章 18: The Stark in Skagos
Kingshouse Port; Skagos; The North; Sixth moon of 98 AC
Benjen Stark PoV
Benjen Stark felt himself and the whole ship shake as they docked in the main port town in Skagos; the day was mildly cold in Skagos, but the wind was strong, and it would hit the water and then his face bringing a salty taste to it.
Kingshouse Port was an authentic northern-looking town; every house had first-man runes carved in the homes and wooden shields on the highest part of the walls and roofs of every building. The streets were large and clean, as was the town in general. Hundreds of owls flew around, delivering letters and whatnot.
As Benjen waited for the ramp to be placed on the ship, he took a moment to observe the smallfolk working on the docks; never had he seen such a diverse group of people, from valyrian-looking people to Ibbenese. Many were foreigners bringing their business to skagos, but many were not; those who lived in Skagos spoke with a northern accent, Benjen noted, and even those of valyrian descent who lived in the island spoke the common tongue with the very characteristic northern accent.
"This fucking island looks like the stories of old... look at those giants carrying heavy loads..." Lord Umber commented as he also observed the town in front of them.
"You've seen nothing, Umber," Lord Karstark began. "The Winterhold is the real deal, more Heart-trees than I can count; the Children also live there..." Lord Karstark concluded.
"What about the Ice Dragons? Did you see them when you were here last?" Lord Umber asked as he pointed up to the sky where one of the dragons flew, surprisingly silent, above the town.
"By the gods, I didn't even see that fucker was above us," Lord Karstark exclaimed, eyes as wide as an apple as he watched the disturbingly silent dragon flying above them, "But aye, Umber, I saw one of them last time I was here. It was lying on a mountain behind Dovahkiin's castle." Lord Karstark explained
"They look even more impressive up close," Benjen began. "The smaller one especially, it was the leader of the two... it is the alpha wolf of their pack... alpha dragon that is," Benjen said, finally entering their conversation; both lords seemed surprised by the information he brought, but neither contested it.
It took the sailors a few more minutes to get the ramp ready for them; at the end of the port Lord Dovahkiin, his family, and Rickon awaited the three Lords.
Lord Dovahkiin wore black clothes, like the brothers of the night's watch; the silver dragons embroidered on it were the only thing that stopped the comparison. The long hair held in a single braid flew as the wind hit it, giving the Lord of Skagos a regal look.
Lady Dovahkiin wore a silver-grayish winter dress with black dragons embroidered on it, her hair was also braided, but unlike her husband's, her braid started at the back of her neck and ended on her lower back; two strands of hair fell on her face as if protecting the tall Lady from the wind, never had Benjen seen a northern lady more graceful than Lady Dovahkiin and only his wife held a candle on the tall Lady's beauty.
The Dovahkiin twins looked as any northern child did, except for the excellent quality fur they wore and their well-behaved appearance.
Lynara Dovahkiin looked like a winter princess of old; with her pale complexion and dark hair, she was one beautiful child; she wore a white winter dress with silver dragons embroidered all over it.
And then Benjen's eyes landed on his son, his heir. Rickon Stark looked like Benjen, from head to toe, with no exception other than his features were sharper, and his posture was more carefree and, dare he say, more graceful.
As Benjen and the two other Lords approached, a friendly smile appeared on Lord Dovahkiin's face as he bowed his head.
"My Lord, Skagos and its hospitality are yours," Lord Dovahkiin spoke; to which Benjen nodded amicably; Dovahkiin's voice was as powerful as Benjen remembered, so much so that he thought the ground below trembled a little. The tallest man in Westeros then nodded at Lords Umber and Karstark. "Lord Umber, it's good to finally host you on my island. Still think you can take on one of the giants?" Lord Dovahkiin asked jovially
"I can take one down… on a good day…. on a really perfect day for me and not so good for the giant…." Lord Umber replied, to which Lord Dovahkiin chucked lightly. The Winter Dragon then turned to Lord Karstark; his black eyes seemed to glide over each of them with practiced ease.
"Lord Karstark, it's always a pleasure to host you in Frostfall, my Lord." Lord Dovahkiin proclaimed with a slight smile on his face; he then made a signal with his hands, and a guard carrying bread and salt walked forward
"Bread and salt, my lords?" Lord Dovahkiin offered, and as custom dictated, Benjen, Mors Umber, and Gregor Karstark partook in guest rights
"You did not have to ride with all your family here, my Lord," Benjen spoke finally, once more showing why he was known throughout The North as the Silent Wolf.
"Nay… I did not have to, but some formalities should always be observed, partly because of our heirs' education and partly because they really wanted to skip their lessons with Acorn…." Lord Dovahkiin spoke amicably, which surprised Benjen as he thought it would be impossible for one to talk so amicably with such a deep and powerful voice.
