[Chapter Size: 3100 Words.]

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Third Person POV

Beyond the Wall, 298 AC.

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“Jon… is this Artica?”

Benjen was frozen as he looked at what lay before him.

Jon had chosen a path that had a high vantage point to get a full view of the city — the same spot he had shown Aemon, Ygritte, and Arya when he first brought them to Artica.

It was possible to see the entire structure of the city, with its enormous tree in the middle, divided by its districts. Within the walls and to the south of the city, they could see the mountains with forests. To the east of the city, they saw the farms and the canal stretching toward the sea, while to the north was the soldiers’ training field. The west was the only area that didn’t have anything particularly impressive.

But there, Benjen couldn’t believe such a place could really exist.

“Impressed, uncle?” Jon asked, atop Ghost, while watching his uncle admire the place, a smile forming.

He was still there, standing atop Jon’s basilisk.

“How did you manage to build something like this?” he murmured, stammering.

Never in his wildest dreams could he imagine a city like this.

“Wait until you’re even more impressed once we’re inside the city. Let’s go now.” Jon said, taking a few steps forward with Ghost, while the whole group started moving again, leaving the hilltop and following the path that led to the western gate of the kingdom, after passing through the southern part.

“I had heard about it, but seeing it in person is something I never could have imagined.” Benjen murmured, as they approached the gate, a few hours after they had started descending the path, while Jon began recounting how he had built the city.

“Yeah, but I never really had knowledge about how to build a city… I managed to develop the idea after seeing how King’s Landing and many other great cities around the world — even Winterfell — were built, through green sight.”

“And I must say that, of all of them, Brandon, our ancestor, lives up to his name. He built Winterfell, Storm’s End and a few other places, not to mention the Wall… I developed a lot from his impressive construction techniques. After that, it wasn’t hard to find deposits of Black Stone buried in the ground north of the Wall. And also, with the skill of the dwarves who integrated into the kingdom, and with a solid base of Black Stone, it was a combination of things that allowed us to build our city.”

Benjen nodded as he heard this from Jon, quite impressed…

“But that’s not all, Jon… Why is there green vegetation in this place? I mean, you said you relied on food and all those supplies brought to the Wall years ago, but I never imagined it would be something like this.” he murmured.

The place looked magical. While snow spread all over the North, there, within those walls, it didn’t exist. Despite the low temperature still lingering in the area, all types of vegetation were grown there.

“You forgot that I might be blessed by the old gods, uncle.” Jon commented with a smile.

“To begin with, we have the great Weirwood, as you can see on that hill… it protects Artica from the extreme cold, though low temperatures still affect the kingdom. However, I managed to turn the soil into something fertile regardless of temperature — there is no harvest season limited to one time of year, we’re limitless and can grow any food from the world here, anything grows in our soil.

And as you may have heard, we have enough to supply the city and still sell our food.” Jon said, while Benjen looked truly impressed hearing that, realizing he really knew nothing about this kingdom.

“I can’t imagine this… I keep thinking with your…” he said laughing, before suddenly stopping, knowing very well what he was about to say, looking at Jon carefully, almost calling Ned his father, and Jon noticed it.

“I have no idea what reaction my uncle would have.” Jon commented, shrugging.

“He would be impressed. Lyanna would be more excited than ever to see a place like this. Even more so she…” Benjen murmured the last words, looking at Jon.

“… Even more so because it was her son who built it. It’s magical, Jon. I can’t imagine the excitement she would have in seeing a place like this.”

He spoke, as they approached the gate, which began to open as the group arrived. The guards were already ready to receive their king.

Jon remained silent upon hearing this, perhaps trying to imagine if his mother were alive. Not that he was tormented by it. As much as he still wished she had lived, he knew that things were as they are and nothing would change. But he couldn’t help but imagine.

“She probably would have reacted like Arya when she came to the city.” Jon said at last, and Benjen had to agree with that, as they passed through the gate with his uncle studying the whole place, seeing the giants holding the gate open before starting to close it after the last basilisk passed.

