A/N This will be my first Game of Thrones fanfiction story, can't wait to start, I hope that you all enjoy. I don't know how long this story will be but, I have most of it planned out. Hey everyone I am rewriting allot of the chapters of the Story because I am not really satisfied with how it turned out and hope too make the reading of the story better.

I DO NOT OWN GAME OF THRONES

Chapter 1:

Prologue

256 AC

'My Father is dead,' Rickard thought, the funeral had just ended with Edwyle Stark being buried in the crypts of Winterfell with his forebears, all the lords had come for the funeral, and to reswear their oaths of loyalty to the Stark in Winterfell. But now he wanted to be alone, he was twenty five and now was Warden to the largest of the seven kingdoms and sat on the Throne of Winter; the seat of the ancient Stark kings and Warden's of the North. Rickard walked the lonely steps too his fathers, no his solar now, and then entered the room high in Winterfell's Great Keep.

Rickard then had a thought, "What had the North accomplished?" They had ruled the North as the King's of Winter for eight thousand years and for what, Brandon the Shipwright had built a mighty navy with the vast wealth that Kings of Winter of old possessed. Then sailed across the Sunset Sea never to be seen again, and Brandon the Burner destroyed the mighty navy of the North and they hadn't had a fleet since.

'The North has fallen since its days of glory, Moat Callin the greatest fortress of the First Men is a broken ruin, the Broken Tower at Winterfell has been lying burnt for decades, the Gift and New Gift were little more than wild territory eating up much of the North's land. What happened,' Rickard thought going through the records, before Aegon the North had enjoyed long years of peace with the tribes beyond the wall, peaceful trade was made with them, their wealth was unrivaled, massive armies could be called to fend off attacks from the south.

The King's of Winter had once wielded enormous influence in the North, holding vast riches from their great trade links with Essos and Beyond the Wall from the city of Hardhome. Which had mysteriously burned in a great fire seven years before Aegon landed. The fire cost the North ten thousand lives and Torrhen Stark's father, and caused the spark of war to reignite.

Great fishing and trade fleets were once commanded by the Stark's of Winterfell. They survived for eight thousand years without the south from their trade. 'And now they are gone,' Rickard thought.

'Then Aegon came,' Rickard thought. He brought fire and death to all that opposed him and destroyed what threatened him. "The strength of the North must have frightened him,' Rickard reasoned as looking at the old records he saw a great fall in the wealth of the North after their last king bent the knee. The records stated that Aegon had forbidden the North from trading with Essos and even beyond the wall.

Their great fishing and trade fleets were attacked by pirates and sellsails with increasing frequency. Crops mysteriously burned in their fields, men starved, and within a generation the great wealth of House Stark was no more... The great vaults hidden in the crypts empty...

'An entire great nation brought low,' Rickard thought. Aegon preached the Targaryen's might and their efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the Westeros. Intentionally or not Aegon had caused the great loss in the North's wealth and food.

Aegon had taken what made the North strong and forced the heavy chains of the south upon them. It forced the North into wars like the Dornish conquests and the Dance of Dragons to regain the all important trade; Queen Rhaenyra had sworn to remove restrictions on the North's trade. Unfortunately for the North, she had died during the war and her son Aegon the third had refused to lift the restrictions. Forcing the North to buy crops from the Reach at extremely high prices after the new gift; the most fertile lands of the North were given to the Nights Watch.

They were lured into war with promises, promises that were never kept.

Now they merely survived winter, that was the sole focus of the North, when winter ended preparations began for the next winter. That was why the words of the Stark's were what they were, not boastful of that houses achievements or silently threatening their enemies, it was a simple warning, an inevitable truth, that you must be prepared. That in mind, Rickard set to work laying the return of the great kingdom of the North...

The first thing Rickard did was travel to King's Landing to bring the plight of the North to King Aegon V. Detailing in great length the harm that Aegon the Conqueror had brought to the smallfolk of the North with his restrictions.

He had known that King Aegon would not allow the smallfolk to suffer as he had many times attempted to make their lives better and had sent massive amounts of grain North to feed the starving families of the North.

