The next day.
Harry stretched comfortably as he turned over in bed, gently bumping into Val's body.
In response, Val raised her knee, hitting his abdomen.
Harry groaned softly in protest before giving her a suspicious look, not entirely sure whether she'd done it involuntarily or on purpose.
Looking at her upturned nose, he couldn't help smiling mischievously.
Reaching out, he gently pinched her nose, and when he noticed that she had stopped breathing completely, he smiled slightly.
"Silly girl, you're supposed to breathe through your mouth, not die," Harry said, bursting into laughter as he quickly dodged her attempt to slap his hand.
Just as he was about to start a little playful struggle with Val, he saw her sit up and stare at him.
"Do you really think I'm stupid?" Val asked, looking at him with a seriousness that took him by surprise.
His expression immediately turned serious as well, and he felt that perhaps he had gone a little too far.
"I don't think that at all," Harry said, shaking his head and sitting up in bed as he looked at her firmly.
"Sometimes I feel that way. I don't understand the words you use. You taught me to make potions so we could make them together, but I kept failing despite your magic. I only know how to fight and kill. I..." Val said, showing a rare vulnerability on her face.
"You're not stupid. In fact, I think you're quite smart," Harry said, interrupting her and pulling her closer by her thighs.
"You learned to read and write quite quickly. There are many things you don't know because of the circumstances you grew up in," Harry said, caressing her face.
Val opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent. It was evident that there were many things she still hadn't expressed.
He really hadn't noticed.
"You know... I admire you. You're a free-spirited woman. You live your life to the fullest, free to say or do whatever you want. I would have liked to be like you," Harry said sincerely.
It contrasted sharply with how he had been as a child: shy, weak, and afraid to express what he thought.
"Free-spirited? Ill-mannered would be a better word," Val said, shaking her head.
"Manners are bullshit. I adore you just the way you are," Harry said as he played with Val's hand.
His fingers gently traced the small calluses left by her sword, knowing exactly where each one was.
"Our relationship started as something physical, but for me, it's no longer just that. The way you are brings me peace and comfort, and you really brighten my day," Harry said, smiling at her.
Val looked directly into Harry's green eyes as if she wanted to find some trace of a lie, but she could only see her own reflection.
A small smile appeared on her lips as she looked away, not quite knowing how to respond.
"Hmm, I was afraid you only saw me as something to satisfy your lust," Val said, looking at him as a little of that playful sparkle returned to her eyes.
"Aren't you the one who's always trying to seduce me?" Harry said with a soft laugh as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down onto the bed, resting his face against her soft chest.
"It's because you're a handsome boy," Val said with a chuckle as she wrapped her arms around his head. She could feel Harry's low, rumbling laughter against her chest, making her feel truly at ease.
Suddenly, their moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Harry?" Catelyn said, her voice audible through the thick wooden door.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked lazily.
"Dear, it's already late. It's time for breakfast. Your grandfather would also like to talk to you," Catelyn said.
"I understand, I'm coming," Harry said with a sigh. After rubbing his face against Val's chest a couple of times, he reluctantly got up.
"I'll stay in bed a little longer," Val said without waiting for him to ask, yawning as she turned her back to him.
"All right, I'll bring you some food later," Harry said, making Val's lips curve into a smile.
Harry got dressed and left. After asking a servant he encountered along the way, he managed to find the dining hall.
"Good morning," Harry said without any shyness as he casually pulled out a chair and sat beside his mother.
"Harry, did you sleep well?" Edmure asked kindly.
"I slept well, thank you," Harry said as he looked at the dishes on the table.
The food was quite different from what he was used to in the North. Reaching out, he took several dishes and began eating.
"You seem to have slept too well. You don't get up late at home, but here you want to sleep in," Catelyn said, pursing her lips, unsure whether he was doing it on purpose.
"How is he this morning?" Harry asked, changing the subject.
"He's much better. Now he seems like the father I remember," Catelyn said, her expression changing as her gaze became nostalgic.
When he woke up, he had a confused look. Catelyn briefly explained what had happened before calling her brother.
Both watched as their father's expression continued to change until only his stern gaze remained.
Harry didn't respond for several minutes as he finished serving himself food.
Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he looked at his mother.
"I see. Then take me to see him," Harry said with a little more interest. His grandfather could be a good ally, especially now that he could live several more years.
"Hmm, let's go," Catelyn said, not wanting to keep her father waiting too long.
Harry stood up and picked up a couple of plates, earning a confused look from his mother.
"I'll take these to Val, and then we'll go see your father," Harry said.
"Your grandfather," Catelyn said, looking at him firmly before leading the way.
She had noticed Harry's clear detachment. It wasn't that she could entirely blame him, but she wanted her son and her father to get along, not only for political reasons, but also for the simple desire to see two of her loved ones united.
Harry left the plates with Val and followed his mother to his grandfather's room. She knocked on the door before entering.
Following her, he immediately noticed his grandfather. He was elegantly dressed, his hair was trimmed, and his beard was neatly groomed.
These things couldn't hide his sagging skin or his emaciated appearance, but he already looked much better.
At least he could think of him as Lord Tully.
Harry smiled slightly and looked at the old man curiously.
"Lord Stark," Hoster Tully said softly.
Harry raised his eyebrows before smiling.
"Lord Tully," Harry said, sitting across from the old man. He was a little surprised, having expected Hoster to call him by his name, ignoring his status as a lord and taking advantage of the fact that he was his grandfather.
Something Edmure had done, calling him Harry directly instead of Lord Stark, as protocol would have required.