His men had received word about the other group that was also coming, and it would take a few more days to arrive — maybe a week — having to bring more than just themselves, but a group of women as well.

While Jon, Ducken, Benjen and the other soldiers went north to secure the animals, a group of royal guards were already waiting for their king.

Jon let his men organize things, leaving Ducken behind as he followed with his uncle.

“Let’s go to the castle.” Jon commented as he mounted his horse.

He was already prepared, as were his men, and allowed Ghost to move more freely. At the same time, a horse was given to Benjen, being introduced as the king’s uncle and special guest, although they were surprised, and even kept some looks of anger and caution, knowing very well who he was, and his Night’s Watch clothing didn’t help much.

“You’ll see your friends tomorrow. For now, be my special guest in my home.” Jon said, while Benjen looked toward the city from its northern side, before they began to ride and enter the streets, being surrounded by his men.

If Benjen was already surprised by the structure of the city, the activity within it left him even more stunned. It was marked by three races being commonly seen throughout the city — giants, dwarves, and humans.

“As you can see… this is where the races can coexist with one another, uncle.” Jon said when he saw Benjen’s expression as he observed the busier areas as they entered toward the castle.

“How? You’re saying these people came from north of the Wall?”

He couldn’t believe it, wondering if they were really the wildlings he used to fight between life and death to save his own life and his brothers’, when he explored north of the Wall and made sure no wildling crossed it to kidnap, plunder, rape, and kill southern villages as they had done for centuries and millennia.

What he saw was an active people — no, civilized — who were out in the streets selling, talking, while laughing and arguing all at once, everywhere. A kind of activity he had never seen in his life, maybe in Harrenhal when people gathered in joyful tones for the tournament, but here, it was a city.

“Are they like this, every day?” he asked.

“Obviously, at this moment… they are discovering the power of money, being able to buy things with the coins they’ve earned. That’s certainly something that will take a long time, bringing new sensations to my people. Until they really get used to the idea of exchanging things for money.” Jon said.

The people weren’t stupid, but they had never had such an easy monetary system for most of their lives. Surely the coins brought a new feeling as they could buy whatever they could and wanted.

Trade was already starting to heat up at this time, with people buying and selling things in exchange for the coins Artica had adopted for itself.

Benjen could see people, families, and even children walking through the streets in the distance, while on the street they were on, everyone stopped to see them, greeting Jon.

At the same time, many recognized him, due to his black clothing, as a member of the Night’s Watch. Certainly, there was no shortage of unpleasant glances among the population of Artica, given the grudge they had over the years.

No one said anything as they walked, with people knowing very well over the years — silently informed — that the king had a relative in the Night’s Watch, which already indicated who that man walking beside him was, as they continued on toward the castle.

When they arrived, Jon was received by his entire family at the entrance.

Benjen saw five wives and four children, and Jon asked for Eragon not to be there, as he would surely frighten his uncle that day and would introduce him the next.

“This is my uncle, Benjen Stark.” Jon introduced him after greeting his wives and children.

While all greeted him respectfully, his children were curious to see a relative of their father.

Benjen also looked at the children, seeing those Targaryen eyes in most of them, while Brandon, the youngest of the four, was a complete Stark.

“Come on, uncle. You’ll stay in the castle. Let’s get you out of those clothes. After all, even my guards are looking at you sideways.” Jon laughed as he said that, since even some of his men knew the First Ranger of the Night’s Watch very well, having fought personally with him or at least having heard stories from their fathers.

But even if some saw him negatively, he was still protected by Jon. He wouldn’t let anyone hurt his uncle, out of respect and even fear they had of the king.

Benjen was given a room and was introduced into the castle shortly after, with Jon asking his servants to assist him there, while he talked with his family after taking a bath.

