table in assent. The echo roared loudly throughout Torren's Square....

Only one man in the room kept his composure and did not respond to the chorus of assent...

End POV.

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POV: Roose Bolton;

Torrhen's Square.

During the echo of assent from all the Northern lords...

Lord of Dredfort, he turned his sight around him. Everywhere he turned, he saw clashing cups and men shouting in jubilation.

The morale in the hall was at an all-time high.

'They are gaining the approval of every noble in the North...' Roose Bolton thought with concealed concern.

After a minute or so, the tone and confusion diminished.

The man took the opportunity and stood up from his chair.

"My lords...Lord Leobald, I am sorry to interrupt this moment of mutual joy and union...

I would like, if possible, for you to remove some of the doubts that I believe are on the minds of many in this room..." Roose Bolton said in a polite but firm tone. He tried in every way to appear, 'less cold' and more sympathetic to others.

"Of course Lord Bolton, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, my Lord." Replied in a similar tone, Leobald.

All the people in the room calmed down and lowered their tones to be able to hear the debate between the two lords.

"I would like to ask, if I may...'how?' How can we give you what you are asking for?

Many of our forefathers have promised themselves the same thing, my Lord, with every good intention and word...

Yet, it is thousands of years since the first men suffered winter and were helpless by its fury and ruthlessness...

So, Lord Leobald, what does House Tallhart ask of us, in return for the majestic hospitality and entertainment it has given us?" Bolton.

"A most opportune question, my Lord. I thank you on behalf of my House for asking it...", "Snock", "Snock". Leobald, gave a signal to some thirty waiting servants. Men and women, reached out to the various Northern gentlemen and handed them papers....

Roose Bolton grabbed his own and scrutinised it carefully.

Inside the papers were plans and drawings. They depicted, from what seemed at first glance, the plan to build a huge road network...

They were well prepared for this moment... they organized this Tournament on purpose... Everyone is hanging on their every word... and they have Ned Stark's support...' Roose Bolton thought quickly, connecting the dots. The man's thoughts were interrupted by Leobald's voice.

'What is our greatest difficulty during the winter, my Lords? The cold?...Food? .....No, my Lords... is communication between us! We cannot easily come to the aid of villages or castles of Lords looking for help...The paths are covered with snow. Men, beasts and wagons cannot move through tens of feet of snow...We lose more scouts and rescuers during the winter than soldiers in the war, my Lords..." Then, Leobald turned again to Roose Bolton, who was still reading the charts....

"What you see, my Lords, is an innovative new road design...A tested road, to endure and endure over time...Currently in the North, only the 'King's Road', which runs from Kings Landing to Castle Black, is the only 'passable' road during the Winter...but even that is limited...

What House Tallhart proposes, my lords...is that the King's road in our lands be restored and widened with our new designs...and not only that...we want to build new roads, all of which will connect to each other! EVERY CASTLE OR TOWN IN THE NORTH WILL BE CONNECTED WITH A PASSABLE ROAD... FROM 'WINTERFELL' TO 'WHITE HARBOUR', FROM 'LAST HEARTH' TO DEEPWOOD MOTTE, FROM 'BARROWTON' TO 'KARHOLD', FROM 'WIDOW'S HEAD' TO 'CASTLE CERWYN'... AND OF COURSE FROM 'TORREN' SQUARE' TO 'DREADFORT'... EVERYONE, EVEN BEAR ISLAND OR SKAGOS WILL BENEFIT... HARBOURS WILL ALSO BE BUILT ALONG SEA DRAGON POINT, OCTOPUS CAPE, SEAL BAY AND GLUEING... WE CAN ALL SEND AID, COMMUNICATE AND EVEN TRADE DURING THE WINTER... MY LORDS... I ASSURE YOU... IF THIS IS DONE... THE NORTH WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO ASK ANYONE FOR HELP... NOT THE HIGHLANDS OR THE TRIDENT... WE WILL PREVAIL AND REMAIN AS STRONG AS EVER... TOGETHER!" Leobald.

Roose Bolton, looked for another opening....

"These plans are incredible, my Lord...but here I see that they should be built...some 4,000 miles of road..."

"4,412, to be exact, my Lord..." Leobald.

