Chapter 5: Broadening my horizons.
Upon waking up, I pondered what to do. My insects were working hard to obtain biomass and procreating with each other, but I had nothing to do. My best idea was to fill the void in my knowledge, so I headed to the library.
I knew that with the Citadel's monopoly on knowledge, finding many books would take a lot of work. Still, I hoped that being the seat of power of House Stark, there would be a large quantity for me to learn about my house's history and alliances.
Considering that Luwin gave his life to save Bran in the future, I hope to change; I would expect to have him as a confidant, but I'm still not sure if I should tell him about my powers; the Citadel, in general, hated magic and had done some terrible things to erase it from the world.
But I could use his attachment to our family to win him over. Still, I avoid talking about my powers, choosing only to study the crucial houses of Westeros and things I need to know in the future.
The Library of Winterfell
I was amazed by the size and the number of books and parchments in Winterfell library. Because of how remote the North was, the Citadel didn't have much pull in this place.
Maester Luwin greeted me with a warm smile.
"Will the wonders ever cease?" Maester Luwin said jokingly, "I never thought the young heir would enter the library without Lord Stark making you attend the lectures."
"I need to fill the gaps in my memory, maester," I told him, and it was true. I didn't know anything about my house, only snippets about wars they fought and things that would happen in the future. But about the past? I was utterly clueless.
"Come on, then, milord. Sit with me," said the Maester, pointing towards an empty chair and the table he was using.
In a quiet corner of the library, surrounded by tomes, I sat next to Maester Luwin. The maester, with his accumulated wisdom over the years, began to explain to me the history of the Northern houses and their lineages, mentioning historical facts and prominent figures.
"Maester Luwin," I began, "there are many things I must know; as you know, much of my knowledge has disappeared due to the blow, and I want to study; I don't want to feel useless. I am the heir to Winterfell, I will be the next Lord Stark, and I cannot lead the North without the necessary knowledge."
Maester Luwin raised an eyebrow with interest, watching me as I continued.
"I think the first topic I should learn about is the Northern houses," I continued. "I would like to learn more about their histories and relationships with my family over the years. Could you recommend some specific texts that would help me better understand the relationships between the houses?"
The maester nodded understandingly.
"Of course, Robb," Luwin replied. "We have detailed records that will be of great help to you. The chronicles of alliances, conflicts, and pacts between the Stark, Bolton, Umber, Mormont, and other lineages are essential for understanding the political history of the North."
I listened attentively as the maester continued explaining each text's relevance and the importance of understanding historical relationships to grasp the present.
"Additionally," Luwin added, pointing to a nearby section of maps, "we have detailed maps that could help you visualize the territories and resources available in Winterfell and its surroundings."
I nodded gratefully, absorbing every word from the maester as it was a crucial lesson for my future as Lord of Winterfell.
"Thank you, Maester Luwin," I said sincerely. "Your guidance is important to me."
Luwin smiled. "I am here to guide you in your quest for knowledge, Robb. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have more questions or need further information."
With that promise, I thanked Maester Luwin. I immersed myself even deeper in the library, determined to absorb all the knowledge I could about the Northern houses and their complex relationships.
I delved deeply into the ancestral history of my own house, sitting beside a window that let in the soft afternoon sunlight.
Carefully flipping through an old book titled "The Starks of Winterfell: A History," I was fascinated by the pages that described the legendary origins of House Stark in the days of the ancient Age of Heroes.
"The House Stark," I murmured as I read, "Founded by Brandon the Builder, who raised the walls of Winterfell and established House Stark as the guardians of the North."
Brandon, the builder, was one of the most important characters in Game of Thrones; everything he accomplished paved the way to the present; the Wall he created with the help of the first man and the children of the forest protected us from the actual threat in the beyond. People in the present think that it was built to protect us of the free folk, but in truth, it was enhanced with magic to prevent the white walkers from entering the land of the living.
I marveled at the stories of the Stark ancestors, the early lords who had shaped the fate of Winterfell and its lands. I read about the early kings of the North and their feats, like the legendary King Jon Stark, who unified the Northern houses and defended the North from the incursions of the Free Folk beyond the Wall.
As I progressed through the pages, I discovered detailed accounts of the great battles that had shaped my house's history. The Battle of the Thousand Streams, where the Starks defeated the river kings and secured their dominion over the lands of the Trident. I also read about the fierce resistance of the Starks during Aegon the Conqueror's Conquest, when King Torrhen Stark knelt before the dragon to save his people from destruction.
