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The horns sounded across Winterfell like thunder.
King Robert Baratheon had arrived.
Ethan stood in the front line of guards beside Jon and Robb, wearing new black-and-grey leather armor gifted by Ned Stark. His body had changed dramatically in just two weeks. At Level 13, he looked like a young warrior rather than a weak bastard.
Current Status:
Strength: 29
Agility: 28
Endurance: 26
Vitality: 25
Charisma: 29
Dragon Affinity: 5
Level: 13 (450/1500 EXP)
Two Dragon Egg Fragments pulsed warmly in his inventory.
The royal procession was massive. Hundreds of knights, banners of the crowned stag and golden lion flapping in the cold wind. Ethan's eyes scanned every face he recognized from the show.
Robert Baratheon rode at the front — huge, bearded, and already half-drunk. He looked older and more broken than in the series. Behind him rode Cersei Lannister, beautiful and cold as ice, her green eyes scanning Winterfell with clear disdain. Prince Joffrey rode beside her, sneering. Jaime Lannister, the golden knight, sat tall on his white horse. And finally, Tyrion Lannister on a pony, looking amused by everything.
Ned Stark stepped forward to greet them. The formal words were exchanged, but Ethan was focused on the system notifications flooding his vision.
[Main Quest: Survive & Impress the Royal Visit – Active]
[New Hidden Quest: Catch the Attention of a Lannister]
[Warning: Joffrey Baratheon detected. High hostility probability toward lowborns.]
As the royal party dismounted, Sansa stood with her family in a beautiful blue gown. Her eyes found Ethan's across the courtyard. A secret, loving smile touched her lips before she looked away. Their bond was now at 99/100 — only one point away from full "Devoted Lover".
The feast that night in the Great Hall was loud and chaotic. Robert roared with laughter, slamming mugs with Ned. Cersei sat like a queen, watching everyone. Joffrey looked bored and cruel, picking at his food.
Ethan was seated at the lower tables with the guards, but his Charisma made people glance at him more than once. During the feast, Tyrion Lannister wandered over, cup in hand.
"Well, well. The famous bastard who saved the little Stark boy," Tyrion said with a smirk. "You don't look like the average northern oaf."
Ethan raised his cup. "And you don't look like the average Lannister, my lord."
Tyrion laughed. "I like you already."
[Favorability with Tyrion Lannister: 35/100 (Amused Interest)]
Later, when the dancing started, Sansa found a moment to pull Ethan into a shadowed corridor.
"I hate this," she whispered, pressing her body against his. "Joffrey keeps staring at me like I'm a prize. I only want you."
Ethan kissed her fiercely, pushing her against the stone wall. His hands roamed under her gown, squeezing her soft thighs.
"Then let me remind you who you belong to," he growled.
They didn't have much time. Ethan lifted her gown, freed himself, and took her right there — fast, desperate, and passionate. Sansa bit his shoulder to stay quiet as he thrust deep inside her, her legs wrapped around his waist. The risk of being caught only made it hotter.
She came hard, trembling in his arms, whispering "I love you" against his neck.
[Harem Bond: Sansa Stark – Fully Devoted] [+300 EXP]
[New Passive: "Rose's Devotion" – Sansa will never betray you]
They returned to the feast separately, flushed and satisfied.
The Next Morning – Training Yard
King Robert insisted on watching the young men train. Joffrey stood beside him, looking arrogant.
Robb, Jon, and Ethan sparred. Ethan fought brilliantly, defeating two of Robert's knights in succession. The king roared in approval.
"Strong bastard!" Robert bellowed. "What's your name, boy?"
"Ethan Snow, Your Grace."
Robert laughed. "Snow! Come here."
Ethan approached. Up close, Robert looked even more tired — a king drowning in wine and regret.
"You've got fire in you," Robert said, clapping his meaty hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Reminds me of myself when I was young. Stay close during the hunt tomorrow."
Joffrey sneered. "A bastard? Father, you honor him too much."
Robert ignored his son.
[Quest Progress: Impress Robert Baratheon – 65%]
But the real tension came later.
While walking back from training, Ethan overheard two Lannister guards whispering near the broken tower.
"…the Imp says use the dagger… make it look like an accident… the boy saw too much…"
Ethan's blood ran cold. The assassination plot on Bran was already in motion.
He immediately went to Bran's room. The boy was playing with wooden knights.
"Bran," Ethan said urgently, closing the door. "Stay away from windows. Sleep in your parents' chamber tonight. Tell no one."
Bran looked confused but nodded. He trusted the boy who had saved him.
That night, Ethan hid in the shadows near Bran's old room, dagger in hand and a Minor Healing Potion ready.
At midnight, a cloaked figure climbed through the window — a Lannister assassin.
The man never stood a chance.
Ethan moved like a shadow. He slit the assassin's throat before the man could draw his blade. Blood sprayed across the stone floor.
[Quest Completed: Eliminate the Assassin Threat]
[+1200 EXP]
[Level 15 Achieved!]
[+3 Stat Points]
[New Skill Unlocked: Basic Stealth Mastery (Lv.1)]
[Title Unlocked: "Shadow of Winterfell" – +20% success in night operations]
Ethan dragged the body out and dumped it in the godswood, making it look like a wildling attack. He wiped the dagger clean — a Valyrian steel catspaw dagger, the same one from the books.
He kept it.
"Mine now," he whispered.
Two Days Later
The royal party was preparing to leave soon, but Robert had decided to stay longer for a grand hunt.
During a private moment in the godswood, Sansa met Ethan again. This time she was bolder. She dropped to her knees in the soft snow behind the heart tree and took him into her mouth for the first time, eager to please. Ethan groaned, fingers tangled in her auburn hair as she learned quickly, eyes watering but full of love.
When he finished, he pulled her up and made love to her against the ancient weirwood, slow and deep, whispering promises of queenship and dragons.
[Harem System Level Up!]
[Slot 2 Unlocked]
[New Potential Targets Added: Margaery Tyrell, Daenerys Targaryen (distant), Cersei Lannister (high risk/high reward)]
As they lay together afterward, wrapped in cloaks, Sansa traced his chest.
"Whatever happens when they leave… promise you'll protect me."
"I promise," Ethan said, kissing her deeply. "I'm going to change everything, Sansa. And you'll be by my side when I do."
System Notification – Night
[Major Arc Transition Incoming]
King Robert will name Ned Stark as Hand of the King in 4 days.
[New Main Quest: Journey to King's Landing] Do you follow the Starks south… or forge your own path?
Ethan looked up at the red leaves of the weirwood tree, the carved face seeming to watch him.
He smiled.
The lions had come to Winterfell.
Soon, the dragon would rise.
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Author's Note:
Thank you all so much for the engagement and comments, I truly appreciate it 🙏
I've received some valuable feedback regarding the pacing and power progression, and honestly, I agree — some parts in the beginning were a bit rushed.
The upcoming chapters will have a slower pace, with more focus on:
Character development
World-building
And a more realistic progression of power
As for some of the changes to the original events, they are intentional since this is an Alternate Universe (AU). However, I will work on making them feel more natural and consistent within the world.
Once again, thank you for all your support 🙏
Don't forget: Power Stones, comments, and adding the story to your library mean a lot to me 🔥