Sorry, but this is a very short chapter. For people who didn't know, I have Covid-19, so this is the last of my three updates.

I don't think the next update would be soon. I will be in the hospital, hopefully things will get better for me.

Thanks for the suport.

(I will try to clean this chapter, and edit things out in the future)

Chapter 18

The North is cold and weary. The ancient land of the first man and children of the forest is a mystery too many outside of the land of the old gods. But to those who were born here. Is the familiar feeling of winter, of the cold and warmth of the people that keep the biggest of the Six Kingdoms at peace. The years have been kind to this place, with the help of secret agents of the mighty Nazarick Empire. The north has become one of the richest in the last decade.

In the last years, they have learned different ways to farm crops. Potatoes, cabbage, rice, and livestock are now abundant. They didn't need to pay a ridiculous amount of gold for food now. Something that the Reach didn't seem to like too much. In the last years, the North has remained disconnected from the rest of the Six Kingdom. Not caring about what their southernness neighbors are doing.

The last time they interacted with them was in the Greyjoy Rebellion, a quick affair, all things considered. But it truly shows that the North as a whole. Was a different kingdom, and that the warden of the north and lord paramount, Eddard Stark didn't seem all thrilled to rekindle his friendship with King Robert Baratheon. Still, hope lingers between them, especially to the King Stag.

The once proud and strong warrior of Storms End is a shadow of his former self. After the battle of the River of the bloodbones. The King Stag seems to have lost himself in his whoring and drinking. During the Greyjoy Rebellion, he found a bit of his old self, but it was not enough to bring him back. The death of his beautiful Lyanna was something he could never let go of. And the rest of the kingdoms seem to suffer because of it.

He is a lazy king, wasting his time on tourneys, and with whores. Bringing the Six Kingdoms to a ridiculous debt and disarray. And meanwhile, that could prove useful to some people who wished to take advantage of this place. For some others is not really that good.

Especially since across the Narrow Sea, the new power of this world controls Essos and more. The Empire of Nazarick is now the new world power. And the Supreme Empress is the sole ruler of the world. From the deep jungles in the south of Sothoryos. To the Summer Islands, in the Summer Sea. To the dark lands of Shadow Lands. To the bay of Whales in IB. She is the ruler of all. And her authority, unquestioned.

Never in the history of this world, there has been an empire holding this power, this magic. And it was too late for Westeros to realize that they are behind them. Far behind. Everything the empire provides is far better than anything in the world. The security and peace in Essos is something bizarre. Some people still remember the rebellions, the wars, the raids from the Dothraki. Pirates, slaves, chaos everywhere. And now there is peace and prosperity.

There are always some criminals here and there. A bit of raid in some places and some pirate still left. But those things are now few, especially when comparing to the past. The world is entering a new age and only the supreme empress. The true goddess of this world. Can decide where to go.

But in the peaceful North, they are happy and didn't care about what is going on outside of their lands. Except for one family. The Starks.

Ned is standing next to his wife, Catelyn, looking down at his son Bran. Looking rather frustrated at his lack of skill in archery. And the teasing of his siblings.

"Come on, Bran! Shoot!" A girl with a tomboy look said.

"Arya, don't push him, take your time Bran. Just relax your elbow, that's all," A girl with long dark hair, a beautiful face and stunning violet eyes said.

"He takes to long," Arya grumble.

"Hush now, just relax your bow-arm Bran," the girl said.

Bran trusted his oldest sister so he did what she told him, and surprising everyone, he hit the target. He smirked at his sister, Arya. She stuck her tongue out before taking an arrow to shoot.

"Thanks, Ally," Bran said.

"Is nothing, little brother," Allyria said with a smile.

"Now is your turn, Arya, try to beat Sansa score," Allyria teased.

"Just look, I will beat that bookworm today!" Arya said.

On the balcony, Ned and Catelyn smiled. Looking at the relationship between siblings. Allyria being the oldest of the females of the family is already a beauty to behold. Just like her mother, Ashara Stark. She took all the Dayne beauty and the gentle nature of her mother. And although she can be passive and soft-spoken. The wolf blood still runs deep, and she can easily stop her siblings from fighting, by only looking at them with those cold violet eyes. Just like her father.

"She has grown to be beautiful," Catelyn said with a smile on her face.

"She has," Ned grumble.

"Is my lord husband afraid of her daughter leaving the nest?" Catelyn teased.

"Always," Ned admitted.

"I have received a few letters asking for her hand," Ned said.

"Already? Do not let Ashara hear you," Catelyn said.

"Heard what?" A soft voice brought a shiver through the lord of Winterfell. He groaned at the sight of his beautiful wife, holding his son.

"Ashara, how is little Rickard?" Catelyn asked, watching the baby. Just a fortnight ago, he was born. And now the Stark family has grown again. Catelyn hoped that soon she will be pregnant once more. She is still young and fertile and wished to bear him a child again.

