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Chapter 21: Talks, Preparations, and Arrival
🕑 Added 2024-07-17 10:29:57 +0000 UTCWalking with Jon as we left my father's solar, I mentally prepared how to start this conversation with my brother. I wanted Jon to be my right-hand man; his character showed loyalty in the series, and I knew that growing up together and for the years ahead, our bond would be strong. He could assist me and take command when I was unavailable.
As we walked, I said, "Jon, come with me to the dungeon; we'll have our conversation there."
Jon nodded, walking calmly towards one of the most remote areas of the castle where no one else could enter except for me. My father, despite trusting me, wouldn't dare to enter the zone that had been dedicated as a breeding pit. The rest of Winterfell's residents had orders to stay away.
When we arrived at the dungeon entrance, I greeted the guards patrolling the area.
"Arryck, Gared, I hope you're having a good day," I said with a smile.
"Lord Robb, Jon, we're well," they replied simultaneously.
Jon smiled at them; they were among the guards we trusted most, having served under our banner for over a decade. They had never shown disdain towards Jon for being a "bastard"; in fact, they were some of the most respectful towards him in the entire castle.
Jon's situation was very different from canon. After being my right-hand man for these years since we started traveling, he had earned a very good reputation throughout the North. No one dared to offend him because I stood by his side and quickly defended him whenever anyone spoke ill of him in my presence. As time passed, he became less reliant on my protection, gaining a reputation for his potential as a great warrior.
My mother and Sansa were two of the three people who found it most difficult to change their attitudes towards Jon, but the worst of all was Septa Mordane.
She harbored such a deep hatred for anything "unnatural" that I was forced to get rid of her by infecting her with an illness until she had to be sent back south. When she left, I cured her of the disease. There was no reason to kill her, so I simply ensured she left.
I think I had never seen Arya as happy as the day the septa left Winterfell, although her joy did not last long as her replacement returned. At least Septa Elenya was not as strict and much younger than the old Mordane.
It was difficult, but I managed to persuade my mother of the advantages of having a septa born in the North. Elenya grew up in an orphanage in White Harbor, one of the few areas in the North that publicly followed the Faith of the Seven. However, she grew up as a Northern resident, understanding how harsh winters were and how the Northern lords behaved and expected others to act, so she didn't hold the same disdain for many things that Septa Mordane detested with all her soul.
"Jon and I will enter the dungeon. Take a break and go eat something in the kitchen; tell them I sent you," I said, handing them a couple of silver coins.
"Understood, Lord Robb. We'll return in an hour, or sooner if you call us back," Arryck said, taking the coins with a smile.
All residents of Winterfell were loyal to the Starks, but it never hurt to give them more reasons to be happy; that's Lordship 101.
As I waited for the guards to walk away, I took the keys to the door and opened it.
"Take careful steps and follow me," I told Jon.
Taking a pair of torches, we made our way to the back of the dungeon. Jon walked carefully, occasionally jumping in surprise at the sounds coming from the darkness.
"Relax, Jon. They won't harm you," I said calmly.
When we reached the center of the dungeon, I asked Jon to stand still while I headed toward the edge of the passage, placing my torch at the bottom. I watched as the fire spread in a circle to illuminate the dungeon. One of my best inventions so far was a vast quantity of insects that secreted a flammable liquid inside their bodies which they could spit out. These insects had only two tasks: to procreate and to fill the channel with fluid to be ignited when necessary.
Jon's eyes widened in alarm. "Wha... what is this, Robb?" he asked anxiously.
"These are our house's greatest secret, Jon. They are our allies, and with them, we will overcome whoever opposes us," I said with a smile, ordering a couple of groups to approach slowly.
These groups consist of various insects—bees, ants, spiders, etc.—approached, I watched Jon closely as he tried to compose himself.
"They won't harm you, Jon," I reassured him.
"How can you be sure of that, Robb? That spider is like the ones mentioned in the library books as one of the most dangerous creatures in the North," Jon said, his breathing becoming erratic.
Noticing that Jon was not taking this revelation easily, I was as honest and concise as possible.
"Because they are under my control, Jon. And you know I would never harm you," I said sincerely.
As Jon tried to calm down, I demonstrated my control over the insects by ordering them to somersault or simply climb onto my body without harming me.
"Feeling calmer now?" I asked with a smile.
"This is amazing, Robb. What else can you do?" Jon asked, curious.
"I can do anything, Jon. My control is absolute, but that's not all. Everything they feel, see, smell, etc., I will know instantaneously," I said, closing my eyes and walking without stumbling or bumping into walls.
"That's how you always know what's happening around you, right?" Jon asked.
"Impressive, isn't it?" I smiled.
"It's amazing. Thank you for trusting me," Jon said with a slightly sad smile.
"You're my right-hand man, Jon. One of only three people who know about my power," I affirmed.
"Our father and Lady Catelyn?" Jon asked.
"Yes, Jon. No one else knows, and I trust you not to tell anyone," I said seriously.
"Don't doubt it, Robb. I would never do anything to endanger our family," Jon replied just as seriously.
"While we're here in privacy, I want us to prepare some things for when the King's Landing delegation arrives," I continued.
Two weeks later.
Everything was ready for the delegation's reception; any evidence of my involvement in the ideas that changed the North had disappeared, and all the servants knew what to talk about and what not to mention.
The dungeons where my breeding pit had been located were empty; now my insects were in the deepest part of the crypts, where no one, not even I, could access them. Moving all my insects stealthily had taken more than a week due to the large quantity I had accumulated over the years, but little by little, it had been possible to achieve.
Ten days ago, we received a raven from White Harbor mentioning that the King's Landing delegation had arrived; Lord Manderly accompanied them with thirty guards to ensure their safety on the road, and according to Maester Luwin, if there were no issues, the delegation would arrive today.
As the hours passed slowly, in the evening, there was a commotion at the entrance of Winterfell. The sound of horses approaching grew louder.
Using my power only to confirm, I noticed that the delegation and the knights from White Harbor were approaching Winterfell quickly. Standing up, I went to inform the rest of my family.
When we were all ready, we went out to the courtyard to receive them. More than fifty guards stood by our side, all dressed in full armor as a show of power.
Slowly, the caravan entered. The master-at-arms of White Harbor was the first to pass through the gates, followed by the biggest surprise I've had since I started this life. A kingsguard followed the maester at arms. Then came the litter, followed by the rest of the guards; those at the front dismounted from their horses.
A servant opened the litter's door, from which Lord Manderly emerged, somewhat forcing himself to exit through the door, followed by a person of small stature, eyes of different colors, and hair almost white, with a large forehead and head.
Suppressing my surprise at seeing that Tyrion from the series was very different from the one in front of me, I smiled beside my father.
The rest of the delegation knelt before my father, showing the respect he deserved as the Warden of the North. My smile became even more genuine when I noticed that despite the physical discomfort it caused him, Tyrion also knelt before him.
My father, taking charge, addressed the delegation.
"My lords, it is an honor to receive the representatives of King's Landing. Please, take bread and salt, and let us continue this in the warmth of the castle," he said, gesturing to some servants to start moving.
"It's an honor to see Winterfell, my Lord," Tyrion said as he stood up with a smile. "The books fail to detail how majestic it is."
As the guests finished the bread and salt ritual, I subtly investigated the rest of the delegation, but I didn't see anyone important accompanying them.
"Thank you for your words, Lord Tyrion. I believe we would say the same if we were to visit Casterly Rock," my father said with an impassive face.
"We have prepared a welcoming feast; please, join us," he continued, before turning around and heading towards the dining hall.
