Author's Note:

Hi! This is just my second fanfiction story. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Please point out any grammatical or other forms of errors so that I can avoid them in the future.

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CHEERS!

PROLOGUE

To his most esteemed and gracious king, Robb the first of his name,

King of Winter, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men,

Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, Zarabelo, humble

Archmaester of the Citadel wishes thousand prosperity, now and forever,

and wisdom unmatchful.

...

THE NORTH

The vast and frigid realm of the Starks of Winterfell, generally considered as the first and the oldest of the Seven Kingdoms, in that it has endured, unconquered for the longest. The vagaries of geography and history set the North apart from their southron neighbors.

The North, comprising of more than a third of the realm, is ruled by House Stark of Winterfell, which they have ruled for thousands of years. Beginning at the southern edge of the Neck, the domains of the Starks extend as far north as the New Gift. Within the North are great forests, windswept plains, hills and valleys, rocky shores, and snow-crowned mountains. The North is a cold land - much of it rising moorlands and high plains giving way to mountains in its northern reaches. Snow falls here even in summer and it is deadly in winter. As deadly as the Northmen when their fury is roused, as the saying goes.

Once, White Harbor was the sole city in the North. But now, there are four - Winter City, White Harbor, Rillhaven and Port Cailin.

Winter City, considered to be the most beautiful city in Westeros, is the capital of the North and the largest city in the region. It is spread over an intricate network of natural hot springs around Winterfell, the ancestral seat of the Royal House of Stark. With ice-capped mountains bordering it in the north, the large Wolfswood in the north-west, the river White Knife in the south and with perpetual snowfall in a misty landscape, it is justified to call this city as the most beautiful in Westeros. Previously it was just a small town which used to get filled during winter and remain four-fifths empty during summer. But then it was improved and expanded on the orders of His Grace King Robb when he became the Lord of Winterfell in his father's absence in 298 AC. The city contains a large inland harbor in the headwater of White Knife.

Rillhaven, located in the Rills, is the only city on the west coast of the North. It is the entry and exit point for trade between the Riverlands, Westerlands, Reach and the North.

White Harbor is a harbor city on the east coast of the North which contains New Castle, the seat of House Manderly. It lies at the mouth of the White Knife and it is the primary trade port in the east. It provides defense to the White Knife - the river that provides access to the very heart of the North.

Port Cailin is the fourth and smallest city in the North and just a little larger than a huge town in size. It serves as a trading port where merchants traveling on land from the south transport their goods by ships past White Harbour into the North and across the Narrow Sea to Braavos. Due to the close relations between the Royal Stark family and Braavos, many trade ships from Braavos dock at Port Cailin.

Excerpt from the book History of Westeros by Archmaester Zarabelo.

The Red Keep, 304 AC

A young and lean man with dark brown hair, grey eyes, and a long solemn face walked down the corridor that led to the throne room with his huge direwolf padding alongside him. A shiny badge of office shaped like a hand sat upon his chest which signified his position as the third most powerful person in the Seven Kingdoms. He was followed by two members of the deadly Wolfsguard - Deputy Commander Rodrik Forrester and Ser Balon Swann, who were charged with his protection for the day. As usual, he was on time and was about to hold court in the absence of his King and Queen, something which doesn't happen often. Hundreds of ladies and lords from every kingdom were waiting for him in the throne room. As he entered the cavernous hall, all of them stood up in respect and herald started announcing

"ALL RISE FOR PRINCE JON OF HOUSE STARK, LORD OF STARKFORT AND HAND OF THE KING".

Author's Note:

My messages for the reviewers of my story 'Oath of the Bold':

Nina - Thanks Nina! You wished it was a novel-length story. So here it is!

Heart of Lies - Thanks a lot for your encouragement.

jelpy1 - The intriguing story that you asked for is here :)

Clary Sage - Thanks for the review!

adirtycanadian - I am happy that you found it interesting. Thanks for the review.

mpowers045 - Thanks a lot!