Chapter 9 - A New Venture

With the bandits dealt with and the lords departed, Winterfell settled into a familiar rhythm. Robb Stark, however, found his mind occupied by something entirely different. The idea that had taken root in his thoughts during their night at the Frosted Tankard refused to be ignored.

The North was rich in resources—iron, timber, fur, and above all else, ice. The conversation he had overheard from the Braavosi merchant lingered in his mind. Cold ale in the heat of Braavos. If the Free Cities longed for something that the North had in abundance, why should they not supply it?

The morning air was crisp as Robb stood on the battlements, watching as the first hints of sunrise painted the sky in soft hues of orange and pink. The snow-covered courtyards of Winterfell stretched below, the distant sight of Winter Town's smoking chimneys catching his attention. If they could find a way to transport ice and preserve it, this could be the beginning of something greater than simple trade—it could be the North's foothold into an economic power beyond the Wall and beyond the Seven Kingdoms.

Jon Snow approached, rubbing his hands together for warmth. "You've been out here for a while."

Robb exhaled, nodding. "Couldn't sleep. My mind keeps turning over something."

Jon followed his gaze. "What's on your mind, Robb?"

Robb sighed, still looking out over the horizon. "That Braavosi merchant from the tavern... Something he said stuck with me."

Jon tilted his head, curious. "What did he say?"

Robb exhaled. "He was drinking cold ale, enjoying every drop of it. He said something about how he would give anything to have that luxury in the heat of Braavos. That got me thinking. The North has always been a place where we take what we can get, but what if we could change that? What if we had something the rest of the world wanted?"

Jon frowned slightly, thoughtful. "Ice?"

Robb nodded. "It's everywhere here. It preserves food, keeps drinks cool—things that the south and the Free Cities would pay for. If we find a way to transport it, we could turn it into something valuable. More trade means more coin, and more coin means a stronger North."

Jon exhaled, staring at the frozen land before them. "It's a bold idea."

"And I'll need help to make it happen," Robb said. "I'll need to speak with Maester Luwin, the traders in White Harbor, and anyone who knows how to store ice for long periods."

Jon smirked. "You sound like a lord with ambitions beyond swords and shields."

Robb chuckled. "Perhaps I am. This could be something big, something that changes the way the North does business."

*****

Robb found Maester Luwin in the library, hunched over a set of scrolls with a wax tablet beside him. The old man looked up as Robb entered, adjusting the chain around his neck.

"Lord Robb," Luwin greeted with a small nod. "You're up early."

"I need your advice."

Luwin gestured to the chair across from him, and Robb took a seat. "Go on."

Robb hesitated for only a moment before diving in. "Ice," he said. "Not for food storage, but for trade. The Free Cities, the southern kingdoms—they have gold, but they don't have winter. What if we could sell them ice?"

Luwin blinked, then sat back, stroking his beard. "A bold idea. But not an impossible one."

Robb leaned forward. "Is there a way to keep ice from melting? Something that could let us transport it farther?"

The maester tapped his fingers on the table. "There are methods. Thick-walled storage keeps ice longer, but for transport, you would need something more. Salt slows melting, as does compacting the ice tightly. Sawdust or straw can insulate it. In colder months, you could transport it uncovered, but in the warmer seasons, you'd need modified carts."

Robb listened intently, his mind racing. "If we cut ice from the frozen lakes, store it in underground cellars packed in sawdust, could we keep it solid for months?"

Luwin nodded. "If done properly, yes."

Robb exhaled, feeling the first pieces of a plan forming. "Then I need to test it."

With the help of Winterfell's stewards, Robb arranged for a block of ice to be cut from a nearby frozen stream and stored in one of the deep cellars beneath the castle. They packed it in sawdust and sealed it inside a wooden crate, leaving it in the dark, insulated room. If it remained solid for a few weeks, it would prove that the North's cold could be captured and preserved.

While overseeing the storage, Lyanna Mormont found him in the cellar, arms crossed as she watched him work.

"I hear you're selling winter now," she remarked dryly.

Robb smirked. "Not yet. But if this works, it could mean wealth for the North."

Lyanna studied him for a moment. "It's not a bad idea," she admitted. "But you'll need more than sawdust and crates to get it to Braavos."

Robb grinned. "That's the next problem to solve."

She shook her head, but there was respect in her eyes. "You think like a king, Stark."

The words struck him—not as a jest, but as truth. Robb hadn't set out to rule anything more than Winterfell, but if the North was to grow stronger, it needed more than swords and banners. It needed trade, wealth, and independence.

And winter itself might be the key.

The following week saw Robb investing more time into the idea. He spoke with traders, smiths, and sailors, trying to piece together how a full-scale operation might work. The Riverlands had strong trade connections—White Harbor had ships. If he could convince Lord Manderly to support this venture, they could test small shipments of ice, sending them southward before the summer heat set in.

Theon, at first amused, had quickly taken an interest. "Braavosi merchants love their luxuries," he had told Robb one evening. "If you can get them to pay for something no one else can offer, they'll come back for more."

Jon had pointed out the challenges. "If the idea works, others will try to copy it. You'll need a way to control who gets the ice."

Lyanna had simply nodded and said, "You'll need guards. If something's worth gold, it's worth stealing."

With every conversation, the plan became clearer. This wasn't just an experiment anymore—it was a new path for the North.

And Robb Stark, heir of Winterfell, would see it through.

*****

A few days later, Robb rode to White Harbor accompanied by Theon Greyjoy and Lyanna Mormont. White Harbor, the largest city in the North, held Winterfell's best connection to sea trade. If ice was to become a valuable commodity, it would begin here. The city's white stone walls gleamed in the winter sun, a stark contrast to the dark waters of the harbor below.

Lord Wyman Manderly received them in his grand hall, a welcoming smile on his round face. The warmth of the hearth and the smell of fresh-baked bread filled the air. "Young Wolf, I hear you've been thinking like a merchant."

Robb smirked, catching Theon's amused glance from the corner of his eye. "That, or a fool."

"Sometimes there is little difference," Manderly chuckled, his multiple chins quivering with mirth. "Now, tell me of this idea of yours."

Robb explained his vision—harvesting ice from the frozen lakes, storing it in insulated crates, and shipping it to warmer lands. He detailed the potential markets in Dorne and across the Narrow Sea, where ice could be as precious as jewels. Manderly listened intently, nodding along as he considered the possibilities, his fingers drumming thoughtfully on his ornate chair.

"When winter comes, ice is a curse," Manderly mused, reaching for his goblet of wine. "But in the right hands, it could be gold. The South always thirsts for ways to cool their wines and preserve their foods."

"So you think it's possible?" Robb asked, aware of Lyanna's keen attention beside him, her emerald eyes sharp with interest.

"Possible? Aye," Manderly confirmed, leaning forward in his seat. "Difficult? Also aye. But the most profitable ventures often are. We'll need special warehouses, reliable ships, trusted captains."

Robb felt a surge of excitement course through him, like the rush before battle. The first step had been taken. The North had always been a land of warriors, but now, it could also be a land of merchants. The possibilities seemed as endless as the frozen lakes themselves.

And Robb Stark was determined to make it happen, to show the realm that the North could be more than just swords and snow.