Meanwhile, in Winterfell, the North was experiencing a completely different storyline. At the suggestion and with the financial backing of Brynden Rivers, Winterfell decided to organize a unique Team Tournament for their king.
Initially, Brynden had proposed that Skagos Island and Crown Town provide the funding. However, after Lady Catelyn's "reasoned arguments," the funding was changed to 2/3 from Winterfell and 1/3 from Skagos Island and Crown Town. After two days of debate on this issue, Brynden had to "reluctantly" agree with Lady Catelyn.
Brynden could have avoided paying anything at all, but in the end, it was at the request of Jon Snow that he agreed to the 1/3 of the funds. Although Jon had sworn fealty to Griffin's Hold, he still had House Stark blood in his veins.
However, every time Jon saw Lady Catelyn's proud expression, he couldn't help but silently mourn for her for three seconds.
It must be said that Brynden was really good at reading people. From the way he specifically brought up this suggestion at the banquet, it was clear that he was deliberately telling Lady Catelyn.
And what was most exasperating was that Brynden, who had contributed 1/3 of the money, still made Lady Catelyn very dissatisfied, as if House Stark should have paid all the money.
Although Jon didn't know how many gold dragons House Stark had, he did know that the steward of Winterfell, Wyman Poole, had been in a very bad mood these past few days. The servants were scolded mercilessly for even breaking a plate.
"It seems I still have a lot to learn!"
Jon Snow said to himself silently, then turned his gaze to the workers setting up the stands. His task for the past few days had been arranging the main arena's seating.
Tournaments were a cultural event on Westeros to showcase martial skills. Throughout the Seven Kingdoms' history, many significant tournaments had been held. To some extent, these tournaments influenced the history and direction of the Seven Kingdoms.
The Team Tournament format involved participants vying for individual victory in a chaotic melee. King Robert was very enthusiastic about team tournaments in his youth; he loved the feeling of fighting everyone alone.
The North rarely held tournaments. While economic limitations played a part, a significant reason was the Northmen's excessive valor and bloodthirstiness.
In the 170th year of the Yingeng Era, the House Umber of Last Hearth once held a grand Team Tournament. Reportedly, 18 people died in that tournament, and the number of those maimed was half again as many.
This Team Tournament led to a lack of top-tier combat power in the North during that period. It also indirectly caused the then Duke Stark, known as the "Black Sword" Basgen, to personally take the field due to a lack of available personnel. He ultimately died in the rebellion on Skagos Island.
Therefore, the later Dukes Stark were not very keen on such Team Tournaments. However, Lady Catelyn was determined to advance her family's standing, and tournaments were one of the essential means for a family to display its wealth and influence.
What she didn't know was that tournaments on Westeros were like a curse; whoever held one was doomed. The most recent tournament directly caused the decline of House Arryn and even indirectly destroyed the Targaryen Dynasty.
The one held after Eddard arrived in King's Landing was even more brutal, directly leading to the demise of a king and triggering a series of chaotic events. It's clear that Brynden's move was incredibly venomous. Calling it psychological warfare wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Eddard Stark, unlike his brother, wasn't very interested in such things. However, he couldn't refuse his wife's request and eventually agreed. He did, however, make a request: that the weapons be inspected in advance and blunted to minimize casualties.
But death was precisely what Brynden wanted to see. His proposal for a Team Tournament was solely to identify the powerful warriors hidden in the North, preferably to wear them down in advance, preparing for the future.
"Lord Jon! Lord Jon! Young Lord Robb is looking for you!"
At that moment, a hurried shout snapped Jon out of his thoughts. A tall, burly figure suddenly rushed in front of him.
"Alright! Hodor... Oh! Sorry! I should call you Willis."
Just as he came back to his senses, Jon instinctively called out the person's name, only to realize his mistake. He realized the situation was different because the person before him was no longer the former Hodor; he was Willis, who had regained his senses.
Hodor was a servant in Winterfell. His mother and grandmother were both maids in Winterfell. However, when he was 10 years old, he suddenly became mentally disabled for unknown reasons. From then on, he could only say one word, "Hodor," and over time, people started calling him Hodor.
The reason he became this way was because at some point in the future, Bran Stark, while ascending to the Three-Eyed Raven, was attacked by the Night King. Bran lost control of his powers and, in an unconscious act, turned Willis into an imbecile.
However, since Markol changed the fate of the Three-Eyed Raven, Willis had regained some awareness and cognition. Finally, with the help of Aijiu, the Forest Witch, under Jon's command, Willis gradually recovered and became a normal person. It was said that during this time, his mother and grandmother were already preparing to find him a wife, and he had become a guard in Winterfell.
During this period, Willis had been following Robb Stark, delivering messages and running errands for him. Soon, under Willis's lead, Jon met Robb.
At this moment, the three adult young lords of Winterfell were receiving shaving services from the servants. Because the King was arriving tomorrow, Lady Catelyn did not want her family to be looked down upon by the southern nobles, so she arranged this.
This time, perhaps because Jon represented Skagos Island, or perhaps because Jon had contributed a lot during this time, he was allowed by Lady Catelyn to stand in the welcoming sequence of the vassals.
In recent times, with the rise of Skagos Island's power in the North, Lady Catelyn had to re-examine her relationship with Jon. Although she still disliked Jon, for the sake of her children, she had to consider the attitude of Skagos Island.