"I apologize for not being able to welcome you properly. Even so, I thank you for what you have done for me," Hoster Tully said, looking at Harry with a serious expression.
He had saved his life.
He had no doubt about that.
His memories of the previous days were very hazy. He didn't even remember that his daughter had been there when he woke up.
"It's all right. After all, I couldn't bear to see my mother cry," Harry said, smiling somewhat helplessly as he felt a gentle nudge from his mother's elbow.
Clearly, it wasn't the grandfather-grandson reunion she had hoped to see.
"Daughter, why don't you leave me alone with Lord Stark for a moment?" Hoster said, looking at his daughter gently.
Catelyn gently bit her lower lip before giving a slight nod and leaving.
"Cat was always very emotional. I was worried about handing my position over to her because of that," Hoster said when he saw the door close.
"She would have made a good Lady," Harry said briefly.
"Yes, it's just that I didn't want her to bear the burden of being one," Hoster said, shaking his head.
Harry didn't comment on it because it was true. His mother had lived a fairly sheltered life in the North. She was practically a queen, with no power struggles or bad relationships with the Stark family.
Because there were no other Starks.
Harry laughed inwardly at that.
A brief silence settled over the room as they simply looked at each other.
"Well then... how about we rebel against Robert?" Harry said with a smile as he looked the old man straight in the eye.
"I feel that the North and the Riverlands gained very little from the war. We deserved more."
The old man was startled by his words, his heart skipping a beat.
"You could try to convince your daughter, and we'd have the Vale. Even if we can't win, we can become independent. I don't think Dorne would refuse to follow us, and we could even make a pact with the Reach. The Lannisters and the Baratheons would fall easily," Harry said, laying out a ridiculous plan with a serious expression.
"Wait, wait," Hoster said, coughing a couple of times as he looked at Harry in alarm. He almost wanted to go outside and make sure no one had overheard them.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he felt the urge to loosen his collar. He studied Harry's expression carefully but found no sign that he was joking.
Finally, after a few seconds, Harry chuckled softly.
"All right, I'm joking. Rebelling is too much work," Harry said, somewhat amused as he watched the old man hesitate to speak.
"Boy, you know I was sick not long ago. Are you trying to kill me?" Hoster said, taking a deep breath.
"Although I was joking about rebelling, I'm interested in our Houses remaining allies, and I was thinking about expanding our cooperation," Harry said, smiling at him.
"How?" Hoster asked directly, understanding that Harry was serious now.
He didn't know whether Harry's earlier words had been some kind of test to gauge his reaction or whether he had genuinely been joking.
Even so, he had to admit that not just anyone would dare joke about such a thing with a fellow Lord Paramount.
"I don't know how much you've heard about the changes that have taken place in the North," Harry said, looking at him.
"Cat told me several things, although I still find them a little hard to believe. The train, cement, grain, meat... you seem to have accomplished quite a lot," Hoster said, knowing his daughter wouldn't joke about such things.
"Hmm, you should come to the North so you can see it for yourself. I was thinking of extending the train to the Crossroads," Harry said, looking at him.
Hoster remained silent. Catelyn had told him about the enormous steel beast that ran faster than a horse, but it was difficult to form an image of it in his mind.
"I'll accept your invitation. I can't die without seeing what amazes my daughter so much," Hoster said with a slight smile.
"I'm sure a change of scenery will do you good," Harry said, smiling at him.
"I can't argue with the person who cured me," Hoster said with a soft laugh.
"By the way, what do you know about Petyr Baelish?" Harry asked with a smile after a brief moment of silence between them.
"Petyr? He was my ward. He grew up alongside Cat and Lysa. I heard he's doing quite well in King's Landing," Hoster said, though his slight discomfort was easy to notice.
"Your uncle fought him and nearly killed him. Cat begged him to let him go."
"He hasn't returned since then," Hoster said, his mind occupied by several thoughts about the man.
"I see," Harry said without pressing the matter further. It seemed there was quite a bit of complicated history between his family and this Petyr.
It was just that he still wasn't sure whether he was a threat that should be eliminated.
Harry changed the subject and began chatting casually with the old man about the politics of the realm and some gossip about other lords.
The old man knew quite a few interesting stories.
Their conversation lasted a few hours before Harry left him to rest. When he went to see Val, he found her still in the room exercising.
She was balancing on her hands while keeping her body straight, her arms trembling as her muscles stood out.
Her hair was tied back in a short ponytail, keeping it from touching the floor and allowing him to see her face tense with concentration and pain.
She seemed completely unaware of his arrival.
Sitting down silently, he simply watched her, finding the sight truly fascinating.
A few minutes later, Val let out a heavy sigh before her body tilted to one side. Twisting her waist, she quickly placed her feet on the floor and stood up.
There were several drops of sweat on her forehead, and her face was flushed.
"Enjoying the view?" Val said, noticing his presence.
"Of course," Harry said with a slight smile.
Chuckling, Val leaped toward Harry and pressed herself against him, rubbing her forehead against his cheek.
"Val! You're all sweaty," Harry said with a laugh as he tried to keep her from pressing against him.
Val clung to him tightly as she smiled in amusement.
"My sweat disgusts you, but other things don't?" Val teased, pulling her face back.
"Those disgust me too," Harry said, suppressing a smile and putting on a serious face.
"Oh? Really?" Val said, drawing out the words as her blue eyes looked at him flirtatiously.
"Completely serious," Harry said without a hint of hesitation.
"Then how about a little match?" Val said.
"Are we talking about swords?" Harry asked with a laugh.
"Oh, there will definitely be a sword," Val said with a wolfish grin.
----
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