"Just like his father, he takes breast milk and sleeps," Ashara said with a big smile.

"He does that," Catelyn said.

"Like father, like son. I wonder if you will be pregnant soon again my dear Cat, pregnancy suits you," Ashara said with a smirk.

"I hope so, I love the feeling of our husband's baby growing inside of me," Catelyn said rubbing her stomach. Both ladies love to tease their husband in this way. The friendly banter between both wives brought a soft groan from the lord of Winterfell.

"Please, my ladies, have pity on your lord husband," Ned said.

"You say that now, but we can be sure that tonight things would be different," Catelyn said with a big smile.

"You both will kill me one day," both ladies only laugh.

"Lord Stark," they saw Rodrik Cassel approaching them. They change their postures quickly. Ned's face didn't show emotion or any expression at all. His cold grey eyes and his stoic face speak for himself. Both of his wives acted the way they should. Catelyn, being the first wife, had the title of Lady of Winterfell, while Ashara is the paramour of the lord of Winterfell. Legally they are both Ladies Stark, so they acted accordingly.

Catelyn didn't like to act as she was better than Ashara. In the last years, she has grown to love her more than just a companion. She loves Ashara the same way she loves Ned. And the three of them share that love, making them a team. A family. Still, it was Ashara, the one who propose this. Growing in the South and having the misfortune to visit King's Landing. She knew that people would use any way they could to take advantage of them.

They needed to learn how to defend themselves, many people would try to separate them. Or try to create a division between their family. So the only way for them to stop this is to show everyone that they are a pack. A powerful family that will protect themselves from anyone who wished them harm.

"My ladies, a rider has come from the hills. They captured a deserter from the Night Watch," the master-at-arms of Winterfell said. Ned sigh, and with just one look, he seems to have spoken to both Catelyn and Ashara.

"Get lads to settle in their horses," Ned said.

"Bran is coming too," Catelyn sighs, knowing that there is no way to stop this. Ashara smiled at her, holding her hand. Both of them knew that eventually, their children would have to witness the cruelty of this world. Winter is Coming, just like the House Stark motto say. Something big will come soon, and they need to be ready.

In the courtyard, the sound of clashing swords and the grunts of pain make for an amazing scene. As the oldest son of Lord Stark is sparring with his younger half-sibling. Named after his uncle, he is Arthur Stark. Robb and Arthur are sparring with all their strength, and while young. The second male of the Stark family is proving to inherit just more than looks from his mother's family. His hair has traces of the dark brown hair of his father. He had the same facial structure as the lord of Winterfell, but his unique eyes show the Dayne in him. They are grey with traces of violet.

In contrast, the heir of Winterfell, Robb Stark, seems to favor the Tully side of his family. With a stocky build, and blue eyes, and thick-red brown hair. He still has the Stark look on his face. Both siblings are close, just like the rest of their family. With only one year apart, they have taken the role of protectors of their younger siblings. Especially their sisters, and there is a certain rivalry in sparring between them.

"Come, little brother, do you want to lose again?" Robb teased. Arthur sneered at him.

Robb is stronger than him, but he is faster. So he used that to take him by surprise. Hitting him in the shoulder with the wooden sword. Robb didn't waste time and counter-attack. Arthur is able block the coming attack, but Robb took this opportunity to disarm him before he could do more.

"I won," Robb said with a smile, making Arthur groan.

"I will win next time," Arthur said.

"You can try, little brother," Robb said. He may not admit now, but he knows that Arthur will keep improving as he gets older. Of that, he is sure about it.

"I will tell Ally that you lost, perhaps she could teach you how to fight," Robb teased.

"Don't you dare! If you do, I will tell her you fancy her friend!" Arthur said.

"I do not fancy her friend!" Robb replied.

"Aha, sure you seem keen to meet her last time, or perhaps we should tell this to lady Stark," Arthur said with a big smile on his face. Knowing he had the upper hand.

"And I will tell lady Ashara about who stole the pork chops," while they are going back and forth. Another person interrupted them.

"Your father sends me, the caught a deserter from the night watch. They will execute him," Theon Greyjoy said, wearing that smirk on his face.

Both brothers seem to startle but keep their composure. It would not be the first time they witness an execution. Is part of their old way. Even with a new god in this world, a supreme being. That they pray on in secret. They still keep their traditions. Especially the one their father told both about. The man who passes the sentences should swing the sword.

"And your brother, Bran, is coming too," Theon said.

Both nodded at the ward of their father. The only reason their father took him was that he wanted to raise a better lord of the Iron Islands. Well, that is what they think, although they suspect that there is another reason for it. Both Robb and Arthur know the truth of their aunt Lyanna. And their cousin Jon Targaryen. They once even meet the supreme empress and bask in the power she held.