Rickard was not disappointed many of Aegon's century old restrictions were overturned and he set to work reestablishing trade. There were vast tracts of wood stretching for over a hundred miles in the Wolfswood, and so Rickard brokered a trade deal with Braavos which needed wood for it's ever growing fleets. To make the transport of the wood faster from the Wolfswood to White Harbor, Rickard began the construction of the Great Wolfs Road. It ran from Sea Dragon Point to the White Knife via Winterfell.

Soon after Aegon the V was killed in the tragedy of Summerhall. Rickard had raised a cup to his memory but was glad that many of the declarations the Aegon had made for the North were quickly forgotten by the south after all who in the south would care for the North?

Rickard build a port near Winterfell were the wood was loaded onto river barges and sent down the White Knife to where the Manderlys and their trade fleet was waiting. A small town quickly sprung up by the port on the White Knife.

Rickard ordered the construction of a keep on the north side of the river that bisected the Rill's and the Stony Shore. A small port and shipwright were constructed to moor the small fishing fleet. The Great Sea Road was built all the way to Sea Dragon Point were it met the Great Wolf Road.

Knowing the North would soon need many more people living there to make sure that these projects could progress, Rickard sent men down the Neck to find the communities of First Men that still lived bellow the Neck and offered them a place in the North. Many, tired of the constant attempts by wandering Septon's to make them convert to the Faith of the Seven that are One, went North for a new life bringing their families with them. He settled them all through the North.

Rickard knew that food would be a problem when winter came even with the food from fish, and used farming experts from the Reach, Essos and Yi-Ti to increase the yield of crops grown on the fertile lands of the Karstarks.

In the Rills Rickard ordered the construction of large irrigation works from Ironwood creating a large and fertile fields which became large producers of crops. In addition Rickard lent money to the Ryswell's allowing them to expand their industry of breeding horses to increase the number of heavy cavalry the North could call in times of battle.

But even then he knew that they would need a new source of food; for a long time rumors had come from the fishermen of Bear Island of great horned beast living on the Frozen Shore of the Bay of Ice.

And so Rickard led an expedition north and discovered great herds of Horned Cattle, holding long thick fur that allowed them to survive the extreme cold. Knowing their value Rickard ordered the capture of three herds of these cows and brought thousands back to the vast grazing fields of the Winterlands.

These projects brought gold into the North and with this gold Rickard used a good portion to hire experts in mining, farming, building, and many other fields to launch the first great survey of the North, to find what could be mined where, and what could be grown there, what was the best way to build a city where the temporary Wintertown stood by Winterport on the banks of the White Knife.

This brought experts from as far as Yi-Ti to the North, in addition their were miners from the Westerlands, farmers from the Reach and Essos.

The survey took five years to complete, and during that time, Rickard focused on other things, such as fostering good relations with the Iron Bank, and the massive reconstruction and renovation of Winterfell. The renovation was done completely using stone from the nearby granite quarries that were built during the first year of the survey once the vast deposits of dark grey granite were discovered underneath the lands around Winterfell.

During this time Rickard married Lyarra, a cousin and the daughter of Rodrik the wandering wolf and a Flint of the Mountain Clans. And in 260 AC celebrated the birth of their first child Brandon Stark.

262 AC

Two years later with the birth of their second son Eddard Stark the great survey of the North, and renovations of Winterfell were complete. In the new great tower of Winterfell that Rickard had constructed so that it connected to his solar and the walls of the Inner Keep.

Rickard had the Carved Table constructed from boards of Ironwood so that it would survive the test of time. The great map held all the details of the North with section marked with what could be found or grown in certain area's. Cape Kraken became the vineyards of the North, the Rills were home to a new vegetable; the potato and carrots among others.

In the Neck, a city of the Crannogemen built on stilts at the tip of the leftmost part of the Green Fork, near Greywater Watch which was on the rightmost fork of the Green Fork, called Marsh city. The large rice plantations grew nearby and another city of the Crannogemen and northmen grew North of the Cape of Eagles and thrived from harvesting salt from the sea and called it Harvest.

Under Lord Quellon the Ironborn were not a danger and Rickard's attention was turned away from naval defenses on the eastern and western coast.