When night fell, Benjen had dinner with the royal family, eating things he could never have imagined, not even in Winterfell, with Jon keeping his attention on him, talking and sharing some stories while hearing a few things about Lyanna, with only one of the wives seeming not to want to pay attention to the conversation.

The next day, Jon took his four children for a walk around the city, while showing the kingdom to Benjen — and even to his own children, who had a rare opportunity to leave the castle due to their young age.

But Jon knew he also needed to get them used to the people and to Artica itself, since they would rule that place one day.

The people themselves passed by to exclaim about the princes, it being a rare opportunity to see them while they were inside wagons surrounded by royal guards. Jon ended up taking Benjen to see the old Nurse and Hodor again — or rather, Wylis, his true name.

Benjen lost all color when he saw the giant white dragon flying near the city upon seeing Jon, while it scared everyone, and Jon had to get him out of there, waiting for the moment to introduce them.

Benjen immediately asked Jon, stunned, as he had already heard some things from the children in the wagons, but Jon hadn’t said he had a bloody giant dragon in his city!

Either way, the days went by and, to the south, as the Stark company advanced toward Winterfell, finally, before the nobles would disperse after a few more days celebrating in the Stark castle, they had a surprise that day.

A group bearing Lord Reed’s banner was approaching the main party.

“What is that?” Ned stopped his horse immediately, while his children were right behind him.

They had left Lady Dustin’s castle after a series of conflicts she had with them, openly showing her hatred for the Stark family.

However, things didn’t go as she had planned, since the Starks were more aggressive than she expected — the silent wolf himself was more active, while Arya herself clashed with the noble and arrogant woman in front of everyone, exchanging barbs the whole time.

This was witnessed by all the heirs who were present in the company. Certainly, it wouldn’t be good for House Dustin after this visit. They would surely fall in reputation among the nobles, though Lady Dustin herself was already in a very bad situation.

She had no heir to carry on the Dustin family after her, and she wasn’t seeking another husband, keeping herself there as lady of Barrowton. Either way, no Stark wanted to get involved in that.

“Lord Stark, the eldest son of Lord Reed, Jojen, is approaching along with his sister, sent by Lord Reed…” A guard went to see the Reed men and returned with information for his lord.

“They would like to accompany us to Winterfell to show respect, as he is one of the few lords who is not traveling with the group.” The guard finished informing.

“Bran is going to be very happy that Meera Reed is here!” Arya, hearing the soldier behind Robb, said loudly, while the younger brother turned all red upon hearing it.

His sister had seen the love-struck look he gave the Reed daughter the first time he saw her. Surely, that made her start teasing him while they were at the Reed stronghold the entire time, to Bran’s frustration, who didn’t know where to hide his face hearing that from his sister — especially in front of everyone. Or worse, in front of Meera Reed herself.

“Stop it, Arya!” Bran murmured, completely embarrassed, while even Robb had cracked a smile seeing it.

“But it’s strange, father. Don’t you think?” Arya didn’t hold back from murmuring, returning to her father with a more serious look, seeing the Reeds’ arrival so suddenly, while they had chosen to stay at Greywater Watch when they left there…

“I know, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll have to receive them. The Reed family will always be welcome in Winterfell, no matter the occasion.” Ned said, authorizing their approach.

Quickly, riders bearing the green lizard banner approached them, while the two children came up to Lord Stark.

“Lord Stark, thank you for receiving us. I know it’s sudden, but we thought it through, and my father sent me.” he said.

“Very well. Join us.” Lord Stark accepted without offense, while Jojen nodded to everyone, his gaze landing on Arya — but not in the way most lords looked at her beauty, rather with caution. And she knew he wanted something from her, narrowing her eyes in response.

Surely, they had spoken in Greywater Watch about Jon, since she knew he had gone there, asked questions, and claimed that he and Jon had been in a vision of the past, witnessing all of Robert’s Rebellion.