"Yes...and how are we going to build them in time? Winter is coming, my lord." Roose asked, still keeping a polite tone...but with a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"It can be built in time, my Lords...We have the manpower and the materials. If we all contribute in the work, the roads and ports will be built." He retorts, Leobald.

"Forgive my insistence, my lord...but what amount of labour and materials are we talking about?" Roose.

Leobald raised his voice, so that 'everyone' in the great hall could hear him.

"100,000 WORKERS WILL BE NEEDED... BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. WE HAVE THE BLUEPRINTS AND THE BUILDERS TO TRAIN THE INEXPERIENCED PERSONNEL... BUT WE WILL NEED THE MEN... 20,000 OF THEM WILL BE CONCENTRATED IN THE EXTRACTION AND TRANSPORT OF MATERIALS... THE REMAINING 80,000 IN CONSTRUCTION. IF WE CAN COLLECT THEM, MY LORDS... THIS NETWORK CAN BE BUILT WITHIN 11 MOONS AT THE LATEST!" Leobald.

"...A considerable sum, my Lord...You are asking us to build and 'pay' for a project that we unfortunate lords of the North cannot afford...How much will it cost to build this road? How much will it cost to keep the roads passable during the winter?..." Roose glimpsed many of the greediest or poorest Northern gentlemen nodding at his words.

"Road maintenance will be very expensive, my Lord, I admit... IF WE WANT THE ROADS TO STAY AGABLE AND SAFE... ...OUTPOSTS WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT WHERE MEN-AT-ARMS, ROAD-MAINTENANCE WORKERS AND COMMON LABORERS CAN REST AND SHELTER FROM THE COLD WINTER WINDS... ...FORTUNATELY FOR US... LADY BARBREY DUSTIN... ...WILL PROVIDE US WITH THE COARSE SALT TO MELT THE ICE AND SNOW THAT WILL CLOG OUR ROADS...IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 8,000 MEN-AT-ARMS AND 7,000 LABORERS TO MAINTAIN AN OUTPOST EVERY TEN MILES... PLUS AT LEAST 600 TONS OF SALT PER DAY TO KEEP THEM CLEAN' Immediately after being quoted, Lady Dustyn, who was at the side of 'her brother-in-law', Roose Bolton, rose to affirm Leobald's words.

Helman Tallhart's brother, nodded at that gesture of support and then resumed speaking:

"....IN ALL...WE HAVE ESTIMATED THAT IT WILL COST US...ABOUT 1,100 GOLDEN DRAGONS A DAY IN EXPENSES...TO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN ALL OF US...I KNOW...I KNOW, MY LORDS...IT'S A HEFTY FIGURE..." Murmurs of dissent and shock spread through the hall at the mention of those figures...

"You are forgetting something, my Lord... The cost of building roads, outposts and harbours...We are not as fortunate as you, my Lord... Unfortunately, this so-called 'Seraphine'... does not answer our prayers..." Said Roose, with an ironic tone. A few voices and small laughs of derision spread...

Leobald, hearing those words, gave a small smile...

Roose Bolton, felt disturbed for a moment... it was as if he had just fallen into a trap and that his opponent was waiting for this moment...

"YOU ARE RIGHT, MY LORD...MY HOUSE IS MORE FORTUNATE THAN MOST...AND THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS FOR SUCH A 'WORK'...AMOUNT TO ABOUT...900,000 GOLDEN DRAGONS!..." Leobald, waited for everyone to realise the significance of that sum...and then added:

...and then he added: "THAT'S WHY TALLHART'S HOUSE, WILL BURDEN ALONE."

End POV.

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POV: The Protector of the North;

Torrhen's Square.

A few seconds later, Leobald's final shocking statement....

Eddard Stark, saw, over 200 men rise to toast in the name of House Tallhart.

"TO TALLHART, TO THE BENEFACTORS OF THE NORTH, TO THE NORTH AND TO HOUSE TALLHART, TO LORD LEOBALD... Dozens of similar statements and cheers followed one after the other. Ned himself raised his glass and took a sip of each proposed toast.

He had to admit that he was rather astonished at the turn of events... not at the proposed project... Helman Tallhart had explained the road project to him in detail. After seeing the plans, calmly weighing up all the pros and cons, the protector of the North was absolutely in favour of the idea proposed by House Tallhart.

The benefits cited by Leobald Tallhart were only part of the actual benefits.

