Chapter 9: Great Expedition

Remembering the countless hours he spent with Maester Luwin as a child learning reading, writing, languages, numbers, history, warfare, houses, traditions, cultures, and so much more. Maester Luwin marveled at how fast he was able to learn and understand subjects that those much older than him would take months or even years to even understand.

Immediately the old man proclaimed him as a once in a lifetime prodigy, and would make an excellent Maester even reaching as far as to become an Archmaester.

Watching as more ice was hauled out and gold was brought in large chests to the treasury. Jon could say that he put his God-given intelligence to good use, but this was only the beginning for him.

He already imagined a sprawling empire that stretched out as far and wide as the whole of the Planetos.

Walking into his lord father's solar, he already saw the most respectful figures in the castle standing respectfully and listening up such as Maester Luwin, Master-at-arms Rodrik Cassel, Steward Vayon Poole, Captain Jory Cassel, and Robb.

"I want the gold being brought in to began being used, the state of Winterfell has fallen over the years and I want that fixed," his father spoke up. "First the Broken Tower will be reconstructed to be the lookout Tower, then I want the Great Hall expanded, a second glass garden to be built, or defenses to be sure out, and most importantly WinterTown expanded out and an inner wall to be built."

"What if instead of that we do something else," Jon interrupted as everyone spun around to face him.

"What do you mean?" Lord Eddard Stark asked as Jon noticed that he was taking his words seriously.

"I admit using the gold we gained from the Ice trade to fix up Winterfell and expand WinterTown is a good idea."

"I hear a but coming up," Robb joked.

"Yes," Jon nodded in agreement, "but it won't be the best idea. I want to ask you Lord Father before anything else, are you satisfied with what you have now? Because I am not!"

"Explain," the man simply said.

"Yes, the gold from the new Ice trade does give us some wiggle room for harsh winters and tough times, but that's all it really does. It does not really change the underlying situation we are in; day in day out our people still struggle, our lands are barely exploited, we are still thought of as savages in the South, the Wildling and Ironborn still raid our lands time again and again.

"Soon this explosive increase in wealth will average out as prices stabilize so we need to ask ourselves do we stop here or continue on. Right now we are in a special situation that none of our old ancestors will find themselves in. We can take advantage of it or let it pass us."

"What exactly are you proposing, my boy?" Maester Luwin asked the question on everyone's mind.

"I say we send out a Great Expedition! We should go to other lands from north, south, east, and beyond! We look for alliances, we look for things to better the North such as new grains and crops, animals to tame, new innovations, and ideas that will make people's lives easier."

"That will be very costly," Steward Vayon Poole declared, "we will be most likely running dry any gains we have made."

"Yes, that is true but what of the returns we might make! Gold is gold, we will always be making more of it, but this is a chance we can not let slip. If we ever want to leave this squalor we live in, then we must take risks, we must try something new!"

"I agree with Jon," Robb spoke up, "It would be exciting visiting Essos and the Free Cities!"

"We would follow whatever you Lordship says," Ser Rodrik said with a bow. "But even if I do not know much about trading or grains, I do know if something isn't working out, try something new until you find what works!"

Finally, then it was Maester Luwin who spoke up, "I would tell caution, my lord, but your son is right. There are times to take risk and there are times to be not hasty. This is an opportune time to take a risk with the coffers full and able to take on some burdens."

Seeing that everyone was in agreement, his father really had no reason to disagree. Giving a slow brisk nod, he spoke up and directed his question at him, "Where should we go then?"

"Of course we should send someone to go all over the seven kingdoms to do a comprehensive analysis on what good they each have and bring back what will be useful to the North," he began with, just as the South ignored the North so did the North do so in turn.

His people were an isolationist lot that stuck together within themselves, and treated everyone else with suspicion and doubt. He could count the number of times a Stark ever ventured South into the heartlands of the other kingdoms, that how bad they were.

So to go forth into the other kingdoms and see what they had would be a great idea, who knew what we would find.

"I would volunteer for that, my lord," Ser Rodrik stepped forward, "my old bones are lusting after a good adventure and I always did want to do the seven as a lad, what better time then before I croak out! Hahaha."

"I can send with you one of my apprentices to keep a watchful eye out for anything useful," Maester Luwin helpfully added.

