Chapter 17

Sansa Stark

I was born into a new kingdom; that's what our scholar used to say. In our lessons he taught us how a chance encounter between my late Uncle Brandon and Lord Gryffindor changed the North completely. The changes flowed from London to all corners of the North. Both the nobles and smallfolk have better lives now.

The university was an idea that was greeted with distrust at best initially but now it's rare for a noble house not to send their children to Oxford. I have to admit I am envious of my brothers who can travel and study at other universities with the exchange program.

My time at Oxford was very enjoyable. I met and made friends with many girls from many families. We had the option of selecting some of the subjects we can study. We had mandatory classes such as history, geography, languages, numbers and bookkeeping. We could add some fun subjects such as music, cookery, healing and even some weapon and self-defense. I joined the self-defense class and can wield daggers reasonably well.

My mother was always fighting with father about how we are being raised. She wanted us to be taught by the maester and a septa. But father refused and we were taught by a scholar from Oxford. She wanted us to learn about the Seven for which father agreed on the condition that we are free to choose which gods to follow. When I was young the stories of the seven and the scripture fascinated me. However I came to understand the old gods and their power as it is evident in our daily life. How can you ignore the presence of Old Gods in front of a heart tree. Regardless how much my mother tried, no one of us followed the Seven.

When I heard that I was to be married to the Bolton heir, I was not delighted. I have met him and spoken to him briefly. He is a handsome man and skilled enough to become a student of Lord Harold who had not taken anyone else personally as his student. Despite all what Domeric accomplished, Bolton name doesn't have a good reputation.

Lord Harold visited Winterfell and assured me that Domeric is a fine young man and will be a fine and honorable husband. He will be visiting for few weeks so that we can get to know each other. My father assured that I will not be getting married for at least a year.

Bran Stark

Sansa told me that I used to wake up screaming many nights when I was small. My father sent for Lord Lucas as he is the Chief Healer of London. He tried many types of medicine but none of them worked. Then Lord Harold gave me a bracelet blessed by the old gods and carved many runes in my room and bed. Since then I never had any bad dream. In fact, I did not have any dreams at all.

Two years ago, just after I turned 8 name days, I have become a lord of my own. It all started when Skagosi men started attacking ships and shores of the mainland. Technically Skagos is a part of the North but they were usually left alone. One thing led to another and at the end, it ended with an invasion of the Island.

They were truly savages. More than 80% of Skagosi died in battle. Most of the women fought to death as well. My father decided to re-populate the island. 1000 men, women and children were chosen to move to Skagos. Last year more than 500 from mountain clans of the Vale moved there as well. The island didn't have many structures, to begin with. Skagosi usually lived in caves. Uros Umber was made the Steward until I am ready. The scholar for the island was a man from House Tallhart.

The island is mountainous with a dangerous shore. You need to be a skilled sailor and should know the safe passages to travel safely. A few months ago, Robb traveled to the island with me and some men from Gryffindor clan. They did some kind of a ritual with Weirwood trees and Old Gods. I was told that I will learn from them when I am old enough. I can't wait to start my studies at Oxford next year.

Robb assured me that the Gods will bless the island and soon the climate will be pleasant enough and that the land will become arable over the next 4-5 years. Then a slow and steady migration to the island started. The biggest surprise was the return of the company of the Rose.

They are a sell Sword Company started by men and women who chose to exile themselves than bending the knee to Aegon Targaryen. For some reason they decided to return and settle in Skagos. My father and the Lords of the North were more than happy to welcome them. Many noble houses welcomed decedents of their ancestors. They swore their allegiance to my father and me. They increased the population of the island by 5000 as the whole families moved in. The leader of the Company, Moses Ryswell was made the Master at Arms for the Island.

Scholar Tallhart with input from Robb designed a small Keep for me. It is designed in a way that it can be extended in the future. As there is no hurry, it will be completed in 2-3 years.

Everything was going perfect until Ser Wylis Manderly came for a visit.