Silver, gold, copper, iron, tin and jewels were in abundance in the Winterlands and the Northern Mountains, and Rickard immediately began the construction of mining villages and keeps to guard the mines which were gifted to the Northern Mountain tribes.

Only a small portion of the southern mountains were scouted for mine sites and jewels and iron were found to be in much more abundance than gold. The Great Mountain Road was built from the Northern end of the mountains and connected to the King's Road.

The Great Sea Road was also extended past were it connected to the Great Wolf Road and along the sea past Deepwood Motte once the mines were secure and villages constructed and gold flowing south to Winterfell.

With the proper wealth secured Rickard began the long awaited construction of Wintercity, a great city of the North, that would not be crowded by overpopulation, were there would be no slums, and would be not a center of trade but the center of trade in the North, all of the North's trade would flow through Wintercity and by extension Winterfell.

Flint's Finger became a trade center for the hearty northern spices that grew along Cape Kraken and the orchards of apples, berries, and grapes. All warmed by the waters and warm winds of the Sunset Sea.

Many of the builders that had aided the survey of the North had stayed and found lives planning Wintercity. Four years of planning the city, it's defenses it residencies and all aspects of it took place before construction even began.

278 AC

Winterfell

Ned sat on his horse and looked out on the home that he had not laid eyes on for nigh of nine years, even from a distance he could see that much had changed in Winterfell and the lands around it, "Is it always this bloody cold?" Robert complains.

Pulled from his nostalgia he looked to his left where the heir to Storm's End sat beside him, behind them was a group of soldiers from White Harbor that had been sent to escort them. Ned looked at Robert and grinned, "You think this is cold?" Ned says having been born in the north he barely felt the cold, "Just wait until winter comes."

"It's not winter already?" Robert demands, pulling the furs that he had wrapped himself in closer.

"Not even close, here in the North, this is what we call summer." Ned said.

"Fuck, you northern shits are tougher than I thought," Robert said grinning at Robert.

"It's one of the thing that makes the north the hardest of the Seven Kingdoms to conquer, one taste of the real cold, and all you prissy southern knights will all go running back down the neck in your fancy armor," Ned says, "Now, are you ready to see the home of this northern shit," Ned said, poking fun at Robert.

Robert just grins before spurring his horse onwards.

The ancient keep commanded the lands it watched over. Ned could almost feel all the years and winter's that the ancient keep had withstood. It's towers rising high

"Ned!" Someone yells before Ned fells himself nearly knocked off his horse.

"Lyanna," Ned said pulling his sister into a huge hug, "It's so good to see you."

Lyanna smiles then launches a barrage of questions, demanding to know about his time in the Vale, if he missed her and what he thought of Wintercity, all while Robert looks on in amusement.

"That's enough for now Lya," A voice calls, Ned turns to see his father and brothers walking towards them. Ned and Robert dismounted and Ned walked to his father before bowing from the waist.

"Rise," Rickard Stark says, Ned comes out of his bow before embracing his father and then his brothers. "Lord Baratheon," Rickard says shacking Roberts hand, "A servant will escort you to your chambers," Robert nods his thanks before walking towards his room in the Great Keep. "Come my son, I'm sure that you will want to here the changes that the North has seen in the nine years you've been gone. Brandon, I believe that you have ravens to send, and Benjen, you have your lessons with the Maester. You can catch up during the feast to celebrate Eddard's return." Rickard prompts.

"Yes. See you later little brother," Brandon says.

"Bye," Benjen says before entering the inner keep and walking towards the Maester's tower.

Rickard gestures towards the godswood, "Shall we talk in the Godswood?" Rickard asks.

Ned nodded to his father. He had always enjoyed the unexplained peace that was brought by the ancient tree's and the bone white bark and red eye's of the Weirwood tree's. The tree's that First Men had worshiped since the pact over ten thousand years ago.

Rickard began to tell Ned about Winterfell's new glass gardens, that were expanded while Ned was away. "Where did you get all the glass?" Ned asks.

"Myr, we have begun increasing our relations with the Free Cities of Essos, as well as our holdings overseas, we now own several merchant guilds based in White harbor with branches in Essos and Pentos at present.

