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He looked quite surprised upon hearing my words. The friendly aura he had maintained throughout our conversation disappeared. His posture changed—his back straightened against the chair in his solar, his eyes narrowed slightly, and the warmth in them faded. He was no longer just friendly Ned; he had become the Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North. He regarded me with a blank expression and gave a small nod, granting permission for me to continue.
Once I had his approval, I spoke.
"Milord, as you know, before the war, I was a smallfolk of the North. I never had the opportunity to learn my letters. If I am to accept a lordship, I would like to spend some time here at Winterfell to study and gain the knowledge that an heir of a noble house should have. I would also like to shadow you when you perform your duties as a lord, so that I may learn firsthand how a lord should act and the responsibilities I will be expected to uphold. I need the wisdom of someone who can guide me impartially."
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"Then there is the matter of Sea Dragon Point. You need me to develop it into a military port, and for that, I must learn how to lead people. To accomplish that vision, I need military and diplomatic skills to manage these lands effectively. I must understand the laws that are to be implemented in the city and those that I, as a lord, must follow. And, most importantly, I need a strong grasp of economics, trade, and shipbuilding. Personally, I would also like to prioritize infrastructure and a proper sewer system—so that, unlike King's Landing, it does not reek of filth."
"That was my first condition. My second is that a proper road be built to connect Winterfell to Sea Dragon Point, one that will allow carts to travel smoothly."
"The third and final condition is that I will require a loan of 1,000 gold dragons to kickstart the development of Sea Dragon Point."
When I finished, I looked at Lord Stark. The sight that greeted me was unexpected—Eddard Stark, mouth slightly open, sitting in stunned silence. A moment later, he snapped back to reality, and what followed was even more shocking: deep, hearty laughter. It was a truly unsettling sight—Lord Stark, a man known for his solemn demeanor, laughing like that. His face, which was usually graced with only rare smiles or chuckles, was now filled with amusement.
He must have noticed the confusion in my eyes because, as he calmed, his expression returned to normal.
"I apologize for that, John," he said, still smiling slightly. "I was just surprised, that's all. Your conditions are reasonable. Let's discuss them in detail."
"Yes, Milord."
"Regarding your education and learning the duties of a lord, I agree to your proposal. You may shadow me."
"The second request is possible. As for the last one, we will revisit it at the end of your stay."
"Take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow, at first light, I want you to join Ser Rodrik Cassel in the training grounds."
"Yes, Milord."
"So, I take it you are now ready to accept the position as the Lord of Sea Dragon Point?"
"Yes, Milord—if, at the end of my stay, you believe I am ready for the position."
"Very well, then. You may leave."
"Thank you, Milord."
I stood from my chair and made my way to the door. Just as I reached it, he called out to me.
"John."
I turned back. "Yes, Milord?"
There was a small smile on his face as he said, "Thank you for your honesty."
"Anytime, Milord."
With that I left for my chambers to get some rest.
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