"Then I would say the Free Cities," he continued with. The free Cities of Essos a group of nine city-states grouped along the western coast of Essos. Nobody gave them any thought as much as they do the North or Dorne, of course, there were merchants that sail from there looking to make a profit and trade, and Lord Manderly spoke greatly of the many merchants looking to buy ice and even pay a premium price for it.

Still they were a land that no one really heavily exploited in the seven kingdom, everyone thought with a sea in the way that it was it. But the North was the closest kingdom to it and he knew that if they made some trade agreements with them and sent someone there, they would uncover much hidden treasures.

"Can I lead an Expedition there, Lord Father," Robb spoke up with excitement evident in his tone. He as much as any Lordling wanted to go out and explore the world before they were saddled with a wife and the hard duties of a lord.

"You will have to talk to you Lady Mother about it," the silent man answered.

"Next, I say we venture Beyond the Wall and into the True North!"

"Are you mad?" Captain Jory asked in surprise.

"Into the willing land?" Steward Vayon inquired with a sneer obviously thinking little of their savage counterparts.

However, Jon knew that the only people in a similar situation as them was the free folk. They dealt with true winter like them with tough lands and little resources to take advantage of. So he was curious to know how they handled it.

As the saying goes, Know thy enemy and know yourself. He knew that there was a lot they could learn from the free folk if only they put aside their hate and disdain they held for them.

"Enough," his father cutting through the chatter. Then turning to face him, he asked, "Why would you advise that."

Seeing no point in hiding it he told him his thoughts, exactly as they were after he was done everyone seem to have settled down a bit and seem to be processing the idea at least.

"You make a fair point," his father finally spoke up. "I have no love for the wielding with their contact raids on my land, but you are right, sending an Expedition there might produce some results."

"Thank, Lord Father," he said with a bow.

"That's why," he continued still not finished, "I will be intrusting you to lead the Expedition."

"I...I, it would be my honor, father," he said with a bow of his head, never expecting that he, a bastard would be given such a high respect.

"You earned it," his father said with a nod. "Is there anything else you would like to add?" he asked, thinking that it was all wrapped up.

"I saw we go further east," he simply answered, in the library of Winterfell there were countless tomes and books of land further east then Free Cities that no Westerosi man usually visits. That they are an oddity there just as a Lysene or Braavosi would be.

He wondered what would be found there in those strange and mysterious lands, of course, it would be a journey of a lifetime but it would be well worth it to undertake it.

"I would have to think on that," his lord father simply said, leaving it at that.

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Nuzzled softly in his arms was Ros, decided to finally visit her for one last great night before he headed off beyond the wall and into the free folk land.

Everyday preparations for the journey became ever near to be finished. With men being prepared and ready to be saddled, goods coins and foodstuff set aside for the journey, ships for his brother who was going to Braavos first, and so much more.

Right now they were lying in the afterglow of their sex, with her being insensible. Rustling softly as she stared up at him, she asked, "What's on your mind, lover boy?"

"So its lover boy now?' he asked with a chuckle.

"Well if I was going to accept someone freely into my bed then it would only be you, so he want to explain that far off look on your face?"

"I will be leaving in a few days," he answered.

"What? Where?" she asked in surprise and worry, "did that old she-devil finally get your lord father to kick you out?"

"What? No!" he said with a shake of his head, that couldn't be much further from the truth as he was slowly beginning to turn the lady of the castle to his point of view. "I have been given the honor to lead an Expedition North."

"North, to do what?" she asked, as he could pick up hints that she did not want him to leave at all forget going on this Expedition.

"Don't worry," he said as he gave her a peck on the forehead. "I will be back before you know it. Riding into the castle like a hero."

"More likely or not, hero die off and leave a poor widow behind."

"You, a poor widow?" he asked with a chuckle, but knew she was right. This was going to be a dangerous journey going into hostile lands where savages and cannibals lie in wait.

"My point still stands," she said with a sniff, "let others do it and die for the glory. You can stay here and be warm inside of my bed."

"I can not do that," he said with a shake of his head, knowing that he might be breaking her heart, "this is my chance to prove myself."

"You know that won't change anything," she said as he got up from the bed to put on his clothes, "we bastards and whore will always be the same in their eyes. Nothing will change if you do this or that, the stain will never leave."

Giving her one final look as he processed her words, he knew she was right, but he still wanted to do something with his life, be someone of importance, and change this land into what it should be. Damn it if he was a bastard, that will not stop him at all.