"Cheeky buggers… what wouldn't I give to have lessons with a Child of the Forrest." Lord Umber commented lowly as Benjen walked forward and hugged Lady Dovahkiin
"My Lady… you look as beautiful as a snowy day over the northern mountains and certainly twice as deadly." Benjen complimented the beautiful Lady, who smiled at him
"And you, my lord, look like The North made man," Lady Dovahkiin replied, which made Benjen chuckle at her words. He walked past the Lady to greet the eldest child, who gracefully courtesied.
"My Lord." She said calmly with a smile on her face; the little girl was as graceful as her mother and twice as valuable to The North and House Stark
"My Lady… you are indeed a gift to your house. As beautiful as your mother and as resourceful as your father, if the letters my son sent me are any indication." Benjen commented, and the little girl's smile broadened. The Warden of the North then stood before the twins; Björn Dovahkiin looked like a miniature version of his father but with his mother's eyes, and Lyanna Dovahkiin looked exactly like her mother but with her father's eyes. The Twins acted as differently as one would think possible, Lyanna was a calm child that took comfort in silence, and Björn was as energetic as lightning from above.
"The Dovahkiin twins… you've grown a little since last I saw you, little ones," Benjen commented with a smile on his face. His eyes finally set on his son, his pride.
"Rickon… my son. You look well… Skagos has done you well. Come on, son, hug your father," Benjen said as he opened his arm for a hug, which he received not a moment longer after he had spoken his phrase. At the back of his mind, he heard Lord Umber and Karstark greeting the Dovahkiin family, the tone of respect shown by both lords was not missed by the Warden of The North.
" Well, my Lords, to Frostfall and Winterhold then?" Lord Dovahkiin asked as he made a sign with his left hand, and eight unicorns were brought to them by some guards. The beasts were just as Benjen remembered, a little bigger than the average warhorse, goatlike in appearance, with a long single horn on its forehead.
Lord Dovahkiin helped his children before mounting his unicorn. Together, they rode through the large town; the men Benjen, Mors, and Gregor brought to guard them swiftly integrated with House Dovahkiin's guards forming a force of 150 men.
The road to Winterhold was a sight to behold; thousands upon thousands of weirwood trees on each side of the road made it look like the path to meet the Old God's themselves.
Mammoths pulling enormous carts full of goods from Winterhold to Kingshouse port were also a sight to behold, one Wintertown and Winterfell would soon be home to, as the 500 mammoth calves House Stark brought from House Dovahkiin were only a few years from maturity, but nothing could ever prepare Benjen Stark's mind to what Winterhold was, not even passing through The Gate in the mountains.
The City of the Old Gods, as everyone in Westeros called it ever since Princess Gael Targaryen called it so in her nameday celebration ball in Kingslading, was divine, as the name suggested.
Seeing Winterhold from above was as breathtaking as looking at the dragons, giants, and Children. The city was divided in two by a river, which was red due to the number of heart-tree leaves on the water. The sheer number of houses was astonishing for Benjen, as was the number of glasshouses around the city. The place was so big that it made the two massive castles seem smaller than they were.
" Wellcome to Winterhold, The last but strongest bastion of magic in the known world, The City of The Old Gods... Home of House Dovahkiin." Lord Dovahkiin said with pride in his voice, a voice so powerful that Benjen felt it inside him as it shook his very being.
Ragnar PoV
Winterhold; Skagos; The North; sixth moon of 98 AC
( Time Skip 6 days)
Ragnar sat at the high table of the Great Hall in Frostfall with his family and Lord Stark. The Great Hall was full of Lords with their families, all of which would be sailing to Kingslanding with Ragnar. They drank and talked as the music played by bards and bands; some talked about business while others socialized. Lord Stark was conversing with his son about how fascinating and proper to a Stark, frost magic was. Lord Karstark talked to Lord Stane about increasing the shipment of iron to Karstark's lands; Lord Flint talked to Lord Umber about trade and other things.
" My Lords, I hope House Dovahkiin's hospitality did not disappoint you," Ragnar said as he got up and addressed the Lords in the Great Hall; his proclamation was met with a round of cheers " My Lords, we will sail on the morrow to Kingslanding. In my ships, we only drink cheap silver wine, so we don't throw up the expensive shit when the sea feels like the world should end. With that on your mind... DRINK THE EXPENSIVE STUFF TODAY." Ragnar proclaimed loudly, to which many lords shouted in approval, even more so when the servants brought in the expensive brandies, wines, and mead.
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A/N: One little chapter for y'all.
Kingslanding once more in next chapter…
Things are a little slow… it will change once Jaehaerys is dead and gone.
Can you imagine how difficult it will be for Otto Hightower to reign in this new more prideful North??? It should be fun hehe
Thank you for your support, my god bless you all 🙏👍🏽
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