Chapter 10 - Trial run

Robb made his way to his father's solar, his mind set on the plan he had spent weeks refining. The test shipments had proven successful, and now, it was time to take the next step. He needed Lord Eddard Stark's approval, and while Robb had no doubts about the merit of his idea, he knew that his father would have questions, concerns, and expectations.

As he knocked and entered, Lord Stark looked up from a map of the North spread across his table. The room smelled of parchment and the faint aroma of burning wood from the hearth.

"Robb," Ned greeted, setting his quill down.

Robb took a steadying breath and stepped forward. "I have an idea that could bring wealth to the North, something that we can trade with the Free Cities and the South—ice."

Ned raised an eyebrow. "Ice?"

"Aye," Robb nodded. "The South, Essos, they suffer under the heat. They pay fortunes for cold wine and preserved meats, and they don't have the winters we do. We have an abundance of ice, father. If we can find a way to transport and sell it, we could create something that lasts, something that strengthens the North beyond just swords and soldiers."

Ned leaned back in his chair, considering his son's words. "And you've tested this?"

"Yes," Robb said eagerly. "With Maester Luwin's help, we stored blocks of ice in sawdust and insulated crates. The trial shipments kept for weeks, even in the milder climate of White Harbor. If we send it by ship, properly packed, it will hold long enough to reach the Free Cities. I've spoken with Lord Manderly. He agrees it could work."

Ned exhaled slowly, studying the map before him. "A venture like this is costly, and riskier still. If the ice melts before reaching its destination, we lose everything. The North does not have coin to waste on gambles."

Robb was ready for this. "That's why I will fund the trial run myself."

Ned looked at him sharply. "With your own coin?"

Robb nodded. "I should have enough coin saved up to see it through. I won't risk the treasury on an untested venture. But if this succeeds, it could change everything. This could be a trade the North controls, one that doesn't rely on Southern lords. We would set the terms, we would dictate the price."

A silence stretched between them. Then, Ned's expression softened, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes. "You've thought this through. And you've taken responsibility for its failure, should it come to that. That is the mark of a leader."

Robb straightened. "Then I have your permission to go forward?"

Ned nodded. "One ship, one voyage. See if it works. If it does, we'll speak further. But if you fail, you do so knowing it was your risk to take."

Robb felt relief wash over him. This was the moment he had been working toward.

"I'll see to the preparations immediately."

As Robb left the solar, he knew that this was only the beginning. The North had always been a land of warriors, but now, they would be something more.

The first shipment of ice would soon set sail, and with it, the future of a new Northern trade.

*****

Robb wasted no time in arranging the shipment. With the help of Jon, Theon, and Lyanna, he oversaw the careful packing of ice into heavily insulated crates, ensuring that the sawdust was layered thick and the wood was reinforced for the journey ahead. The docks at White Harbor bustled with activity as workers loaded the cargo onto the ship.

Theon inspected the ship with a grin. "I'll travel with the shipment," he volunteered. "Might as well make sure no one gets any bright ideas about our cargo."

Robb eyed him for a moment before nodding. "Good. Keep a close watch on everything. If something goes wrong, I want to know about it as soon as possible."

Jon crossed his arms. "It's a long journey Greyjoy. You sure you're up for it?"

Theon smirked. "A chance to see Essos? I wouldn't miss it."

Lyanna, overseeing the last of the crates, turned to Robb. "This is a risk, but it's a calculated one. If this works, it could change everything."

Robb exhaled, watching as the last crate was secured. "It will work. It has to. Once it reaches Braavos, it will be stored in underground cellars, lined with stone to keep the cold trapped for as long as possible. If the merchants there find it valuable, we will have our first real customer."

As the ship unfurled its sails and began its journey across the Narrow Sea, Robb stood on the dock, watching it disappear into the horizon. For now, all he could do was wait.

*****

Seeking a moment of peace, Robb made his way to the quiet shoreline near White Harbor, Fenrir trotting beside him. The waves crashed gently against the rocky beach, the scent of salt carried by the cold breeze. He found a flat stone and sat, watching the tide roll in, his fingers absentmindedly running through Fenrir's thick fur.

The direwolf sat beside him, eyes sharp and alert as ever, but calm in his master's presence. Robb took a deep breath, allowing himself a rare moment of stillness.

Midway through his solitude, the sound of boots crunching against the wet sand made him turn. Lyanna Mormont approached, arms crossed, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. "You look like a man brooding."

Robb huffed a small laugh. "Not brooding. Just thinking."

Lyanna sat beside him without hesitation, looking out at the sea. "The shipment's gone, and now you're left to wait. Feels strange, doesn't it? Having no control over what happens next?"

He nodded. "It does. But it's done. Now I just have to trust that Theon and the sailors will see it through."

A comfortable silence stretched between them, broken only by the crash of waves. Fenrir, sensing the mood, shifted slightly, resting his head on his paws.

Lyanna spoke first. "You're always thinking of what's next, aren't you? Always looking ahead."

Robb turned to her, noting the way the wind played with her dark hair. "Someone has to. The North deserves better than just surviving."

She studied him for a moment before smiling slightly. "And you? Do you ever think about what you want? Not just for the North—for yourself?"

Robb hesitated, but before he could answer, Lyanna reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. It was an innocent gesture, but one that sent a warmth through him.

"Maybe just for today," she said softly, "you stop thinking about duty and just be here."

Robb held her gaze, a rare moment of understanding passing between them. And for once, he let himself forget everything else—if only for a little while.

Lyanna shifted slightly, drawing her knees up to her chest as she watched the tide roll in. "You know, I never cared much for courtly things—dresses, feasts, noble games. But I do like this." She gestured to the waves, the open sky, the stillness between them. "No expectations, no duties. Just being."

Robb smiled. "It's rare to find peace like this. Even rarer to enjoy it with good company."

Lyanna chuckled softly. "You trying to flatter me, Stark?"

He smirked. "Only if it's working."

She nudged his shoulder playfully, shaking her head. "Maybe a little."

The wind carried the scent of salt and brine, and for a brief moment, it felt as though they were just two people, not heirs of noble houses, not warriors with responsibilities pressing down on them. Just Robb and Lyanna, sharing a quiet moment beneath the endless sky.

Fenrir huffed, breaking the silence, as if to remind them that he was still there. Lyanna reached out, scratching behind his ears. "Even your wolf enjoys the quiet."

Robb exhaled, watching her fingers run through Fenrir's fur. "I think he just likes you."

She met his eyes again, something unspoken lingering between them. "Then he's smarter than most."

Robb wasn't sure if it was the moment, the sea, or the warmth of her presence, but for the first time in a long while, he felt something stir—something that had nothing to do with duty or expectation. He let the moment linger, knowing that soon, reality would call them back.