'This is pathetically easy to do now,' I thought as I danced in front of the heart tree, waving the wand around with little direction and watching as grass grew and flowers bloomed in whichever direction I pointed it in.
It was not just that as the Aether in the air wrapped around the wand and attached to the four runes pulsing around the wand, thrusting it in one direction and watching as winter roses bloomed from the snow within seconds.
"This...this is dangerous," I murmured as I saw the threads of the wand wrapping around my own thread of Aether that was attached to the world, grimacing as I could feel the thoughts of the wand flashing in my mind.
I knew that there would be a cost, but the fact that I don't have a clue as to what the sacrifice will be later on is making me worry. What if I have to sacrifice like my firstborn or something to do this?
'This is just something to help me amplify whatever spells I come up with, but in no means should I begin to use this as a crutch,' I thought as I slipped the wand into the inner pockets of my cloak, looking back at the tree before bowing my head.
"Thank you, great weir, for your guidance. May my sacrifice be sufficient, whatever it is," I spoke before I stood up and walked away, but I could feel the air now dancing around me with glee as I shook my head.
This might come to bite me in the ass later down the line, but for now, I think it's time I started working on my true plans to raise the North to a more respectable country.
'That and I need to find a castle that isn't too far from home. Then again, there aren't that many up for grabs other than some empty lands throughout the country and...Moat Cailin,' My eyes widened as I stopped in my tracks, remembering the small yet ancient stronghold that had held off the attacks from the South for thousands of years.
Sure, it's in a far worse condition than most castles and it would be better to pick any other if not for the fact that I could simply build it back up and then reinforce it with runes.
It sits in the centre of bogs and swamps, with only one path from the south actually being safe to walk up towards it. While it is open from the North, though, there's nothing a rune minefield can't do to take care of a couple thousand soldiers that think they can go around.
'And it's the perfect halfway point between Winterfell and King's Landing...kind of, but it is a lot warmer at Cailin than it is in any other area of the North, which means that it would be perfect. On top of that, I could even establish a small paradise around the castle with runes that I could then slowly build up into a city itsel-Yeah, the plan is forming.'
"Hehehe~ Oh, this is about to be so damn co-", I stopped talking as a brown Aether thread flickered in my vision, my eyes following it towards a raven sitting in a tree.
Normally, I would not care for a raven if not for the fact that its thread of Aether was far too dense and large in terms of size to be a regular raven, making me frown as I slowly reached into my cloak.
My fingers wrapped around the white wood of my weirwood wand as I watched the raven's thread shift, feeling awe as its brown thread slowly wrapped around mine before pulling taut.
"You're not just a bird, aren't you?", I spoke, feeling myself growing nervous as the raven tilted its head at me before it cawed once.
"Wolf of two worlds, the wand-carver. The weir remembers your oath," I stiffened as the sound warped and shifted into a whispered sentence, the language itself sounding ancient and aggravating to my ears as I flinched.
Looking at the raven as smoke billowed from its feathers, I watched as small, lithe figures became visible in it, their slender bodies having bark-like skin with amber-coloured eyes staring at me with a knowing gaze.
'The Children of the Forest...and I either have a familiar or an actual Child in front of me,' I thought as I took my hand away from my wand, knowing that whatever magic I wanted to use would be of no effect to one of the few beings that understood it in its entirety.
In response to me letting go of the wand, I watched as the raven tilted its head before it flew up, my gaze following it as it flew in a circle before diving down towards the tree above me.
The next moment, my eyes widened as the Child made itself known, their skin a darker brown than the ones I saw in the smoke while their eyes shone as they landed in front of me.
"You dared to twist the runes of men into the body of gods. Few have tried to do so and even fewer were spared for their transgression. Why did you do so?"
"I meant no offence."
"I am not offended. I simply wished to know," The Child answered, the Aether of the world dancing joyfully around the figure as I swallowed before nodding.
"The runes...they strengthen my people. The forests strengthen my people and, through them, the very North itself grows stronger. I wished...I wished to fuse the two into one."
"You wished to rewrite the song of ice and leaves?", The being of nature asked and I steadied myself before shaking my head.
"No, not rewrite it. To rewrite a song of ancient times would only bring devastation to all who listen to it. No, I wished to add onto the song, my own melody that I wish to meld with the song of ice and leaves that I hope will make it harmonise with the song of fire and blood," I answered, watching as the Child tilted their head before their lips curled into the tiniest smile that vanished just as quickly.