Our good relations with the Iron Bank of Braavos allows us money and supplies, as well as increased trade between the North and Braavos. It is always good to have the Iron Bank on your side, if worse comes to worse." Rickard said.

"As you know son, Aegon imposed many restrictions on the North's trade in Essos and beyond the wall. I know know that he saw our wealth from this trade as a threat. Aegon's family planned the conquest for a generation before the conquest, they knew what made each kingdom strong and which could not be controlled. Like the North; we were simply to different, different faith, and different way of living. The southern kings had their extravagance and we had our simplicity and strength from the loyalty of our lords." Rickard said.

"How do you know this?" Ned asked in shock.

Rickard turned to look at his son, "Aegon the V told me and allowed me to see the records of their efforts against us when I pleaded with Aegon the V for our smallfolk."

Eddard shock his head in shock, "They left thousands to die in winter without a care."

Rickard nodded gravely, "This is why we must make alliances to prevent this form occurring again. Integrate with the south quickly before Aerys in his madness can act to return to the ways his ancestors used on the North."

"Aren't you worried that some like Tywin Lannister will move against you? Jon Arryn told me of his efforts to tie his blood to the Iron Throne trough his daughter Cersei, if he see's a threat in us he will attack," Ned said.

"We then appeal to the king, he has begun acting against Tywin's actions as his hand and mistrusts him. If we convince him that Tywin acts against him he will act to keep the North safe." Rickard said.

"Aye. What has changed in the North while I have been gone?" Ned asked.

Rickard took a long pause before answering, "You know many of the changes already my son, the irrigation works in the Rills grow wheat, potatoes, carrots and many of the other crops on level of crops from the Reach. The horned cattle have settled well in the Winterlands, and are being dispersed through the North. There is even talk of using them for transportation along the roads." Rickard said.

"Aye, the stone roads made our journey shorter," Ned said.

Rickard smiled, "All the roads throughout the North are stone now and all trade passes through Wintercity. Towns have been populated in the Northern Mountains even though the tribes are still nomadic in the summers. The Iron and jewels of the mountains have come through Wintercity and many master jewel and weaponsmiths have made their home there." Rickard said.

"The Manderlys have expanded their silver mines and found vast silver fields under the Sheepshead Hills on the Broken Branch. In the Winterlands our granite quarries are producing well and we have even discovered veins of jewels and gold nearby so we will have our own mines to fill our treasury," Rickard said.

"Here in Winterfell we have expanded the library and made the inner keep into a singular building with several large courtyards for training and other things. The Great Hall can now seat a thousand men and has five hearths. The Maester's tower has also been expanded as well as the ravenery." Rickard said.

"What about the horned cattle, we saw many herds along the road," Ned asked.

"Aye, they have thrived in our lands, growing in size. Traders are using them to pull carts of goods. I plan on expanding on this and using them to pull supplies for our armies if needed. Their hair is being turned into wool that is very much valued for its strength and durability," Rickard said.

"Tying ourselves to the south will gain us allies that we will need to secure trading and other ventures," Rickard said.

They left the Godswood and together they walked to the crypts, "I have had the workers repairing the crypts, and we discovered that they go much deeper and further than we previously thought," Rickard says, as they walk towards the crypt entrance which was now inside one of the extensions of the great keep and more secure that before.

Ned and his father light a pair of torches and then begin to walk down a flight of stairs and into the crypts, the first level contained only the lords of Winterfell which mean that only Stark lords from three hundred years past were buried there, they walked along the corridor before coming to a stop just before the stairs that lead to a lower level; this statue was different, it showed a Stark kneeling and offering up his crown, "Torrhen Stark, 'the king who knelt'," Rickard said. "How does it make you feel?"

"Torrhen was wise, he knew that he couldn't beat the dragons, and he knew that a king must do what is best for his people, even if they don't like his choices, better to live, the Stark's still rule the North in all but name, and even though we bow to the South, our bannermen are loyal to us." Ned said.

Rickard nods in approval of his son, "And what of his brother, Brandon Snow, he left the North because he couldn't bear to see the results of Torrhen's choice. He went on to form the company of the Rose, with other northerners that chose exile."