Robb Stark

I was home at Winterfell on a short break from my studies. I came to attend the Lord's council that changed a lot of things for my family. Lord Harold told me beforehand what he is planning to propose and asked if I am agreeable for a marriage between myself and his daughter. I barely concealed the glee as I nod in my acceptance.

I had a crush on Luna for years but did not even try to show that to her because of the fear of Lord Harold. Now I am learning the Magical Arts, I know how dangerous he is. Luna doesn't look like his father at all. She is a splitting image of her late mother with pale Skin, blonde hair and sky blue eyes. She is a beautiful girl that often visits my dreams.

Gryffindor women are unlike your average noble lady. They are fierce and strong. I have seen her with the staff and I am not confident that I can beat her in a staff combat. I am sure she is not going to be a typical lady who believed the ultimate job of a women is to let her husband fuck her and spit out children. I can imagine how well my mother and she is going to get along !

Despite all, I am very happy that I am marrying her. I had the chance to have a talk with her after the announcement of the betrothal. She assured me the proposal came after she gave her consent and she is quite happy to be married to me. Then she threatened that if I ever break my marriage Vow, she will cut my balls and wear them as earrings.

I am not sure why the threat made her more attractive. I must be a closet masochist.

The usual day to day life was disturbed by the arrival of Ser Wylis, the heir of White Harbor. My father requested my presence for the discussion.

Ser Wylis requested that we accept the hand of his daughter for Bran. We were little surprised as Bran is still just 10 years old.

"What do you think Robb ?" My father asked once Ser Wylis retired for the night.

"It's a little too early to arrange a marriage for Bran father."

"I agree. But it's not a bad proposal. They are powerful and rich and have been loyal to us for thousand years and they have married Starks few times."

"Make it unofficial then. I am sure there will be other proposals despite the age as all of us except for Rickon and Bran is betrothed. If we have the unofficial arrangement, it is easy to reject other proposals."

"Very well. Now how are we going to explain and convince Bran ?"

The only thing I could do was sighing.

Luna Gryffindor

As far as suitors go, Robb Stark was one of the finest. He is a full magical with an active magical core which means the chance of our children born as passive magicals is almost null. As a stark, he is as honorable as his father. On top of that he is a fine swordsman and a handsome man. The dual marriages of me and Diane will be held at London in 2 months' time. That was also an excuse for all the clones in Westeros to meet and discuss the future of the Westeros.

A week before the Weddings – Harold Gryffindor

The double wedding was the largest gathering of the Gryffindor clan so far. And the clashes of ideas to be expected. The most important and widely discussed topic was the future of Westeros.

"The whoremonger will die soon enough. If not his wife will put him out of his misery very soon I am sure." Charles declared.

"I can't deny that. As disgusting as he is, he is the only thing that holds the seven kingdoms together. Him and the Arryn. And Arryn is not getting any younger either." I added my thoughts.

"His son is a Royal piece of shit. Tywin Lannister will be the real king when Jeffery becomes the king." Cedric said.

"What do you think the North will do ?" I asked Chris.

"We will most likely declare independence. No one talks about it in open but that is the general feeling. Lord Stark is aware of it. As reluctant as he is, I am certain he will agree when the time comes."

"I will do the same." I said after few moments silence. "When the time is right, I will declare the independence of the Iron Islands."

"Lannisters will not let it go easily." Rowena said.

"There is nothing they can really do." I replied.

"Tully will join the Lannisters just because he hates us." Rowena said. "Then we will be in trouble."

"We are not going to let you defend yourself on your own Rowena. Do not worry." Chris told her.

"How many men we can gather if needed ?" I asked. "Iron Island can call 10,000 foot soldiers and Cavalry."

"London can call 6000." Chris answered.

"Longbridge and SeaGuard can call 8,000."

Marsh Port, Kraken Port and Plymouth can call 1500 each I was told. Madrid and Lisbon can call 4000 together. The Griffin Island can send another 1000.

"That means we can collectively call 30-35,000." I said.

"Alright this is what we will do. We will create 6 battle groups and 6 fleets. We will prepare one each for Reach, StormLands, Vale, Westerlands, Croundlands and Riverlands. Let's be ready for anything."