Not only would the whole of the North benefit from viable transport for food, clothing, hides, firewood and other subsistence materials... but after the Winter, the North would benefit enormously from this 'Network'. For both economic and military purposes.

Trade would be more viable and faster. Northern troops could move at three times the speed. The road they built would be at least 20 feet wide (about twice the width of today's 'King's Road' made of beaten earth), would allow 4 men on horseback or two carriages to travel in unison on the same stretch...

They could even, through the various supporting establishments, charge tolls to trade caravans and merchants who wanted to travel through their lands, quickly and safely.

'This network, must be built. For the good of the North.' Ned Stark thought.

"MY LORDS!!! SILENCE!!!" "SDUGH!", "SDUGH!". Greatjon Umber, drew attention to himself...

As the others, sat down and focused on him, GreatJon said:

"HOUSE UMBER, WILL SUPPORT THIS PROJECT! WE WILL PROVIDE: MEN, MATERIALS AND GUIDES. WE WILL PROTECT AND MAINTAIN EVERY STRETCH OF ROAD THROUGH OUR LANDS. NOW AND FOREVER!" thundered GreatJon. After nodding at Lord Helman Tallhart's assenting glances, Lord Umber returned to his seat.

"AYE!!!" All the people in the room replied in unison.

"HOUSE KARSTARK, WILL STAND BY HOUSE UMBER IN THIS CHOICE!!!"

Rickard Karstark said standing up. The man nodded to both Greatjon and Helman Tallhart.

"HOUSE MANDERLY WILL NOT BE OUTDONE! WE WILL CO-INTRIBUTE TO THIS PROJECT!" Shouted Lord Wyman Mandery making a great effort to stand up.

"AS WILL HOUSE GLOVER !" Roared Lord Galbarth Glover.

"AS WELL AS THE FORRESTERS!" Said Lord Gregor Forrester.

"THE CERWYNS, ARE WITH HOUSE TALLHART!" Lord Medger.

"ALSO THE HORNWOODS!" Lord Halys.

"HOUSE RYSWELL WILL JOIN!" Lord Rodrick.

"BARROWTON, WILL STAND BY HOUSE TALLHART!" Lady Dustin.

"BEAR ISLAND, WILL NOT BE OUTDONE!" Lord Jorah.

"GREY TOWER AND THE NECK, WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE!" Lord Howland Reed.

"WIDOW'S CAPE WILL FOLLOW!" Lord Robin Flint.

"IF THE FLINTS OF FLINT'S FINGER WILL PARTICIPATE, THE FLINTS OF WIDOW'S WATCH WILL NOT BACK DOWN!!!" Roared back Lady Lyessa Flint.

"WOODFIELD, HOUSE TOO!" Lord Woodfield.

"HOUSE LOCKE, WILL PARTICIPATE!!!" Lord Locke.

"CLAN MAGNAR, WILL REPAY ITS DEBT TO HOUSE TALLHART!" Even Lord Magnar of Skagos thundered.

"House Bolton, will follow the decision of the North." Lord Roose Bolton.

After all the nobles of the greatest houses spoke, it was the turn of the clans of the mountains.

The five clan leaders stood up in unison and stared at each other... it was Lord Hugo Wull, the leader of the strongest clan, who stepped forward.

"THE CLANS OF THE MOUNTAINS, WILL FOLLOW THE DECISION OF THE NORTHERN PROTECTOR!" Lord Hugo shouted, kneeling down in the direction of Lord Eddard Stark.

Lord Helman Tallhart rose from his chair and walked to his brother's side. Both men followed the example of Hugo Wull and the other Clan leaders and knelt before the Warden of the North.

"LORD EDDARD STARK, LORD OF WINTERFELL AND WARDEN OF THE NORTH, YOU HAVE THE FINAL WORD. THE NORTH WILL FOLLOW YOUR WILL, MY LORD." Lord Helman said in a high but respectful tone.

All eyes in the room focused on Lord Stark, who stood up and held his head high. Silence spread through the hall... only dogs could be heard barking outside the walls...

"MY LORDS... MY LADIES... LET THIS NETWORK BE BUILT!... GATHER ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROJECT!..." He paused for a moment and then smiled slightly, before uttering the last words....

"WINTER IS COMING!...AND THE NORTH WILL BE READY TO WELCOME IT!"