Chapitre 79: Chapter 78: Northern Charm
[ Oliver POV ]
The North had its charms too, very cold, dreary, deadly, and uncomfortable charms. If this was a modern world, living here wouldn't be so bad. But in a time like this, living here sucked. Of course not for Ned and Catelyn, since their bedroom was built right above a hot spring.
I was sitting in the dining room, and was offered bread and salt and received as a guest. Then they offered me and my main soldiers a decent meal. I had another rope of over a hundred men, but I couldn't bring them into Winterfell. Instead, they went into the towns nearby to enjoy themselves.
"Lord Redhawk," Ned's voice rang through the hallway as he strode towards me with his leather cloak swishing off his shoulders and the giant valyrian sword on his back. "I welcome you to Winterfell."
He sounded serious as hell. But I didn't take it to heart, knowing how Ned can sometimes be. Political talk was way out of his broad spectrum.
"Lord Stark, it's an honor to meet you," I smiled and got up offering a handshake, which he accepted with a small smile on his face.
"My father used to say a lot about you. Mostly good things." Just like with Robert, I used the Arthur card here too. Can't let the friendship that I built into my past life end up useless. Gotta milk that for all it's worth.
"Mostly?" he asked, a small smirk making its way into his face and his eyes brightened. I chuckled along, easing the stuffy demeanor between us. Even if the joke hadn't worked, as long as I didn't back away due to awkwardness, the relationship will always improve.
I learned this in my first life, there was no need to be awkward or show just how little I liked being around others. Damn, I used to be so lonely during my younger years back then.
Once you understand that even the strongest, most intimidating, and powerful person in the world, shits and has to wipe his ass. Then the factor of nervousness completely disappears. The hardest part of any task was always starting, because when you do, then you are very likely to finish it.
Ugh, I remember the days these kinds of things used to motivate me to work harder. It was a life-changer.
"Well, father said a lot of things about you challenging him when he was drunk and how he almost lost. He always said that was the closest he had ever come to losing and since then rarely drank alcohol, and even when he did, it wasn't enough to impede his senses."
Ned chuckled, as a melancholic gaze settled in his eyes. Remembering the time when I was "drunk" as Arthur. Well, in my previous life in this world, I was known as the undefeated knight. But as Oliver, I want to be known for another thing that will put fear in my enemy's hearts.
We sat down at a table and he casually got some breakfast brought to him too. "So, why are you here then?"
Sighing, I took out a small notebook and opened it at a certain page. On it were written some of Arthur's plans.
_____
-Help the North food Situation
-Build a port in the North to connect it with Braavos to increase trade
-Make more glass gardens and sell food in the North at a low price
R + L = J
_____
Ned read it calmly and smiled at his old friend's thoughtfulness. But once his eyes landed on the last part, I immediately saw his eyes widen marginally. I acted like I didn't notice it. "Though he liked to act like the cold and unbeatable knight, father had quite the soft heart."
"Oh…" that was all he said, too shocked by what he had just read. After all, this was from my 'father' and the code, in the end, showed that he knew Jon is Rhaegar and Lyanna's son. If this were to become public knowledge, who knew where it would lead.
"Well, I was here just to complete one of his plans, he wanted to help the North's food situation and needed a port. He never usually wrote what he meant here, always just small things or even used codewords sometimes." I told him and pointed to the last part of the letter.
"I still have no idea what this means. Since it was on a page with the North's plans. Do you have any idea what it means?"
"No…" he answered absentmindedly. Ned still was a terrible liar as always. Definitely shouldn't have gone to King's Landing in canon. No wonder he got killed there.
"Well. About the port, I have a plan to make it successful enough that just the taxes from it will be able to feed the North through a ten-year winter.
I was thinking of building it close to the Widow's Watch since the Three Sisters will be the ones communicating and handling the White Harbor."
I took out a map and pointed out many different places where we could build and the advantages of each of them. "As long as it's not built close to White Harbor then it won't impede the economy with the rest."
Though I explained all of that to him clearly, and Maester Luwin was here with us. It was clear that Ned wasn't concentrating on it at all and instead just looked at the small page of the book. The revelation right now that someone else knew of the secret had unnerved him.
"Can we have this talk another time?" Asked Ned, suddenly getting up, not having even touched his food.
"Of course, Lord Stark," I nodded, but at the same time made myself seem a little uncertain why he left. Displaying to the observant Maester that I truly was not confident and that Ned might refuse.
As predicted, Maester Luwin sat down and smiled at me gently, like a kind grandpa. "Lord Stark must be distressed by it. In my eyes, this plan seems good. I am sure he will agree."
After saying that he went back and chased after Ned, probably to ask what caused his sudden change in mood. I take the small notebook and put it back in my jacket.
...
[ Ned POV ]
HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE?!!
Those thoughts raced through my head as I went back to my room. How could Arthur have figured this, and now there was a chance Oliver would too. But why didn't Arthur act or say anything back then? He and Robert were closer, and Jon was a threat to his reign as king.
I had tried so hard to hide Jon from the world. Not even my wife knew about it. Yet Arthur was able to figure it out. But, how many more people had figured it out too? Was there someone else who had this information that I didn't know about?
"My Lord, is everything alright?" Luwin, as the loyal man he was, had followed me and expressed his worries.
"Don't worry, Luwin. I was just a little sad at being reminded of my old friend." I tried to brush it off. Even though the Maester wasn't convinced by my words, he let it go and nodded, going away.
I entered my bedroom and the hot air immediately filled my nostrils and I could feel the heat traveling to my lungs. Normally such a relaxing feeling would calm me down and clear my mind, but right now, it made things even more complicated.
Just how long would it take for Arthur's son to figure it out. Like his father, he seemed to be a bright young man too and this was bound to start a war against the North if word of it got out. I still remembered just how Robert laughed at the Targaryens' babes when they were thrown in front of him after the sacking of King's Landing.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. My mind showed me, Jon, getting his head chopped off by the King's Executioner even though he wouldn't do anything like a fight for a throne. He was too kind.
Lyanna, keeping your promise has never been harder. But I will protect my nephew, no matter what.
Thoughts of having Oliver killed here in the North crossed my mind. After all, protecting the family came first.
But… I couldn't do it, no matter how hard I tried to demonize the young man in my head. He hadn't done anything wrong, and his father even kept the secret and died with it. Killing Arthur's son now would be the same as spitting on his grave after the trust he showed in me.
Suddenly the door creaked open, and my heart jumped a beat. Even though I knew that there was no danger here. I turned around and saw my wife, Catelyn, looking at me worriedly. "Luwin told me that you seem distressed. And you truly do."
I wanted to tell her so bad. But I couldn't, if she started treating Jon even a little differently now, then word of it would get out and people always seemed to assume things.
Except now, if someone who had a big mouth knew of the secret that I was too afraid to even say out loud… then the North would turn into hell. Houses like the Boltons and the Whitehills will be the first to try and come after my head. They only needed a reason to do so.
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A/N: Yes, Oliver also had a time when he was genuinely a kid and didn't know how things worked.
He also was unmotivated sometimes. Just like a normal person, he isn't someone who just woke up one day and said... yep, I am a cold guy now. Things developed along his 1st life.
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