Only the oldest siblings know this, Robb, Allyria, Arthur, and Sansa. The reason is to prepare them for the future that is coming. A future with many wars, and dead. Is one of the reason why Robb, keeps traning non-stop. He knew that in the future he would have to lead armies. And make tough decisions. He will do his best to protect his family.

There is still a lot for him to learn, especially when is about the empire and the link between them.

His mother, Catelyn told him why she renounced the faith of the Seven years ago. It was when she saw what a God truly is. He understand his mother very well, Robb and his siblings saw her when they traveled to their cousin's name day. It was a secret affair. One of the supreme empress servants came and took them to that place in something they called Gate. And the rest is history.

Catelyn, like many others, took the Creed of the Sun as her new religion. Since the founding of the empire of Nazarick, things changed. The calendar changed to Before Nazarick, After Nazarick. (BN, AN) starting a new age in Essos. The religion changed too.

They call the new-founded religion, or religions, Creeds of Nazarick. The Creed of the Sun, The Creed of the Light, The Creed of the Dark, The Creed of the Star, and The Creed of War. Each one of them unique in their way, they worship the supreme one. But they have become the default religion in Essos, and beyond. In Westeros, however, the faith of the Seven seems to have a new rival. As more Westerosi seem to convert to the Creeds of Nazarick as years pass by.

For the Starks, some of them took the Creed of the Star as part of their lifestyle. Since is the creed that seems to have more connection to them. Listen to the old voice of nature, to the honor of the old. For is the way to prove one worthy of the future. Is one verse of the Bible of the Star. Written by the Supreme one herself.

"Who won?" Asked Theon, making Robb smirk.

"Me, of course, who else?" Robb said.

"How many times has he beaten you, Arthur?" Theon said, teasing the young Stark male.

"As many I have beaten you, Greyjoy," Arthur snap back.

Robb laughs, watching the sneer on Theon face, the proud heir of the Iron Island would never admit it. But he knows that Arthur is a better fighter than him. He is good with the bow, but not as good with the sword. Since he got here when he was still a boy. He wanted to hate them, to curse them. But the family of wolves shows nothing but love and patient to him. He knows that his attitude proves to be a problem sometimes, but Lord Stark is everything a young man wants to look up to. He is stern, but just; he shows care for all his children. And will scold them when necessary, teaching them what honor, loyalty, and sacrifice are all about.

Truth be told, he is jealous of them, for what he remembers of his own father. He was lost in power, who wanted to live like their ancestor. Using the Old Way to get what they want. Theon is afraid of the day when he has to choose between being a Stark, or a Greyjoy. Deep inside, perhaps he already knows what he is.

"As much I would like to see both of you beating the shit of each other, we can't make our father wait," Robb said.

As the three of them left, to see another execution, far in the south. The golden lion is fearing for the worts.

The Queen of the Six Kingdoms is looking at the funeral of the hand of the king with amusement and fear. Slowly the feeling of fear disappears when the presence of her twin brother appeared. She smiled at him, at her love. At the father of her children.

"As your brother I feel is my duty to warn you, you worry too much, it's starting to show," Jaime said.

"And you never worry about anything, when we were seven you jumped off the cliffs at Casterley Rock, 100-foot drop into the water, and you were never afraid," Cersei said.

"There was nothing to be afraid of, until you told father, Lannister's don't act like fools," Jaime mocked.

"What if Jon Arryn told anyone?" Cersei asked, worried about the truth.

"But who would he tell?" Jaime responded.

"My husband," Cersei replied with a snarky on her voice.

"If the king knew, but of our heads would be hanging from the city gate by now, whatever Jon Arryn knew or didn't know it die with him, Robert will choose a new hand of the king, someone to do his job, while he is fucking bulls and hunting whores, or is the other way around? And life will go on," Jaime said.

"You should be the hand of the king," Cersei said.

"Pff, that's an honor I can do without, their days are too long, and their lives are too short," Jaime said.

"You should be thinking about the news of the Nazarick princess," Jaime said, and immediately saw the anger in his sister's eyes.

"What about her?" She asked.

"What? Aren't you curious at all to meet her?" Jaime asked.

"To meet the daughter of this new God? Don't tell me you believe in that," Cersei said.

"I don't, but still you don't conquer an entire continent by saying lies," Jaime pointed out.

"A powerful army, that's all they have," Jaime sigh, just like many people in Westeros. They still refuse to see the danger they are in. He may not believe that the so-called Supreme Empress is a God. But he can't deny the fact that the Nazarick Empire is the current superpower in the world.

Even his father, realize that so when they heard that the eldest daughter of the empress will visit Westeros. He ordered them to know more about the royal family of the empire. The Old Lion didn't waste time to get the princess of the empire on their good side. No matter the cost.

They didn't know that the eldest daughter of the empress had other motives to visit Westeros. And that soon enough, the Six Kingdoms would bleed. The last stage of total control in the world is about to begin.