"I am sorry," he whispered, "I still got to go!"

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Coming into his lord father's solar room he could see his brother Robb standing there in half-plate armor with the house sigil stepped on it and a chainmail shirt underneath with a northern spangenhelm under his armpit. He also had a pair of vambrace on each arm and steel boots that covered his legs.

He too was similarly armed with castle forged steel at his hip and daggers at his belt with a Northern heavy bow slung over his shoulder.

Ser Rodrik was also there but he was dressed in heavy full plate armor.

"You are here, good," his lord father said once he saw him walk in, "we are waiting for one more person."

"Who?" Robb asked out of curiosity but just then Captain Jory knocked on the door, "My lord, your guest is here."

"Let him in," the Great lord said, and immediately a short small man walked in with a green cloak and a bow over his shoulder. His hood was obstructing his face and he turned to them he let it drop showing the face of a crannogmen from down in the swamps of the Neck.

"Howland," his lord father said as a very rare smile split his face, hugging each other they stepped back and short man bowed, "it is good to see you, my lord."

"None of that, my old friend, come meet my son," he said as he introduced Robb to him.

"This is Jon, my natural born son," he then introduced him.

"Ahhh," the small man said as he took a peculiar interest in him, "we meet, we meet," he said as he gave him a firm hand shake. "I can see much in your future."

"Can you see that future?" Robb asked with a grin, joking good-naturedly.

"Actually, he can," his father stated.

"No, I told you many times, Ned, I can't do that."

"Wait you have Greensight?!" Jon asked out loud in pure shock.

It was said that some of the crannogmen had Greensight but he scoffed at that. Magic had died long ago with the fall of Valyria and finally the death of Dragons.

His house were once said to have Skinchanger and Wargs but if he had seen his sibling or even himself showing that ability he would have known.

"Yes," he said with a smile, "I have prophetic dream which are filled with symbolic meaning, images, and metaphors of what is to come. Of the future yes and the past and present!"

"Enough of that," his lord father said, "we have work to do."

"Ser Rodrik, Howland, sons- I give you the right to act on my behalf. Ser Rodrik I will be sending you with 60 men to go forth from her to the Riverlands, the Vale, Westerlands, the Reach, Stormlands, and Dorne. This letter of mine will allow you access to any and all casles and fortress.

Jon, I will be giving you 80 men to head north, this letter will go to the commander of the night's watch, jeor mormont. It will explain what you are up to, and greet my brother for me if you would.

Robb, you will be taking one of the three galley to our family name, Wolf Feast. There you will head to Braavos with a 100 men and then beyond to the other free cities.

Howland, my old friend there is no one I rather trust and belive is able to do with this. You will head beyond the ruins of Valyria into ancient and mysterious land."

"I will do as you command, my lord," the small man said as he put a fist over his heart.

With that they headed out and into the open yard where the soldiers that would be accompaining them were. They all stood in neat rows with breatplates on and wagons with supplies loaded and the horses ready to go.

"Men," his father shouted, when he wanted to he could be as charismatic and strong as a leader as he wanted. "You will be a great Expedition for the prosperity of this House and these lands that our are homes! I will not deny you will be facing danger at every turn with hostile people and creatures abound. But know that this is so that the North can see a new day where we stand tall with our heads held high and our children's belly full and warm inside.

For too long we have been know as a savage folk by our southern counterparts, but no more, we will rise up and show them who we ARE!!!!!"

Lettign out a loud cheer as his father sood back with his men shouting his name and our house's as well.

"NOW RIDE FORTH!"

Getting on there horses and forming neat rows, the household men began to march out, from the corner of his eye he could see Lady Catelyn Stark giving her son a hug which he returned.

Suddenly, he felt a tug from his back and turned around to see, Arya standing there with tear marks on her cheek. "Are you really going beyond the North, brother?"

Russing her short hair, he gave her a soft smile, "Yes, but don't worry I will be back and with lots of gifts, okay?!"

"I heard from Old Nan that savage folk who eat people and giant spiders and walking dead people and horse sized wolves and ice dragons and...."

"Its going to be alright," he interpreted her, "those are just stories, nothing more."

"Really?"

"Yes," he comforted her, "besides a few wilding, there is nothing else but snow and more snow and even more snow."

Laughing sweetly, he gave her nose a slight tweak, and rubbed her head again, "I will be back, I promise you that, so don't worry yourself."