Only a few moments had passed after the servant's information when Lucas entered Ned's solar through the open door. The servant closed the door behind him as Lucas approached the table.
"Lord Stark," he greeted the Lord of Winterfell with a slight tilt of his head.
"Lord Lucas," Ned greeted him back with a small smile. "Please, have a seat."
Lucas nodded and took his seat. A few moments of silence permeated the air between the two, as if both were absorbing what had happened and what was about to unfold. Both of them had an understanding of the gravity of the situation, especially Ned Stark who did not have complete knowledge of what was at stake or what price Lucas was going to ask.
"The North is blessed with a beautiful morning, Lord Stark," Lucas said, initiating the conversation. "Especially Winterfell. This was my first morning here, and I must admire its serenity, its calmness, its splendor, and its overall beauty. And the majesty of this grand castle only makes it more beautiful."
"Thank you, Lord Lucas," Ned replied with a neutral expression. "Casterly Rock is no less grand or imposing."
It was clear to Lucas that Ned did not take his praise as anything more than flattering words. And his comments about Casterly Rock was a mere formality even if Ned had spoken the truth.
"But I assume," Ned continued. "You did not travel all the way here from King's Landing, hundreds of miles away, merely to admire the splendid beauty of the North and Winterfell."
Lucas smiled knowingly. This was classic Ned Stark. He was not one for small talk or beating around the bush. He was the type to take the bull by the horns. Straight to the point.
"Ah!" Lucas chuckled. "Straight to the point."
Ned did not respond, maintaining a blank slate of an expression. He was making it obvious that he was expecting Lucas to come straight and clear.
"I would not say that coming here only to enjoy the beauty and serenity of Winterfell is not worthwhile," Lucas continued. "But yes, I have other purposes for coming here."
"And what are those purposes?" Ned questioned.
"Trade, Lord Stark," Lucas responded. "Trade. I am a merchant. Trade is what I do."
"I know, Lord Lucas," Ned sighed.
He was growing tired of Lucas engaging in small talk rather than addressing the topic directly.
"And I want to know exactly this: What do you expect us to trade? I fail to see anything the North has to offer that might interest you."
"The North," Lucas said, his neck craning toward the window to look across the vast, extending landscape. "The North is beautiful, Lord Stark. I do not know if the people of the North see this beauty from the same perspective as I do, or if they simply see a vast, barren, snow-clad, and rugged terrain. But it is nothing less than an exquisite piece of art."
"The people of the North admire its beauty more than anyone, Lord Lucas," Ned said, a tone of finality in his voice.
"That is wonderful," Lucas said. "But this beauty comes with a very heavy price that the Northerners have to pay."
"You all must live a tough life. In winter, you cannot grow crops and have to pay extravagant prices to secure grain. Old people have to leave their houses so that the young ones can be fed. It is harsh and hard being a Northern."
Ned did not respond to this. He simply continued to stare at Lucas. These were the greatest worries of the North, and he, as its Lord Paramount, was well aware of them. He only wondered where Lucas was going with this. What point did he have to make by bringing out the misery of North in their discussion.
Lucas leaned in slightly, a smirk playing on his lips.
"To begin with," he said, suddenly diverting from what he had been speaking. "Let me bring to the table what I can offer in return."
"The first and most obvious aspect of my proposal is military strength. I can supply and arm the warriors of the North with my top grade swords, shields, chest plates, and more."
"Every other realm of the Seven Kingdoms, barring the North, is becoming frenzied over my weapons. They are willing to fork over as much coin as I ask just to secure the supplies. Yet, in the North, there is not a single house asking me."
"I am not saying that I see a conflict in the near future," Lucas continued. "The realm is stable. But that does not mean the North can afford to lag behind."
"The North too, like every other realm needs to arm its men," he added, with a tint of amusement. "You would not want the men of the North to be mocked for inferior weapons at any kind of gathering."
Ned nodded. It was not that he did not know or understand these things; it was simply the reality that he lacked the coin.
"And I can solve this problem for the North," Lucas said.
"I understand your words from the perspective of a Northerner," Ned said. "But why are you so anxious about whether or not the men of the North are armed?"
"If this is only about trade, then I am sure you already have no shortage of orders from other noble houses. In fact, from what I am aware, you are hardly able to fulfill the orders you have already taken," he pressed. "Why so worried about the North, Lord Lucas?"
"Everything you said is true, Lord Stark," Lucas replied, without faltering. "But as a merchant, my duty is not only to sell my product, but also to ensure that conditions remain ripe for me to carry out my trade smoothly."
"True," he continued. "I do not see a war breaking out in Westeros, but what is to prevent smaller conflicts or the worsening of relations between the various realms?"
"We merchants prefer stability above all else. Any kind of friction, even if it is not an all out war, makes things difficult for us. Thus, I want to preserve the balance. If only the North remains behind in this arms race, it will cause a great instability, which is bad for trade."
"And even if my parchments are full of orders, I am in no shortage of parchment to take more," he added with a grin.
Ned simply nodded. He understood the logic of stability presented by Lucas, but he was not entirely certain if that was his true motive for wanting to arm the North just like the other realms.
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