Bab 48: Chapter 48
At the front was the familiar face of Harry, and Eddard noticed instantly that he had grown taller since he had visited Winterfell the last time. Most importantly, there was something else about him that looked different.
Eddard couldn't exactly place what it was, but the features of his face looked sharper, more handsome, and a bit out of this world. It was extremely strange to find the right words for it.
He wasn't the only one who instantly noticed the change; everyone who had met him the last time looked for a few moments longer at his face. Especially Sansa's gaze was fixed on him, while a healthy blush appeared on her cheeks.
'Now that I think of it, a betrothal with a magic user wouldn't be too bad of an idea.' Eddard was amused by his daughters obvious infatuation. Making the fact that she was unable to even talk to him, while he was close the last time, even more amusing.
A Betrothal was only a momentary thought, this matter would have to be considered more seriously.
Also, his children were still too young to decide on betrothals. But Skagos would become very powerful in the future. From the reports he received trough passing ships, there was major construction for a port city under way.
Binding them through marriage would be a good idea.
These thoughts went to the back of his mind as a small weelhouse entered behind Harry the Yard, accompanied by 20 very well-equipped men with castle-forged steel and armor.
Out of the carriage stepped two young ladies, one around Harry's age, a beauty of probably Dornish or Essosi origin, and the other a few years younger, who looked like she was from Yi Ti.
Although Eddard couldn't be sure of this fact, it's been a few years since he had contact with anyone from Yi Ti. One thing was certain: she didn't seem to be from Westeros.
Even her clothes were strange—a frily outfit of very fine cloth in white and black. He had never seen clothing in such a manner before. But without a doubt, they were of the finest quality.
Harry had dismounted and now stood in front of his family, flanked by two unfamiliar women, as he addressed him, "Lord Stark, it's good to see you and your family again!"
All of that was said with a slight bow of his head, with his companions doing the same.
While House Stark were the Liege Lords of the Northern Houses, they had technically the same nobility rank as the other houses, so it wasn't required to kneel during formal occasions, only to show respect.
At the highest rank is the Royal Family, which is usually required to kneel in greeting if one isn't royalty himself. Followed by the Great Houses like the Starks, kneeling was only required while swearing their loyalty.
They were followed by the greater to smaller houses, which were followed by landed knights, and lastly, hedge knights, who don't hold any territory themselves and aren't even really considered nobility.
"Welcome Harry, and thank you for attending Robb's nameday, even though you have such a long journey. If I may inquire, who may your lovely companions be?" Eddard asked, looking at the two women behind Harry.
"Ah, this is Nico Robin. My steward, who assists me in the management of my land, And this is my personal maid. I met both of them while traveling and recruited them to my cause. Harry explained.
Eddard was wondering why he had brought his steward with him; instead of letting her manage his territory in his absence, he had missed the fact that he hadn't learned the name of the maid.
They continued with the greetings. The Stark family was eager to meet Harry again since he left a good impression on them the last time they were here.
The Northern Lords were also eager to meet the new House in the North. Skagos had been a troubling existence for the North in the last century. They always had to keep an eye out for any new rebellion from them, so a new stable house was a welcome change.
Finally, Harry addressed Lord Stark again: "Obviously, I also brought name-day gifts." Harry announced with a wide smile as his maid arrived with two excellently crafted wodden boxes.
Harry presented them to Robb as he opened the first one: "This is a mammoth horn." It can be worked into an exquisite horn or used as decoration." He said as he handed the long package to Robb before opening the other, "And this is a bow crafted by the best bowmakers I know."
And it wasn't a lie. This bow looked like it was grown out of a tree, but it had a dark and elegant look. It was decorated with patterns of leaves and inlaid silver.
Alone with these gifts, it seems like Harry had already impressed the Lords of the North, while Eddard wondered if that Mammoth Horn was from his journey north to the Wall.
———
Harry Potter POV
His arrival and introduction to Winterfell and the North were a full success. After meeting the Northern Lords already present and handing his gifts over, which created a good impression,.