"We shall see, wolf of two worlds. Endure and let us see if you truly will help the Song of Ice and Fire be born," Just as they finished speaking, I watched as they walked towards the heart tree, which opened its mouth widely and let them walk in.
As they vanished, the tree closed its mouth and went back to normal, leaving me alone while staring at the raven that was now atop the tree with a piercing stare.
'Great. So now on top of the others, I also have to worry about the Children of the Forest watching my every move? I'm starting to think that maybe being here wasn't such a good idea.'
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"It's fascinating," I was not surprised when I returned to my room to see Helaena already there, her gaze immediately flickering to my cloak where I was hiding my wand.
"I know."
"What did it cost?", She asked as she handed it back after admiring, to which I took it while shaking my head as I put it back into my secret inner pocket.
"That unfortunately is something I do not know."
"As your betrothed, that doesn't bode well for me given that the sacrifice could be asked for at any time."
"Well, I did sacrifice some of my blood and it is a foci, not an actual spell so perhaps the price for it was simply just my blood as it's not that effective on its own," I responded, to which she hummed as she looked at where I had hidden the wand.
"The cost will find you, whether in a cradle on a battlefield. Blood always knows where to flow to its heart's content."
"...Please, do not put a hex on yourself to where you are to be the sacrifice or something. I'd rather not have that be on my consciousness," I spoke with a frown and I caught the hints of amusement in her eyes as she nodded.
"Do not worry, dear. I won't, but you must understand that power always demands its due."
"I know, I kn-Wait, did you just call me dear?", I asked, watching amusedly as her mind raced through our conversation before she blinked.
"It appears I did. Did you not like it?"
"Oh, on the contrary. I found it quite pleasant."
"I thought as much. Perhaps, it is not only you who is learning how to navigate through the mess we call life," She spoke as she wrapped her arms around me, making me chuckle as I wrapped my arms around her neck and rested our foreheads against each others.
"Perhaps. When do you think your father will want the wedding?"
"When I finally have my first flowering. Why? Have you grown tired of waiting for me?", She whispered and I let out a soft chuckle as I pulled back to see her raising an eyebrow at me.
"That would be blasphemous. Who else would entertain me with her poetic words if not you?", I asked, Helaena's lips curving into a soft, approving smile as she turned and rested against my chest.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, but I do hope your words hold as much weight as your 'magic'."
"I can assure you, princess, that they do. After all, my magic may shape the world around me, but you are the one who shapes me as I am," I answered, resting my chin on her shoulder and smirking as she looked at me with a surprised look in her eyes.
"That is the first time that you have truly spoken the truth without your usual lies filtered in between. I must say that I...am glad? No, I'm overjoyed that you would think that of me," She answered and I chuckled, the two of us looking out at the snow coming down outside as I let out a blissful sigh.
For once, there was no magic or any other interruption. It was just Helaena and I being at peace as we watched the Aether of the world sing its song around us.
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"If we add in this one here...twist these sigils...No, that could cause an explosion. Perhaps..."
"Hard at work?", I looked up to see Cregan riding beside me, Uncle Bennard looking just as intrigued as the three of us made our way to Deepwood Motte along with half of Winterfell's guards.
"Not particularly. I'm simply looking over some of the runes that I've had in mind for the North for a long while."
"Then why have you not done them yet?"
"Because I did not possess the means to do so, but now I do. The only issue is that I won't be hear to see if they work correctly," I answered, Cregan humming at my words while Uncle Bennard looked intrigued.
"And what are some of these runes if I may ask?"
"Oh, one is to make fertile land in a specific area that I mark out, another is to make flowing water that moves on its own and lets you wash your body without needing to sit in a tub and the last is runes to make sure that the walls and gates of a castle are stronger than they appear, able to withstand sieges that would crumble ordinary forts."
"...Essentially, you're giving the North its own infrastructure?"
"In a way, yes. It's subtle enough to where no one can say that it's magic, but at the same time, it will give us an edge that will make the land help those who live on it."
"Hmm, I'm beginning to think that you're an Old Stark King from the olden days that maintained the peace before the Targaryens came along."
'You're not far off there.'
"If only. In any case, I'll need to do more research on all three before I test them out, but pushing that to the side. Uncle Bennard, can I have Moat Cailin as my wedding present from you?"
