Chapter 21 - Plan
"Yes," I answered gently. "They are the Children of the Forest."
Ned let out a slow breath. "These… they were only legends."
I nodded. "Many things you call legends will return, or reveal themselves. Now you may trust me a little more."
Ned Stark nodded once. "Aye. I see your truth. What do you want, Manny?"
"I want them to stay here," I said. "They live near weirwood trees. They worship the old gods like you. This place is good for them. But they need to be alone in the godswood. None should disturb them unless invited."
Leaf stepped forward, quiet as a moving shadow. "Manny, you said nothing of what you wanted after bringing us here."
"I will tell you now," I said. "And Lord Stark will listen as well. It concerns both of you."
Ned folded his arms. "Speak."
"They worship the old gods," I began. "You do too. But the old gods lost believers for thousands of years. Not because the gods were weak, but because they had no priests. No one to teach. No one to guide. Meanwhile, the Andals brought their Seven, and their priests travelled everywhere, preaching every day. And even there Weirwood trees were destroyed and burned. So the old gods fell silent in the south."
Leaf nodded, and Ned understood a bit now.
I continued. "You, Children of the Forest, will become the priests. Quiet priests. A few of the Children will live near each Northern Lord's Heart tree. They will not force anyone. They will tend the weirwood and assist people in offering prayers. They can even help with some herbs and medicine to treat some illness. All things to be more acceptable in the people's eyes."
Ned Stark rubbed his chin.
"The common populace may not accept them," he warned. "Men fear what they do not understand."
"I know," I said. "That is why we begin slowly. Start with the major lords in the North and then to the common people who still hold the old gods closest in their hearts. Slowly include their keep, then the surrounding villages. I guess it will not take more than a couple of years and the whole of the North will accept you and believe in Old Gods again."
Leaf blinked, "This is your plan?"
"Yes. Join the First Men and the Children again. My plan is to let all of you be known as the priests of the Old Gods as you were the ones who planted these Weirwood and Heart trees. You are also the only race who lives peacefully in the forests. So the North and its people will accept you more easily than the South."
Ned looked thoughtful, a frown of concern on his brow. "This will stir a war between First Men and Andals again, and even a religious war."
"No," I said firmly. "I do not want war. That is why I said that only Lords who still believe in Old Gods to be included. Because the First Men will easily believe in magic and accept it. The stories still have Children of forests, Giants and they understand the old ways. They know about Warging, Skinchanging and other things from old stories. And when the stories come alive before their eyes, they will not take long to accept it. But it is different for the South."
"The South has the majority of Andals, who do not believe in you at all. They have not seen you ever before in the last six thousand years. To them, magic is not true at all, mostly because of the Church of Seven's propaganda. The priests of the Seven all oppose magic as they have not seen it themselves. They would rather call it miracles from the Seven, Sorcery, or whatever terms."
Ned looked at me and said, "Do you hate the Seven? They are called the New Gods and I think you said that you were sent by them?"
I waved, "It is not that I hate the Seven or believe more in the Old Gods. I don't care if you believe in Old Gods or New Gods or the River Rhyone or R'hllor the god of fire or even the many face god of Braavos. It's all the same. I simply despise the priests and the Seven's church, or any clergy who call themselves servants of any God, who have coffers filled with mountains of gold but the believers and common person still has to pray and thank the Gods for even getting a single meal in a day."
I pointed to the Children around us. "They do not need gold. They do not want castles. They are content with forests. Their magic itself is enough to keep them safe, if others respect them. And men will respect what they see with their own eyes."
Lead nodded in agreement, along with many elder Children of Forests.
"And what do you ask of me?" Ned asked.
"Not much," I said. "Call your bannermen in a few moons. Or during the next council of the North. Let them see the Children. Let them understand that the old gods and their magic are not gone. And then let the Children settle near each major lord's weirwood Heart tree."
Ned let out a long breath. "This is a large step."
"Yes," I said. "But a needed one. This will help in the integration of the whole North as one force and many petty disputes will end. Sometimes a common belief is much more powerful in the times of peril."
Leaf looked at me and then at Ned Stark. "If Manny believes this is the way, we will follow. He has kept his word as he has saved us from the Walkers. And he brought us to the place where the people believe the same Old Gods as us. We will help you in all ways we can. We can also help to improve your farming and increase the produce."
Ned asked bewildered, "And how will you do that. The North is not as fertile as the south and the weather is too cold."
Leaf looked at him as if he was asking abstupid question, "We are the Children of Forests. We talk with nature and life. This is exactly what we are best at."
Ned nodded, understanding the advantages of these Children staying here. She was right as they were well versed in magic and plants. This was their natural ability.
Ned looked at me and agreed.
"Manny," he said, "this will change the North. We will be much more prepared and become self-sustaining if our fields grow enough food. You can't imagine that most of the Gold of the North goes into just buying enough food for the people. This will save countless lives and families."
"No," I corrected softly. "I am restoring it. This should have been the situation before. And don't worry. When the time comes and the Southern lords become anxious because of the Children, when the septons and septas grow concerned over the reduction of the believers, I will show you all a way that will be acceptable to everyone. I do not want lives to be wasted before the true war."
End of Chapter 21 - Plan