"The Stark's ruled the North for eight thousand years, a change like like, there would have to be many that disagreed with it." Ned says. "And they chose to leave and vow never to return until the Stark's ruled once more as the Kings of the North and Kings of Winter. They made their choice, and lived with it."

"Aye, and perhaps in time those days will return. I doubt I will live to see it though," Rickard said full of hope as they descend once more.

"How far do these tombs extend?" Ned asks, amassed at the many tunnels.

"From our estimates they extend under the Godswood and there is even an exit from the crypts hidden there. The vaults of Winterfell are on the second level," Rickard said.

Before Ned could say anything they descended down to the fourth level before they come to a stop and the first tomb, "Bran the Builder," Rickard says, "The father of our house, the builder of Winterfell and the Wall."

"So he lies here after all," Ned says.

"Yes, the fourth level of the crypts were partially collapsed, I had them repaired, and we found his tomb. Many runes were carved in the walls, and many were not effected by the collapse fortunately. I have had the runes transcribed and we are trying to translate them but haven't had much success yet. The language is ancient and we have little basis for understanding," Rickard said, "We haven't found Brandon's father though, Brandon the Bloody Blade," Rickard said.

"I brought you down here to show you that our history runs as deep into the North, and our history is long and is one of strength, because for as long as there has been Winterfell, there has always been a Stark there." Rickard says, "For the North, the Stark line must continue, which is why is has come time for you to take a wife. That is why you have returned from the Vale," Rickard continues as they begin to walk to the exit of the crypt.

"But who would wish to marry a second son, one who will inherit nothing?" Ned asks.

"You will not have nothing," Rickard says, "You will be Lord of Moat Callin, it's reconstruction is already underway, and you will rule there as your brothers vassal and create a cadet branch of house Stark."

"I am honored Father, but why Moat Callin, it has been abandoned for centuries," Ned says.

"Aye it has, but with the king's sanity shrinking everyday, I fear for our people, and I will not be caught off guard. Tywin Lannister may see us as a threat and attempt to place a new warden of the North in our place. So the causeway and the passage into the North must be secure," Rickard said severely.

Ned nods his head in agreement, "Who have you chosen for me?"

"Lady Ashara Dayne of Starfall, I hear that she is a kind woman, only a few years older than yourself, and a great beauty from what I heard. It will also open trade with the Stony Dornish" Rickard said.

"I would like to meat her," Ned says.

"You shall, the reconstruction of the Moat will take over five years, and in the meantime you will stay at Winterfell, with your family, and then move to the Moat, where you will command a strong seat." Rickard tells his son.

"When will the wedding be?" Ned asks.

"I will write to Lord Dayne, and he will come North with his daughter and they will stay for the wedding, and then depart." Rickard says, "I am sorry but this must go ahead."

"Yes father," Ned says.

"Thank you, my son," Rickard says, "Now, come, your rooms are as you left them, and you need to bath, you smell from the road," His father teased.

"Are the hotsprings as they were?" Ned asked.

"No I had some of them incorporated into bathhouses in the Inner and Outer Keeps, but there are some that are still open in the Godswood." Rickard tells him, "Be sure to spend time with your siblings."

"Yes father." Ned says.

"Oh, and do try to keep your friend out of trouble," Rickard says, Ned just grinned knowing that Robert would probably get into trouble anyways.

"Goodnight Father." Ned says before entering the great keep.

"Goodnight son," Rickard says to the starry sky.

278 AC

Winterfell, several months later

Ned couldn't believe how much had happened in just a few months, he had returned to a much different Winterfell, with Wintercity build around them. He had reunited with his siblings, and begun to learn his duties as the future lord of Moat Callin. He remembered telling stories with his siblings of the Vale, while they told him about the adventures they had in the North. He had inspected the multiple forts of the Wolfsguard in Wintercity.

He had seen the craved table in the Window Tower, and the other three great towers that were constructed during the renovation of Winterfell. His father had instructed him on being a lord and he and Brandon were having lessons together. Rickard also planned a great fishing port and city on the east cost and chose New Gift and begun construction. It would be Benjen's seat when he came of age and Benjen quickly joined Ned and Brandon in their lessons.

