Chapter 2: Ch-2
The Wolfswood is one of the oldest forests on Westeros outside of the True North Beyond the wall, it has been managed, explored and exploited by the men of the north for untold generations.
But unlike the modern world this place has never been clear cut and replanted rather it has only been managed in that the amount of cutting has been monitored by the lords and their men
But you can still see the small signs of civilization that dot the forest little huts for hunting or logging cabins, the worst part was the suffocating feeling that held the entire trip as the canopy of tree kept the sky hidden for over a week till we reached the outer edges of Glover land as villages cut right out of the forest started to appear.
Then we were approached by Glovers men to escort us the rest of the way to Deepwood Motte.
Deepwood Motte is made entirely of Iron wood and at first glance made you think it was stone, the main keep sat high above the rest of the fort as the three sets of ringed wooden walls in decreasing size. (The wall just outside the keep is over six feet thick)
We moved through the fortress till we reached the main keep Galbart Glover stood there with his guards holding a tray of Salt and bread. Also Among them were some Mormont Men and Lyra Mormont, the third in line to inherit Bear Island.
Lyra looked to be maybe 14 and has long Jet Black with deep brown eyes that analyzed me and my group of men.
I dismounted my horse and gave a polite bow to the Lady and her retune and approached them. "Greetings Lady Mormont thank you and your family for fostering me And thank you Lord Glover for hosting our meeting."
Glover, a man in his 60s brought forth the bread and salt which I ate which was an oath of not breaking guest rights.
Glover nodded, "Welcome to Deepwood Motte Jon Snow and you are a clearest example of a Stark I have ever seen." He claps me on the shoulder and moves me to greet the Mormonts.
Lyra looks me over and smiles, "It's a pleasure Jon Snow." She was pretty for her age and with rather large ax at her side she was rather intimidating for her age.
Glover, clapped us both on the shoulder and gave us both a big smile one would see on a grandfather, "Come on you two let's celebrate for tonight I haven't had such young nobles since my own son was your age."
We of course followed behind him and headed to the main chamber where the glover men had already gathered and were waiting.
We moved to the lords table and Lord Glover addressed his men "Greetings all, it is not often we have need of such large feasts but today we have honored guests.
We have Lyra the Bear and Jon the Quiet wolf treat them like family and show them the hospitality of the Motte now feast!"
This was met with cheers and celebrations as pigs, goats, fish and boar were brought out for the feast and the hall was filled with cheer.
I sat beside Lyra and we spoke quietly with one another while Glover watched over us while we spoke about each other's homes and what Bear Island is like.
We spoke and eventually danced with each other while the crowd got more drunk and started shouting shield dance.
I looked confused over who rolled her eyes, "It's a thing on bear island too, the men raise their shield above their head and while they move then two people move across them trying to reach the center."
She dragged us to the stage again and watched as they moved around the hall as men, women, and children moved across the shields some fell and others made it.
But the most surprising thing was that my ability activated and the movement of the men became clear to see as they moved in random patterns.
I take a swig from my flagon of beer for bravery, "If I do this what prize do I get?" I ask her and she then gives me a look at my less than athletic form and recovering illness looks.
"Snow if you make it across both ways I'll give you a kiss." I give her a smile and slam back my beer and stand.
Taking a moment to analyze the movement of the shields and start to run along the stage a leap for a passing shield.
Glover notices my leap, "LOOK here everyone we got another challenger and it's a Stark. We haven't had the pleasure of a Stark doing the dance since Rickard Stark the Great Wolf himself!"
The men pick up speed and move in Random directions, occasionally hitting one another and clattering to the floor.
While moving the crowd cheers as I near the table and grab another beer and move to return to the stage having to drink while doing so.
Almost lost my footing near the end and had to leap one last time but I kept my drink in hand and chugged it down one last time throwing it into the crowd.
Lyra approached and had a large smile on her face pulled me down and kissed me right on the lips when she pulled back I had a dumb look on my face.
"Will make a Bear of you yet Snow." She then returned to the crowd and disappeared into it while the Glover men hooted and hollered at me making it.
The night continued on with me being more welcome among the Glover people and as the night calmed down songs were about the hero's of the past or party songs.