After all, none of them had ever seen such a bow. Which was no surprise since he had traded it with the Elves in Alagaësia.
While the Elves have no use for currency and have very different interests from Harry's still human point of view, They were far more open to him after noticing his elvish features and the change he went through.
He still hid the fact that he had become a dragon rider. There was no need for him to somehow gain the attention of Galbatorix. But they may have suspicions.
Such a change was common in Dragon Riders after a few decades to centuries. They still let him be.
Harry had traded the bow for some of Westeros poetry and historical works. Art and knowledge were, after all, the passions of the immortal race of elves.
And the bow left the positive impression he had hoped for. In the end, Harry had his own plans for coming here.
Good relations were a mandatory part of it.
Right now, he was walking through the familiar corridors of Winterfell. He wasn't the only person who had an ulterior motive.
Knock Knock
"Come in!" Answered the voice of Lord Stark from inside the solar as Harry opened the door.
The room was very familiar to him; during his last visit, he spent hours searching for it and discovered a hidden room that Sirius and his descendants had left behind.
It contained all kinds of magical knowledge that Sirius had remembered and written down from the Wizarding World, including some secret messages from House Black.
Added to it were experiences and research from Sirius descendant's of House Stark, when magic had been a common thing for them and powerful in their blood.
That knowledge played a large part in creating the wall. There were many powerful enchantments on that large ice structure that were based on or originated from the Wizarding World, combined with the native magic of Westeros.
Since Harry had visited the FMA World, he had gained a better understanding of the magic in Westeros too. He had made it a point to study magic beyond the simplistic nature of his Gamer System.
And thanks to his study of the Philosopher Stone, he realized that a lot of the native magic of Westeros was based on the soul.
His thoughts had wandered again. He almost missed what Lord Stark was saying.
"Thank you for joining me, Harry!" Eddard nodded as Harry sat down on the seat in front of the Lord's Desk. "There is something we need to talk about!"
Harry nodded before answering, "You want to learn about my expedition north of the Wall?" He stated matters factually.
Lord Stark nodded at that.
"It's no secret since you are aware of my magic. I was looking for magic. I tried to find giants, wargs, and the children of the forest and invite them to my territory to learn more about their magic." Harry answered honestly.
Eddard raised a brow. Harry had revealed his magic to him the last time, but it was magic from a different world. All the magic in Westeros was supposed to have died out.
"And did you find them?"
"Partially, I found wargs amongst the Free Folk—that's what Wildlings call themselves—and giants. I invited them to my territory. While I found traces of the children, they were hiding even from me. But I am certain they are still alive."
"Truly? You are telling me there are Giants on Skaogs now?" Eddard asked in wonder.
"Yes, Giants and their Mammoths. That's where I got that horn for your son. But it's unlikely they will move further south during the summer. They need a cold climate; their bodies are covered by fur, which makes hot climates unfit for them."
"Fascinating. I will have to visit Skagos one day to see them with my own eyes." The Lord of Winterfell said in astonishment, "What is the state of the Wildlings?"
"As far as I know, they are still moving in their tribes. There are many different kinds of tribes among them. Some are peaceful, just wanting to survive; some are bloodthirsty raiders; and some are even cannibals. Although they are the minority, But there are far more of them than you would think in such a sparse land. If they unify, the Night's Watch would have no chance of defeating them." Was the honest observation Harry had made about them.
"I will keep that in mind." Lord Stark nodded, already having guessed that fact. The night's watch was at an all-time low. "Is there anything else of note?"
"Not really." Harry said, not wanting to reveal that he had been attacked by Draugr from Skyrim.
He wasn't certain what he should make out of that fact or how they even got there. Was it his fault? Or were they native to Westeros, the so-called Others? Or was it simply a change made to the world for him?
After all, before his reincarnation, the Shadow had said the worlds were not necessarily the same as the ones he knew. And the Draugr were from Skyrim; they even used shouts!
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