Ned Stark POV
"Ned, what are you doing there? Come join me in bed," I heard my wife's soft voice.
"Nothing, dear. I could not sleep," I replied quietly.
She was beautiful.
I was a fortunate man. She had given me a strong house and children any father would be proud of.
If only she could love Jon as she did the others. The boy needed a mother. Yet her southern upbringing would never allow it. To her, he would always remain a reminder.
I wish she knew the truth about his birth.
If I tell her the truth, would she understand?"
She rose from the bed, the blankets slipping away as she moved. The candlelight fell across her skin, marking the traces I had left upon her.
"If you cannot sleep, perhaps you would care for another round," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around me, pressing close.
Gods, no.
She had already drained me. Three times in a day was more than enough.
I was no longer a young man.
"Come, Ned," she murmured near my ear, her hands beginning to wander. "Should we not give the children another brother or sister?"
I caught her hands gently and pulled her onto my lap, holding her close.
"Cat, I am truly tired tonight. Let us just talk," I said.
There was a flicker of frustration on her face, but it passed.
"As you wish," she said, settling against me. "What shall we speak of, my love?"
"The name," she added with a faint smile. "We have yet to decide."
We had spoken of it many times already.
"If it is a girl, Lyanna," I said. "If a boy… Rickon."
"Rickon," she repeated softly. "Yes… a good name. Our next child will be a boy."
"How do you know that?" I asked softly."I just know," she replied.
Then, suddenly—
"What do you think of Artys?"
I glanced at her.
"From what I have heard, he is a capable boy, Jon's son, and already ruling the Vale well for his age," I said.
"I do not think he is merely capable," she replied. "He is… clever."
"Clever is not the word I would use," I said. "Smart, perhaps."
"He is still your nephew, Cat," I reminded her.
"I do not see it that way," she said quietly. "Did you not notice earlier? When I called Lysa his mother, he corrected me at once. Without hesitation."
"You worry too much," I said, pulling her closer. "He is still a boy. He will grow out of such things."
"Ned," she said more firmly now, "you may not care for what happens in the south, but you should. The Vale has changed in only a few years. The Bloody Gate is being rebuilt. Roads widened. Trade expanding. These drinks you enjoy, vodka and rum, they all come from there. Even the method of making them is tightly guarded."
I frowned slightly.
"The silver mines… that town, Skyfall… everything is growing too quickly. Too perfectly," she continued.
"From what I hear, the Vale is prospering," I said.
"That is not what my father believes, nor many others. This boy has ambition and the mind to match it. He is already reaching toward the riverlands. That is why he came through the Twins. Not for convenience, but influence."
So that was it.
"When did this letter arrive?" I asked.
"This evening. Before the feast."
She turned to me fully now, taking my hands in hers.
"Promise me, Ned. Tomorrow, whatever he asks, do not agree too quickly. He has not come all this way for nothing."
"I cannot promise that," I said. "He has already done much for the North. The potatoes alone may change things for us."
"At least be cautious," she said. "And let me be present."
"That, I can agree to," I said.
POV ends
Meanwhile, outside the window, two small figures clung to the stone, feathers ruffled by the cold wind.
"You Tully bitch, how dare you insult our emperor, chirp chirp," one of the sparrows hissed, trembling with anger.
"Control yourself," the other snapped, smacking him lightly. "Do not forget the emperor's orders."
"Yes, Agent Spark," the first muttered.
"Good. Now come. This must be reported," the other said as they took flight. "We may even be promoted for this. Our standing in the FBI will rise, chirp chirp."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
~~~ The great hall of Winterfell ~~~
Artys POV
I entered the great hall of Winterfell.
The Starks were already seated, breaking their fast at the long wooden table. Lord Royce sat beside Ned Stark, already well into his meal, while Catelyn stood nearby with a few servants, making sure everything was in order and watching over the children.
Jon was there as well.
I glanced at him briefly.
So she allowed it… or Ned insisted.
"Little lord, did you sleep well?" Lord Royce asked as I approached and took the empty seat beside Ned Stark.
"You should rise earlier," he continued. "Look at the Starks, how they get up early and train, and you sleep the morning away."
For fuck's sake.
"I rose early as well, Lord Royce," I replied evenly. "I was preparing the gifts we brought."
Yesterday had not gone as planned. Too much drink. Too many fools.
I clapped once.
The doors opened, and servants entered in a line, each carrying chests, wrapped bundles, and covered trays.
They moved in order, placing everything carefully on the table.
"There was no need for this," Catelyn said, her tone polite, but not warm.
I do not think she would say the same after she sees the gifts.
"For you, Lord Stark," I said, "a shield, coated with silver and set with gems. The same for your boys, swords crafted by the finest blacksmiths of the Iron Circle. For the ladies, clothes, jewelry, and perfumes. And toys for the children."
I gestured to the piles of gifts forming up.
I had forgotten the most important one.
I waved a hand to the servant in the back, and he brought me a bottle.
"For you, Lord Stark, the latest batch of vodka. It is an exclusive edition," I said as I handed him the glass bottle.
"Mother, look at this doll," I heard the girls cry.
The Stark children had gathered around, checking the piles of gifts.
Sansa held a dress. I did not know if it would fit her.
Arya stood with Jon and Robb, examining their gifted swords.
As for their youngest, Bran, he was busy with his toy.
The miniature wheelchair and a few other things.
Catelyn barely looked at the gifts before returning to stand beside her husband.
Looks like it is time.
"Artys, you came all the way from the Vale. It should not be just to deliver gifts, right?" Catelyn began.
Here we go.
"Ah, yes, my lady. As you are aware, we are doing a lot of building in the Vale, especially the fleet, and we are running out of wood. At this pace, we would nearly strip the forests near Gulltown. I was hoping Lord Stark could grant us permission to take timber from the North for our shipyards," I said.
"How large is this fleet?" Ned asked.
"Hundreds of merchant vessels. One hundred and two war galleys for House Arryn, sixty for House Grafton, and twenty from House Royce," I replied.
Royce gave a nod, confirming my words.
"That is a considerable number of ships," Ned said. "How do you intend to transport the timber?"
"That you may leave to me. I have a way," I said.
"And the price? The taxes? From which lands?" Catelyn pressed.
"A fair price, my lady. And there is another matter. I would send a few men beyond the Wall as well, to see if additional wood may be gathered there," I added.
"Beyond the Wall?" Ned's tone sharpened. "There is no need. The North has more than enough timber. Beyond the Wall is dangerous."
"My men will not go deep," I said.
"Did you agree to this, Lord Royce?" Ned asked, ignoring me now.
This would take time.
And careful handling.
Most of the timber would come from the eastern North.
Karstark, Reed, Locke, Flint… even Bolton lands.
And Manderly.
I was not certain they would agree.
If I remembered correctly, they were building their own fleet.
---
POV ends