"Why would you want that of all the castles?", He asked with a raised eyebrow, Cregan deciding to focus on our conversation as well as I closed my notebook and shrugged.
"It's perfect. It sits strategically at a very defensive position from the South and from the North, there are nothing but open fields with no cover for miles. On top of that, with a little bit of work, it could become a bastion on par with that of Winterfell. Oh, and it sits just near the halfway point between King's Landing and Winterfell."
"The work to repair it could be astronomical, no? Would it not be better to pick one of the many abandoned castles that would require less work?", Cregan asked with a raised eyebrow and I smiled before shaking my head.
"No, because those are still away from the central point that I want. Also, the Moat Cailin was said to have been a home to the Children of the Forest so perhaps, there is a reason why they picked it and not the other castles."
"I see your point. Still, it will take more than just a few days before you can make it yours given its state right now. Are you sure of this?", He asked, to which I nodded with a smile.
"I'm certain, Uncle."
"...Very well. When we get back to Winterfell, I'll transfer ownership to you. However, the costs of repair and how you will get the material is up to you."
"I like that agreement," I nodded as I shook the man's hand, grinning excitedly as I felt the plans already beginning to form.
Oh, this was going to be glorious.
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'So, this is where you are,' I thought as I looked at Mother's grave, staring at the figure of both her and Father standing in front of the grave with regretful smiles aimed at Cregan and I.
"This is where I had buried her mother," Lord Eldric Glover, our grandfather, spoke with a frown as he stood beside us, still as spry as any other man twenty years younger than he was while his grey hair was combed back.
"I wished she had been buried with Father, but I am glad to hear that she and grandmother will be together."
"I think they'll enjoy that too," I murmured as I looked at their spirits, their eyes widening as I smiled and nodded.
"Cregan, you...you can see us?", Mother asked softly, the tears shimmering at her eyes as I nodded once more before Cregan patted my shoulder.
"I'll tell Uncle Bennard you'll be here for a bit, brother."
"Thank you, brother," I murmured as I patted his shoulder, Grandpa Eldric doing the same with a smile as he ruffled my hair before I was soon left alone with their spirits.
"Sorry for that. I don't know if it would have been wise to talk to you two with others nearby."
"It's more than okay, sweetheart. How have you been? How has the South been?"
"The South has been good to me...for a while, but then I got stabbed. However, you don't have to worry as the matter was solved and Prince Jaecerys didn't get punished too harshly," I clarified, watching as Mother's glare faded while Father nodded.
"And what of your betrothal? Is it still in effect?"
"As for the betrothal, King Viserys and Uncle Bennard talked for days before they decided to keep it active, seeing it as an opportunity for the royal family to make amends for what happened," I worded it in such a way that it sounded as if I was talking to a grave stone, tricking anyone that was listening in.
"That's good. It's a shame that you were hurt in the process, but at least now, you are sure that the marriage will not be annulled abruptly," Father spoke, to which I nodded with a smile before letting out a shaky breath.
"Honestly, I'm not even sure what exactly I'm supposed to do from here on out as I don't have you or Father to help me, but I think I'm just going to do what feels right for the North, for our family and for Helaena.
I...I just came to say maybe one final goodbye for the following three years at the very least given that I'll be busy with rebuilding Moat Cailin and making it into a suitable home for us two. After that, I think I will have little time as the Lord of the area so...thank you.
Thank you for struggling with a son like this. Thank you guiding me for as long as you could. Thank you for giving me the strength to keep walking, even when it felt like the world was pulling me apart," This was more of the old Torrhen talking as my emotions felt high, but I forced the tears back as Mother's spirit knelt down and I felt her chilling hands enveloping my face.
"You were never a burden, my son. You were a gift. If we could do it all again, we would no matter the pain that came with it. Do not carry your weight as your sin."
"You are stronger than you know, but strength means nothing if you lose yourself to fear or power. Hold fast to your pack and never let them go. As you know..."
"Winter is coming. When it does, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives," I finished Father's statement, watching as their forms shimmered before they began to fade away.
"We will watch over you and your brother, Torrhen. Do not let others write your verse to the song, my child. Carve it yourself," Mother spoke as they finally faded away, leaving me standing alone with a heavy heart and a weight that was gone from my shoulders.
'The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives,' I repeated in my mind, nodding before turning around and making my way back to where the others were.
A/N: And the Arc of The North ends here~! Next chapter, a timeskip and meeting the heiress.
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Ba-Bye~!