As Luwin and I stepped out of Father's solar, I wore what most would call a wolfish grin. We'd drafted the first rough version of the contract a couple of weeks back, just days after Benjen and I pitched my plan to Father about the Thenns and the Giants. I'd been itching to show him the vassal agreements right then, but I'd held back, thinking more time for him to mull it over—and maybe dig into the Old Tongue himself—would be smarter. If he felt like he understood and could be a part of this contract and plan, even if just by agreeing or associating, he would be more agreeable and steadfast in his decision, which ended up working. He'd just now received and read the polished version Luwin and I had just shown and delivered him with an eager and proud face I hadn't expected from the Quiet Wolf.
The solar door shut behind us, and the corridor echoed as we walked. Luwin's chain clinking faintly beside me, his steps even with mine while my mind raced over the contract again. Five years tax-free for the Thenns coin or goods to let them root themselves on the Stony Shore. In return, they'd send fighting men and giants when we called, same as any bannerman. Then the secret bit of the agreement of two wargs to go and settle in Winterfell, one for my guard, one for the keep, their names kept quiet from all but Father, Jory, Benjen, and Luwin. That part had made Father's gray eyes sharpen, as if he suspected a connection between me and Hedwig—my snow-white, loyal owl and companion. The rest was simpler. The Thenns would claim the Stony Shore, hacking farms from its rough soil and fishing the western coastland. No wildling raids to fret over there—just the odd Ironborn who would foolishly now go to the stony shore for easy timber would be, easily crushed. The giants, on the other hand, would settle closer, near the Wolfswood and the mountains of my great grandmother's clan, with both new houses swearing to us the Starks directly that the ceremony would happen before a heart tree, as well as the ink on the contract, and seal it with guest right. It wasn't just loyalty—it was a knot neither could cut without breaking sacred vows, no Stark whatever be the first to draw steel versus the Giants or thenns unless one of them broke the contract first which would help settle the other northern lords, even more, when everyone learned about our plan to strengthen the north and bring Giants back on the side of the wall.
Luwin and I had wrestled the details into shape: logistics, giant labor for roads or canals later, all of it. Dreams for after the wars, when the North could breathe again if I could keep us alive that long. I shook off the scheming as we reached Luwin's quarters, the tower steps spiraling up ahead. "Thank you, Luwin," I said, clapping his shoulder. "Teaching me, Benjen, and Father the Old Tongue why you also learned it for the first time juggling all this your mind's sharper than father sword eyes I laugh thank you for serving us Starks so well.
He gave a small bow and a smile, adjusting his robe slightly. "It's my duty, Robb. If this holds, it's two new houses for the North—a rare thing. I'm just knowing that I helped you get to this point is reward enough Robb, I've been with you since you were a young child, and you've made me proud to teach you. I left Luwin with a nod and set off through Winterfell's smoky halls to find Jon. My boots rang on the stone as I cut through Winterfell's halls, the air thick with smoke and frost. Jon could be with Dacey or Arya, dodging their chaos or training, or in the godswood, brooding under the heart tree—but it was near midday, so my coin was on the yard, him sparring with Tom or Bernard, blade flashing. Sure enough, I stepped out into the open, and there he was, sweat beading on his brow despite the cold, his sword clashing against not Tom or Bernard, but our master at arms Jory himself.
"Jory!" I yell, making my way across the yard. "Can I borrow your training dummy for a second?" I say, giving him a smirk while looking at Jon. Jon just rolls his eyes. "Sure, Robb. I was getting tired of him showing off to me anyway," he says, which I chuckled at while patting them both on the back. I think to myself, knowing that John would've probably still been the best swordsman in the north if not Westrose later on if it wasn't for me, I knew he earned an acquired that title at least in the north later on, but I wonder if he would've been able to beat Jamie in his prime while he had both hands but we would never know now unless Jon and Jamie would crosswords, though I wouldn't wanna risk that happening if I could help it.
I brushed my thoughts aside and pushed Jon to walk along with me. When he says, "What did you need Robb, a spar, or were you looking for Arya?" "No," I reply. "I was looking for my favorite bastard who happens to be my favorite brother." I jokingly say to him, which causes him to punch me in my arm lightly. "And what do I owe the pleasure?" he asks me as I take him into the godswood.
I didn't know exactly when Jon's birthday was, but I'm pretty sure in the book it was agreed-upon that it was right at the beginning of a new year or a couple days after it, and it just so happened his birthday or name day in this world. Would be in a couple more weeks as it would be the start of 297 AC soon, which would mean I would only have a little less than a year and a half left to prepareI had bigger plans for Jon—backup plans, mostly, in case my dream of ruling all Westeros, not just the North and Riverlands, fell apart. But now, with him unlikely to run off to the Wall this time, I needed him closer.
I wanted and needed to form a even deeper bond with him as a brother and family member as well as reinforce the teaching role that I wanted to have with him as someone he could always look for help or learn from in case I went with one of my backup plans or a emergency where I would need him to become king of Westeros, instead of me, but that would all be depending on what would happen throughout the next few years.
"My plan that I was doing right now was giving Jon an early names day gift," as we finally make a stop in front of the heart tree, I tell him again that you're a Stark whether or not Mother wants to admit that and more importantly to me, you're my brother and I've been wanting to tell you something for a while now that I've only told one other person and I know that I have your trust and loyalty Jon as I don't want this to get out just yet." I can see that he's about to make a joke with me, though I don't know if it's because he's not taking me seriously or if he's trying to ease tension, but I quickly continue talking.
"The only other person I told was Benjen and that was because he had some slight ideas and experience with what I'm about to tell you Jon I'm a warg," I say as I hold out my arm letting Hedwig make one of his dramatic entrances which he seemed to love by landing on me when I called to him. "And I believe all of us Starks have the power to be Wargs and that it was just lost to us over the last few generations, and I'm trusting you, Jon, to help me keep this secret for now as well as practice and train with me." I knew from the books and show as well my memories now that even though Jon had a great life for a bastard of this world, he still felt like an outcast, so I knew me placing so much attention and importance on him even in just carrying my trust would mean a lot to him so I continued. "I need you, Jon I don't wanna worry Father with this, and I don't trust anyone else. You're my brother even if not in name, though you're Stark enough for me with father's blood." Even if I knew the truth, now is not the time to tell him of his parentage I would save that for later.
"Will you let me teach you, Jon? We can learn this power together, strengthen ourselves, and protect our family. It'll be like those games we played as kids, pretending to be the Starks of old—except now, we have and can master the Old Gods' gifts for real." you can think of this as an early names day gift for me to you what do you say Jon as I ask while firmly and resolutely look directly into his eyes as I finish my long speech, will you help me, brother with the special gift."
Jon looks back. I see his face is one of shock, his eyes almost bulging in surprise as he grips my arms for balance or a grip on reality which I don't know, but I see him slowly go from surprise to a determined face as he replies with, "Yes Robb you can always count on me and have my sword you are brother and will one day be Lord Stark. I shall always stand with you even in this old magic of the old gods." He says with a super serious face as I laugh and thank him. "Always so dramatic, aren't you, Jon," I say to lighten the serious mood now that he has accepted. "Come take a seat, and I'll tell and teach you all that I know about being a warg," I say, planning on telling him everything I know until night comes I mentally release a sigh, This turned out to be a success and hopefully one of Jons's more memorable early name days gifts.