Next day, Sam rode put from Tumbledown Tower and rode hard for the Winterfell. He reached there in a few hours and was greeted by his family and all the important members of the Household. His mother, grandmother, Uncle Rodrik, Uncle Ned along with his wife, Catelyn and their children, Robb, with the two pair of twins, Sansa & Lyanna and Arya & Lyarra, and Lyanna and Diana along with Rodrik and Martyn and Jory Cassel, Vayon Poole and others.
As Sam rode in Ned and his family and the members of household bowed and only his mother Barbrey and grandmother Genna remained standing as they were his parents and grandparents while Ned has already been announced a Lord of different castle which has just began its reconstruction after the completion of the Great Canal this year. Sam gestured for all of them to stand up.
"Winterfell is yours, My Lord. Welcome back to the home nephew. It's good to see you." Ned said as he has been the Stark in Winterfell for the time Sam has been away.
"It's good to see you too, Uncle." Sam said. Then his mother came and hugged who he hugged back. "I missed you to, mother." After his mother released him, he met with the children. "I have brought gifts for all of you from all over the North."
Later, Sam met with Uncle Rodrik, his mother, his grandmother, Uncle Ned and Maester Luwin in his solar to discuss all the projects like what the prospectors from Essos that were called to look into the mountains and hills of the North found, news about Uncle Benjen's journey, Ironborn raids and illegal cutting of our timber etc.
"Well, let's start it with crop production. What news do you have about it." Sam asked.
"Reports have started coming of increased produce and if the things continued as they are and we have a short winter of 2 or 3 years we will have to import nothing or too little that Riverlands alone will be able to supply us." Maester Luwin said.
"What news do we have of Uncle Benjen's voyage."
"It has almost come to an end. With the gold he keeps sending through routine trade ships, it has gone more than well. He should be coming back within a quarter to half a year. You can never tell with the sea." This time Genna answered the question, as the one most well versed in trade and coins among us, even me.
"How have the construction projects been going. Sea Dragon Point, Moat Cailin, canals connecting Long Lake and Last River, Twin Lakes and Torrhen's Lake, expansion of our ports."
"Sea Dragon Fortress and the town surrounding it is coming along nicely. Moat Cailin will take years to complete full reconstruction, after the decline it suffered in during Dragon's reign when they ordered us to abandon it, only the Gatehouse Tower is the one that needs little work, but you want to expand the Moat Cailin to be even more secure, right, so it will take around a decade, maybe less if the labour is abundant. The canals are going smoothly and will finish in a little over a couple of years." Uncle Rodrik answered
"What about the ironborn raids. I have heard reports when I was at Frosthold and Blackfort that there have been increased sightings of ironborn ships and many parts of wolfswood near the sea has been chopped. I asked you to write to Jon Arryn in my name about the possibility of a rebellion. What was his reply." As Sam asked this question everyone looked at each other.
"Nephew, we have been investigating these reports and have agreed that they are ironborn but we can't do anything. They came in small numbers a ship or two at a time during night and are able to slip past our patrols. I wrote to Jon in your name as you asked but..." Ned paused.
"But?" Sam pressed him but it was Uncle Rodrik who answered.
"But Jon Arryn dismissed them and asked you to not try to incite war in the realm. When Ned kept sending messages, in your name, I insured, he said that they are maybe some bandits or pirates who are stealing the woods and not ironborn and if you can't manage the North than maybe...maybe you should hand it over to Ned." Uncle Rodrik answered.
They all looked at Sam worried, maybe expecting him to call the banners like he did when Mad King killed his father and grandfather. Hah! All of them are wrong in judging him. Sam is not a fool to call banners against the father figure of Robert Baratheon, no kingdom other than maybe half of Riverlands, only because this half do not hear to their Lord Paramount even, will support them.
"Do you have the letter." Sam asked.
"Here" Barbrey passed the letter to him.
"Ha! ha! ha!" Sam laughed loudly after looking at the letter.
"What are you laughing at, son." Barbrey asked concerned.
"The foolishness of Jon Arryn. He used his personal seal and the Hand's seal for this letter and signed it in his name. Now when the Ironborn will rebel, and they will, there are signs out there that even a blind man can see, all the blame will fall on him and as the Hand is the top advisor and Right hand of the King, I can use this letter to draw out more concession for the North after this rebellion." Sam answered.
Hearing this everyone smiled and started laughing and praising Sam, everyone but one. So, when he spoke up everyone, other than Sam, was surprised at his words.
"Nephew, to use the words of someone like this, it is not very honourable of you. Maybe Jon Arryn is right and there may not be a rebellion ahead of us. It maybe just pirates or even if they are ironborn, they may use the wood for something else. And if you are so sure they are going to rebel, then shouldn't you inform the kingdoms on the western shore about it." Uncle Ned, yes who else will speak against something like this.
"Tell me uncle, where did you get the idea that I value honor anything more than an image to show to the smallfolk. I will use every fucking last thing that I have to gain more benefits for the North. And from where did you get the idea that they may not be ironborn, read the history once and you will know that after every war they rebelled and attacked the mainland. We have to deal with them again and again. And why will I inform the other kingdoms, other than maybe Mallisters, who are always vary of ironborn and Dayne, who command a strong fleet at Arbor and are also vary of ironborn, I care about none who have a coastline on the western shore. So, no I wouldn't tell them anything unless I gain something from it. I already did my duty by informing the King. And you will do the same." Sam said.