One of the kings that surprised me was the story of Brandon the Burner, as, according to the book, he was responsible for why the North was weak against naval attacks in the present. Bran the Burner was a king who led the North when the Ironborn decided to attack the North for resources and saltwives.
The King decided to create a great fleet to fight the Ironborn outside of the North, but he made a drastic decision to ensure the fleet made for the North could not be used by the Ironborn. He decided to Burn the entire fleet to destroy the attackers and prevent their use against them.
The book also mentioned the internal revolutions that had shaken House Stark over the centuries. I read about the Hornwood Rebellion when House Stark intervened to resolve disputes and restore peace in the North. I also paused at the Iron Rebellion, an internal conflict that threatened to divide the Northern lands until Stark intervened to restore order and unity.
As the afternoon wore on, I absorbed more of my house's history. The Starks were not only guardians of the North but also protectors of their people and defenders of justice. Each page reminded me of my future Lord of Winterfell's responsibility and the importance of learning from my ancestors' mistakes and triumphs.
I closed the book momentarily and rose from the table to search for a book on Stark's allies.
I delved deeper into Winterfell's library's books, learning stories about the allied houses of the North. I read dusty volumes detailing the family lines of Houses Umber, Mormont, Manderly, and other nobles who shared the vast and cold domain of the North with the Starks.
I discovered that the Umbers, famous for their ferocity in battle, had been trusted allies in numerous wars against external enemies. The Mormonts, known for their bravery and loyalty, had sent warriors to fight alongside the Starks on many occasions, from the Wars Beyond the Wall to the Ironborn raids on the northern coasts.
The Manderlys, expert traders, and astute politicians, had built a prosperous White Harbor city and were pillars in the North's economy. They were the wealthiest house in the North, and I started thinking about ways the Starks could rise on the ladder.
The North was poor, and it had many virgin lands that were unused. When I earned the trust of my parents, I started making changes to give the peasants a better life.
Taking meticulous notes, I drew connections between the houses, their mottos, and their historical actions. I recognized the importance of understanding my allies' motivations and strengths to forge a stronger bond in times of peace and war.
Next day
I returned to the library with a brief greeting to Maester Luwin, who nodded kindly. After paying my respects to the maester, I delved into the shelves, searching for knowledge about biology, medicine, and flora and fauna of the North.
Understanding more about these subjects would broaden my general understanding and offer me new perspectives on how to use my abilities more effectively to benefit Winterfell and its inhabitants.
Consuming medical plants with my insects would allow me to create many beings that will have the same properties as the plants. For example, mosquitoes, when they bite, provide an amount of adrenaline, or if I consume the milk of the poppy, I'll have an effective painkiller to use when needed.
I selected several ancient books covering a wide range of topics, from the anatomy and physiology of Northern creatures to the medicinal properties of local plants. I immersed myself in detailed studies of the animal species that inhabited the surrounding forests and mountains, learning about their behaviors, habitats, and roles within the ecosystem.
In addition, I consulted manuscripts on traditional healing methods used by maesters and healers of the North over the centuries. Improving my understanding of medicine and biology would help me explore new ways to use my powers and prepare me to face future challenges that might require creative and swift solutions.
Healthcare in Westeros was a joke; the healers and what posed like that in this land knew about the importance of cleanliness, but they couldn't enforce it.
Peasants didn't bathe, or they did it sporadically; nobles were the same. They bathed more constantly than peasants, but they also bathed in incense or perfumes to hide the stench they must have.
Life expectancy was low, even more so in the North, since winter was dangerous to everyone, and people couldn't maintain their diet without food. Children died because of malnutrition or exposure to the weather. Most healers used a combination of herbs, potions, and a narrow knowledge of surgical techniques. A lot of prayers, too.
A typical cold could kill people without treatment, and it was a complete mess that I had to change for the better in the future.
As I started planning ways to change healthcare, I noticed that the sun was beginning to set on the horizon.
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I would appreciate it if my readers could help me with something I'm not sure of. The next chapter will be an interlude, mostly different POVs of other people in Winterfell.
The thing I'm having trouble with is if Maester Luwin should get on the secret cabal of Robbs powers which for the moment consists of only him and his parents.
So if some of you could give me some reasons why he should/shouldn't know about it I'd appreciate it a lot.
I'm leaning towards yes since we know he is loyal to the starks, (including dying for Brann) and he could add a lot of things to the table, he gave his life for knowledge. Also, he could "comment" about the dangers that Ned and Cat don't know (The Citadel) since he would know about the hateboner they have for magic.
Tell me what you guys think, please. Just do it thinking of the pros and cons it could have and if you would do it if you were in his place.
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter and I'll see you guys tomorrow!