At this point I was quite drunk and some men were talking about my singing on the road here. I was so drunk and emotional from the kindness these people showed me I moved to the stage.
Grabbing one last drink I moved to the front of the stage, "I thank you men and women of House Glover your kindness and hospitality should be known the world over. Now I apologize in advance. I'm quite drunk."
[Longest John's Here's A Health to the Company]
Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine
Come lift up your voices all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain
For we may or might never all meet here again
Here's a health to the dear lass that I love so well
For her style and her beauty, sure none can excel
There's a smile on her countenance as she sits on my knee
There's no man in this wide world as happy as me
Here's a health to the company and one to my lass.]
As I wind down the song I raise my cup to the gathered crowd and drink one last cup and drink with the crowd.
Lord Glover comes over and stands beside me, while the crowd dissipates from the hall and heads to bed and he guides me to my chamber.
"Young man, you are quite impressive and I see you doing some impressive things in the future. But for now rest I think you will need for your journey in the morning."
With that lord Glover left me to sleep and that I was exhausted and drunk I passed out almost immediately.
———
I was lucky on my awakening I wasn't completely hung over but I didn't feel that great but I am able to make the day and a half journey to Bear Island no problem.
Most of the Glover men were fine but the Stark men who escorted me were not and would be leaving tomorrow from the looks of it, greeting the Lord and the staff I sat beside Lyra who looked quite pleased with herself.
"Good morning Lrya, when are we making way, I'm quite excited to be heading to Bear island."
"We will be setting sail in two hours time and your things should be making there way to the ship now."
We ate and talked with the Glover men and enjoyed their company till it was time to leave, lord Glover gave us a send off and a couple logs of Ironwood as a gift for Lady Mormont.
Once we were at sea Lyra asked to have a frank conversation in private, "Your Father when he requested you to be fostered said he would be sending you to my island for your protection and to help fix the island from my Uncle's mismanagement. While I like you so far Jon and you haven't done me wrong you understand my confusion as you are no older than me."
Lyra like most Notherns (Excluding the Boltons) are not known for their subterfuge abilities and spoke with purpose so I returned it kind.
"I from both my fathers and maester Luwin have an extreme ability in comprehension around metal abilities, for example the new Crossbow I developed could pierce the walls of this ship from side to side.
And to protect my knowledge and abilities I am being sent here to develop new technologies, and materials that can help the north as a whole while not allowing it to fall into Southern hands."
Lyra nodded and asked to here and see some of the technologies that I had ideas around helping Bear Island.
"To my knowledge and correct me if I am wrong you are harassed by IronBorn "rebels " and they attack everyone near the island." With her not stopping me I continued.
"The Ironborn use ships that are dated but are perfect for what they use them for quick raids and retreats, so new ships and weapons should be built and deployed to stop them.
I have some designs for a ship that is manned by a team of five sailors and two gunners to be able to sink a longship in one shot.
These designs can be increased in size and complexity to allow multi deck and cargo variants but for now the Ironborn are the problem."
I pulled out a tube from my coat as I didn't want anyone getting a look at my designs as I had already begun developing early steam powered machines and to see how far I can advance without using gun powered.
Not pulling any of those out I grab the blueprint of a ship as quickly as I can and roll it out, the ship is a Brig (Assassin's Creed Jackdaw ship).
"This is a Brig, a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square-rigged. This ship design is a dedicated warship. In this configuration it can hold 10 to 18 of my Ballista designs and in good condition go over 20 Knots.
To put it in perspective, with a Cog fully loaded takes over three weeks from White harbor to Bravos, this ship can take a much more direct route and avoid The Vale entirely.
This ship is purposely designed to defend the water of the North while also allowing much farther trade at cheaper prices."
Lyra, a girl who grew up on Bear island is quite knowledgeable about seafaring and ship design and was extremely Intrigued at the prospect of this vessel.
"How can the mast even super itself and how do you prevent the ship from flooding quicker than you can pump it?
"With Iron bands for support and a stronger skeleton of Iron, Steel and or Iron Wood will allow it to stand the tensions and pressures put on the ship from the large sails."
We continued our discussion for the rest of the journey as we picked each other brain on sailing and other nautical information to streamline the ship as much as possible.
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