They continued traveling. After fifty lords, Reed settled several places behind the main company, not complaining about having arrived so suddenly. He didn’t mingle much with the other lords and houses, but he wasn’t antisocial either.

In any case, when they camped for the night — still having many nights ahead before finally reaching the castle — Arya was sitting alone with her brother when she noticed the Reed siblings approaching them, along with one of Artica’s royal guards accompanying her, whom she had personally asked to bring him.

It was just them while Robb took care of matters with their father, speaking with other lords around the camp.

“Bran, could you go show the camp to Meera?” Arya asked her brother, who turned a little red upon hearing it, immediately looking at Meera and trembling at the idea of walking alone with her.

“She would love to.” Jojen said, playing the role of his sister’s tutor, who nodded with a somewhat cautious look, since Bran was just a child, a few years younger — but she agreed. After all, they were just going for a walk. It wasn’t as if the boy was going to court her.

‘Poor boy, already deluded.’ Arya murmured, seeing that her brother immediately lit up with a smile upon seeing her agree… while she could see the girl wasn’t feeling much attraction for him — at least, not now — and she looked at Jojen.

“Sit next to me.” she said, as he came closer and sat there, facing the fire.

“Come on, tell me… what are you really doing here?” she said directly, not wanting to waste time.

He sighed. “I had a vision.”

“Just like the one where he said he saw Jon? Or better yet, a dragon arriving in the swamp?” She narrowed her eyes. “Is it about Jon?”

“No. It’s about you.” he said.

“What do you mean?” Arya narrowed her eyes.

“I saw a shadow hiding in Winterfell. She plans to take a life, was paid for it. But I saw her fighting against a woman with a Valyrian steel sword. I saw you fighting an assassin in Winterfell, in other words.” he murmured, as Arya narrowed her eyes.

“An assassin?” He let the word slip carefully from his lips.

“Yes. And her target was a wolf.” he said seriously.

Arya said nothing, only narrowed her eyes. “Thank you.” was the only thing she said, thoughtful.

“It’s nothing. I’ll be in Winterfell too. I wouldn’t want any Stark to die… and I’ll help.” he said, beginning to get up and walk away.

“You heard it, didn’t you?” Arya said to Jill nearby, now alone.

“Obviously, princess. And obviously that assassin will be killed — preferably by me. After all, I wouldn’t want you to be in danger.”

“I’m no damsel in distress, Jill. Anyway, let’s stay alert.” Arya said seriously.

At the same time, on another road, a group of wagons waited outside the city of White Harbor, at the northern gate.

“You’re only showing up now, Albert? Gods! What were you doing? Taking off your dress or something?” a man mocked, a bit younger, while the other, very similar to him, rode out from the city on a small horse.

“Sorry, overslept.” he said.

“Keep that up and the lady of Winterfell won’t hire us again, you idiot! Do you know how hard it is to get a job in a noble castle — especially one with House Stark, in Winterfell? We’re gonna get paid well for this!” he grumbled.

“I know, I know.” the man murmured, while his friend looked toward the city and saw smoke rising from its center, looking surprised.

“Is that fire?” he asked.

“Must be… I don’t know. Not our business. Let’s get going, aren’t we late already?” his friend said.

The other sighed, turning his beaten horse.

“Alright, let’s go.” he said, as the second man followed him toward Winterfell. It would be a journey of several days.

Meanwhile, people were shouting as they saw a house burning within the city.

“Put out the fire! Put it out!” people shouted, while inside the house, quite small and poor, a body lay on the floor. The flames were already reaching it, consuming everything.

But something was very specific about that dead body — its face had been removed from the neck upward, along with the hair, leaving only raw flesh behind. The flames reached it and consumed it, leaving behind no trace — for the faceless assassin.

————-Nexts Chapters —————-

Chapter 266 – The Assassin in Winterfell.

Chapter 271 – Val.

Chapter 281 – The Winterfell Banquet 02.

Chapter 290 – Eragon vs Cannibal 01.

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