So we made plans. The future is uncertain but we were sure that we will survive.

"What about Aegon ?" Will he want to grab the opportunity and return ? Liam asked.

"I don't know for sure. According to Oberyn, he is not really interested in getting out of his comfortable life in Volantis. What about Jon?" i asked Orion.

"He is not going to fight for it. He does not want anyone to know who his real father is." Orian answered.

"Very well lets wait and see how things play out. How are the preparations for the guest from the far north?"

Couple of years ago we learned that the Others are coming back. The winter is truly coming. We started making preparations.

"We have a dragon glass million arrows and 50,000 swords prepared. We achieved the target just few days ago." Matt the person in charge of the preparations told us.

"That's good."

We experimented and found out that dragon glass can affect white walkers greatly. I have spent few years learning necromancy as I am the master of the death. I was able to develop a rune cluster that can severe the connection between the animated corpse and the necromancer. The runes will be carved on the swords and the arrow heads.

"What about the free folks ?" Lily Asked.

Free folks are another problem we are trying to get rid of. We have been evacuating some tribes who can be reasoned with. They are moved to another island we have discovered. The island was named Sanctum, located south of Occasus and it is twice the size of Griffin Island. Over the years we have moved close to 25,000 free folks. We are planning to talk to the so called king beyond the wall to evacuate majority of the remaining free folks as well. This way we will have fewer white walkers to deal with.

"Initial talks with Mance Raider was successful. A team of representatives were taken to Sanctum to check it out."

"Let's hope all goes well."

….

The double wedding was as grand as it can be. It is as lavish as any southern wedding. Nobles from all over the westeros came including Jon Arryn which surprised almost everyone except me and few others.

"You have come a long way Harold." Lord Arryn commented as he was relaxing after one of the pre-wedding feasts. We were at one of the balconies of Moat Cailin overlooking the vast paddy fields.

"Indeed I have Lord Hand. It is all thanks to the blessings of the Old Gods."

"I am not sure if the Gods have anything to do with it." He comented.

"I wasn't really expecting You to attend the wedding Lord Hand. It is a long way to travel for."

"I admit I have another reason for this visit."

"Indeed ?"

"I know you are not much into the whole diplomacy, politics and the game of thrones Harold so I will come to the point."

"That will be appreciated, my Lord."

"The crown is in huge debt to the Iron bank, the lannisters, Tyrells and even to some trade guilds."

"How much in debt?"

"6 million dragons. Half of it to the Iron Bank and they are asking us to pay half of it right now and the rest of it within a year."

"That's a lot of gold."

"It is. I do not want to ask from Lannisters or Tyrells."

"and you are asking me." I sad internally doing a victory dance.

"Regardless of the problems you had with Robert in the past, I know you will not want the Lannisters to gain more power at the capital."

"That is true. So you are asking me to cover the Iron Bank debt ?" I asked to clarify.

"Yes."

"3 million is a lot of gold as we have expanded and made a lot of investments in Essos. I can however get the Iron Bank to transfer the loan to me. But that will not come free Lord hand."

"I knew that much. What is your demand ?"

"Harrenhall."

"That's a lot to ask for what you are offering."

"True. That's why I am offering to pay the Tyrell and the trade guilds Loan as well. This is my final offer Lord Arryn. Harenhall has a lot of land but the castle is useless. I have to build a complete new castle."

"Very well. I will discuss this with Robert and will let you know the result."

What he didn't know was that it was I who planned the whole thing. The iron bank was ok to demand the loan to be paid for a bribe of one million dragons. Lady Whent of Harrenhall was happy to run away with her boytoy to Bravos with the generous amount of gold I gave her leaving the ghost infected castle.

I am sure soon I will own the vast holdings of Harrenhall. I am already planning a large castle on the shore of the god's eye.

As for the Tywin Lannister, he will not be able to loan any money to anyone anytime soon as he just paid 2 million dragons to obtain their Valyrian steel sword 'Brightroar.'