The builders the Rickard hired from Pentos, Braavos, and Volantis for the great survey of the North had stayed to form the guild of builders based in the city.

Robert had been happy for Ned when he heard that he was engaged, but soon after he was forced to return to Storm's End after his parents were killed in a storm of the coast of Shipbreaker Bay and he was forced to leave before the wedding and go to King's Landing to pledge fealty to King Aerys and then return to Storm's End and take up his duties as the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, as well as take care of his younger brothers.

Ned had meet his intended as soon as she arrived and was quite taken with her. Her kindness, beauty, gentleness.

Now he stood before the heart tree in Winterfell's Godswood, beside him stood his bride, Lady Ashara Dayne of Starfall, the words were said, and they were now husband and wife.

After the ceremony they all preceded to the Great hall for a feast before the Bedding ceremony. He was surprised at the turnout, he wouldn't have thought that many lords would come for the wedding of the second son of the Lord of Winterfell, but the Greatjon, the Karstarks and the Manderlys as well as a few other minor lords, but the Bolton's were nowhere to be seen, and for that, Ned was glad.

The Greatjon began banging his mug on the table before loudly declaring, "Time for the bedding ceremony," He calls as the other northern lords took up the call, "Bed, Bed, Bed."

Before they could reach them, Ned with Ahsara's permission picked her up before rushing out of the room to the chamber where they were expected to consummate their marriage.

Ashara stood next to him as he quickly closed the door to their chambers, Ashara gave him and encouraging smile as they began to undress, before long Ashara lay naked before him, Ned shed the last of his clothing and Ashara beckoned him to come closer, and come closer he did. Soon they were locked in a heated embrace and before long the consummated the marriage.

Winterfell, nine months later

Ned could hear the screams from his wife's chambers, Ned cringed as yet another scream of pain came from her chambers, Ned hoped that this was almost over, it hurt him to hear his wife in such pain, suddenly the door opened and the Maester appeared, he beckoned Ned into the room without a word, Ashara lay on the bed with a small bundle in her arms, "Your son, Lord Stark," she said handing him to Ned. He was so small and delicate he was scared that he would drop him. The baby opened his eyes revealing bright violet irises, while he could see the Stark in the boy, in his face, and his hair.

Ned goes to sit on the bed next to Ashara and the baby tries to grab Ned's fingers, "This one has a strong grip," He said to Ashara, "He has my eyes Ash. His name is Jon." Ned decides as he smiles at his lovely wife.

"Good," Ashara whispered, "Let me hold him," She says, slowly rocking her son, "I'm dying Ned," She whispers.

"No you can't, our son, Jon..."

"He has you Ned, love him, don't blame him... Love him... For me..." She whispers and her vision finally goes black.

Brandon and Rickard enter the birthing room to find Ned holding his son while he cries for his wife, as she lay beside him unmoving. Brandon takes his nephew in his hands as Rickard embraces his son.

To be continued...

Authors Note

Right so I know that a lot of you will hate me for killing Ashara, but it had to be done. I need that whole Cat hates Jon theme for this story as she will hate him because he will inherit Winterfell after Brandon's death. Besides I really hate Catelyn, I think she is a total bitch, because of her the War of the Five Kings started, and she released Jamie Lannister, and negotiated that deal with the Frey's. Fuck you Cat.

Also hope you like my new take on why the North was poor, after all it made no sense that they would suddenly be poor after kneeling to Aegon. Also hope you like new additions.

Send reviews if you have questions.

Anyway, if any of you readers see any flaws in my renovations of Winterfell, or have things that you would want put in, I will see what I can do. Review and PM me, all questions and comments are welcome and I will answer them in the authors note if you ask them, so please do. But if you really hate this story, just keep it to yourself.

Here are a few of the thing you can expect in the next few chapters, Chapter 2: The tourney at Harrenhal, Chapter 3: Roberts Rebellion, Chapter 4:?

Well enjoy and I hope that you like it.

ADDITIONAL NOTICE

I am rewriting allot of this story so it could be some time before I can post chapter eight but I will try to quickly do the editing.