"Let's forget this bad business of ironborn and why don't you tell us about your journey." Barbrey said in an attempt to reduce the increasing tension in the solar. Sam understood and complied.
And so, Sam talked about his journey, what he experienced, ofcourse he didn't tell them about warging and the Green or the encounter with the Three-Eyed Raven. He just told them that he had been having the dreams for a long time and feeling an urgent need to be at the Fist. He took it as a message from Old Gods and found Earth Singers and Giants there, who agreed to bend the knee and follow him south. If it was modern world then the news would have reached them by now but that is not the case. So, their expression on hearing that the Earth Singers and Giants have bent the knee and have come south was just hilarious. But when they heard about the reaction of the Watch, Uncle Rodrik was ready to ride out and kill Qorgyle. After calming him down he told them that he will introduce the Earth Singers and Giants in the Harvest Feast and what lands Sam is planning to give to them.
After that no further warning or reports of ironborn ships were sent but Frosthold, Sea Dragon Point, Bear Island and other keeps on the west coast were asked to stay alert at all times for ironborn attack. Sea Dragon Point was the most vulnerable of them because only the walls of the town has been completed and Sam refuse to let them come inside and destroy all he has started. For that reason he position a thousand men of Winter Wolves (refer to Rise of the North) to be stationed there till the fort is completed.
This also taught Sam that he needs to teach his people more about guerrilla warfare. The Crannogmen cannot be the only one to practice it. If the people of the Wolfswood knew about guerrilla warfare than Sam would have just needed to ask Lord Black to mobilise some of his men and station them near the coast. A thousand men could have guarded the whole coast adjacent to the Wolfswood and stopped them before they could cut the trees. No worries, one step at a time.
After that Sam went to Mikken and asked him to forge an armour set for him, along with a pair of dual axes and dual short swords. Not the blunted ones but live steel. Yes, he will be joining the campaign against the ironborn. It is as good a time as any to make some name for himself.
After that Sam started planning for the defense of the North when the ironborn will attack. First task was sending thousand winter wolves to Sea Dragon Point as it is still under construction and is weak. Second, was sending Ned Stark to Moat Cailin with another thousand men because if we lost the fort than we will be completely cut off from South. Third was informing Lord Wolfe, Lord of Cape Kraken, Lord Frost and Lord Jorah Mormont, he hasn't sold the slaves yet, to shore up their defences as their lands have always been the prime target for ironborn. Barrowland, Rills and Wolfswood has never been much of a target for ironborn, since the first two have strong defences and forces and the third have people that live deep in forest, away from shore, so raiding them without inside information is useless. Ironborn are going to be surprised when they come to attack Bear Island this time. They have been able to earn a lot of gold from the ice trade and has used it well. They used it make better arms armor and horses for their warriors, increasing the number of men at arms and fortifying their keep much better.
After that, Sam started preparing for the Harvest Feast of this year. This year's Harvest Feast is going to be special because he is going to introduce the Earth Singers and Giants to all the lords. The news has already started reaching them, as Sam has been receiving letters and all were answered in the same way. All questions will be answered at the Harvest Feast. So, all the Lords are going to be hyped up about this Feast. Let's pray that everything goes well. Wither way, Sam only has to worry about two lords, Bolton and Whitehill. First is obvious and second is a Seven worshipping house that only causes problems with their conflict with Foresters.
Line Break
This year's Harvest Feast is the biggest in many years. All the lords have come, not even a single one missed the Feast, and the common point of discussion was obvious, the increase in grain production and the rumors floating around. So, after everyone have their fill, Sam stood up and addressed them.
"My Lords, I know all of you are happy with the increased grain production, congratulations on that. Soon we will no longer have to depend on the South for food in Winter and will not have to pay exorbitant amount for it." Sam said and had to stop due to the loud cheer from them.
"Now all of you may have heard many rumors by now about the Giants and Children of the Forest. Now I would like to end those rumors by saying, yes, the Children of the Forest and the Giants have bent the knee to me and are from this instant people of the North and will be treated as such. Any harm or disrespect to them will be treated as if done on my person. Now if you will come outside so that I can introduce you to them." Sam said. And started going out of the hall in the courtyard.
When the Lords followed Sam in the courtyard they were shocked to see 3 giants standing there in the courtyard. Sam had arranged them to come here during the feast, so that the surprise is not broken and he could see everyone's expression when they see them.
"I would like to introduce you to Mag Mar Tun Doh Weg. The leader of the Giants who came here south of the Wall. And now I am anointing him the Lord of all the land of the Gift which from now on will be recognised by their old name, North Reach." Sam said and all the lords cheered, Lord Umber being the loudest among them, other than Lord Bolton and Lord Whitehill but they didn't dare say anything after my warning in the Great Hall.
"And now introducing our other guest, Leaf of the Children of the Forest or as they liked to be called Earth Singers and also the Lady of the Tower in Wolfswood known as the Tumbledown Tower and its surrounding lands. Both the Giants and Earth Singers will have right to choose their own Lords and Lady from among them. Not only that but the Earth Singers would be planting many weirwood trees and carving faces in them soon." Sam said and the feast began anew in the courtyard as they Giants could not enter the keep due to their size. So, Sam has tables and chair, foods and drinks brought in the courtyard itself.
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Author's Note
The next chapter will be start of Greyjoy's Rebellion.