Although House Stark was the strongest noble family in the North, her eldest son had no outstanding achievements or merits. Eddard Stark was different; his achievements and personal martial prowess were among the top in the Seven Kingdoms. (Our poor "Fallen Sword" deserves a better fate, even in death, he's used to highlight Eddard's bravery.)
In the future, Jon would likely be ennobled with Skagos Island. If he helped Robb then, the next generation of House Stark would be even more prosperous. Lady Catelyn hoped that after she and her husband were gone, Robb's position would be more secure.
So, over this period, Jon felt that Lady Catelyn was treating him differently. She didn't stop Arya Stark from spending time with him like she used to. As a result, our "Arya" had learned how to ride a horse and wield a sword, becoming a near-perfect copy of Lyanna.
The next day, as dawn broke, Winterfell was already bustling with activity. The Team Tournament had drawn a large crowd of commoners and merchants, making the scene far more lively than in the TV series.
Soon, the King's procession entered through the South Gate. Brynden and Jon stood with the other members of the household. After King Robert accepted everyone's bows, he took Eddard to the Crypts.
This made Jon look at him in a new light. However, he also overheard Queen Cersei's comments about his mother, which left him slightly displeased.
After the welcome ceremony, Brynden called Jon back to their room. Unbeknownst to him, a certain handsome, golden-haired man had noticed that flicker of disapproval in his eyes.
Back in the room, Brynden poured two glasses of wine, habitually handing one to Jon. After taking a sip, he asked Jon, "What do you think of Robert Baratheon?"
Jon took a sip of his wine and replied, "He seems like a decent man. It seems he still hasn't forgotten about Mother."
"Hmph! You're wrong. He's just obsessed because he couldn't have me. He loves himself, and he only remembers me because he couldn't possess me. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a bastard before the wedding."
Lyanna, having materialized from the necklace, spoke with some dissatisfaction. After all these years, she still held some resentment towards her former fiancé.
"Hmph! In my opinion, you and he are the same. The fate of your family vanished because of the entanglement of you three with Rhaegar. Although Aerys also played a part, you all bear responsibility!"
Brynden's words silenced Lyanna, who stood there dejectedly. Brynden was an elder, so she could only listen.
Jon, hearing his mother being reprimanded, instinctively wanted to retort, but found his own position incredibly awkward and was powerless to say anything.
It was then that Jon realized he had merely escaped one tangled mess only to find himself in another. He couldn't find his footing.
Before, he was just a bastard of a Northern Duke. Now, though he knew the true identities of his mother and father, he realized he was caught between two great houses and two dynasties, the old and the new.
Endless anguish and sorrow flooded Jon's heart, making him unconsciously think of his former lover, his eyes filled with desolation.
"Boy! I told you a long time ago, we can't choose where we're born, but we can choose what kind of person we want to be! In a way, the two of us are very similar. Both our births and circumstances are alike. My father was a bastard in the eyes of others, and I spent my life burdened by his infamy and dealing with the evil he wrought.
But, my love and I still protected the family we cherished. Although in the end, I bore all the infamy and the sins, I have no regrets. Similarly, you can also choose what kind of person you want to be, instead of just licking your wounds here in silence. We still have many things to do, and the Lord is watching us! I hope you don't forget the oath you made back then."
Brynden's words instantly brought Jon back to his senses. He then said to Brynden with a hint of apology:
"It's my fault! Uncle! I will correct my attitude. Lord Markol said he wanted to rebuild a better and stronger nation, to prevent lords from warring against each other, and to ensure the people have enough to eat and wear. I will not forget it!"
Brynden nodded in satisfaction, saying, "Good! Good! This is how a man of the family should be. Alright, so, do you think King Robert Baratheon is a good king?"
Jon thought carefully for a moment before answering:
"Everyone says he only drinks, womanizes and is like a 'mediocre king', but I haven't heard of him oppressing the common people, which means he's still pretty good. At least, the country hasn't fallen into chaos under his rule."
"You're right, but in the end, you're only seeing the surface. In my opinion, the chaos of the Seven Kingdoms has already taken shape under his hand. Just like your mother said, he is a selfish person who only thinks of himself. He first enfeoffed his two younger brothers on Dragonstone and in the Stormlands, just to have them protect the capital and ensure the stability of his kingdom. Then he threw the government to the Prime Minister and the Small Council, so he could happily drink, hunt, and ooxx."
But over time, it was hard to guarantee that his two brothers wouldn't have their own agendas. Moreover, because of certain reasons, he had been suppressing the Reach, leading to the expansion of House Lannister's power in the Westerlands, to the point where they could directly influence the country. And the most ridiculous thing was that his three children weren't even his blood.
However, he still had some insight, at least knowing to pull your uncle into this. Riverlands, the Vale, the North, and the Crownlands – these four powers seemed strong, but they were nothing compared to the Westerlands and the Reach. Sigh! If those two houses joined forces in the future, then in the Seven Kingdoms, except for the North, they would basically call the shots. At that time, they could simply support an ambitious noble from the North and the Vale, and they could completely control Westeros."
Jon slowly digested Brynden's words, deeply admiring Brynden's insight and foresight. So he said:
"Granduncle! You are truly amazing! But from which intelligence did you deduce the bloodlines of those three children? Did I miss something?"
Brynden chuckled, "Nonsense! Of course, it's thanks to my magic! If this could be figured out from intelligence, then Robert of House Baratheon would have killed his queen long ago!
Don't forget, House Baratheon has dragon blood flowing in their veins. Those three little brats reek of lions, how could I not sense it? It seems you need to strengthen your magic studies!"
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