Game of Dragonborn.

Chapter 171 - Routine in Winterfell 02.

[Chapter Size: 2200 Words.]

Third Person POV.

Winterfell.

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The days went by in Winterfell as Jon continued answering letters that arrived and remained busy with audiences and with construction or renovations in the castle, together with the masons he had gathered from Wintertown and even from the free folk themselves, who had recently been taught how to handle southern-style constructions.

The free folk were prejudiced, but not stupid. They understood the importance of having a castle or a stone house rather than living in tents made of animal hide. They would also be useful in building the city at the Gift.

As for the letters, those from the North had started to diminish, and now letters from the South were arriving.

The routine in Winterfell continued the same for the next three days, while he awaited the arrival of men from both north and south, and the lords from every region. The southern army, coming from the Dustin lands, was already in Cerwyn territory, with Lady Cerwyn and the mother of the boy Grey also joining the march toward Winterfell. They would arrive in a few days.

Stannis and his men continued to harass White Harbor and did not seem to have the courage to come north to face direct confrontation. They knew of the army marching to Winterfell and preferred to try surrounding a port and capturing Jon's ships and food rather than risking themselves in the North. The lords of the Stormlands were greatly shaken after losing their fleets and found themselves in a bad situation. Not that Jon cared much about that — after all, they were his enemies. He only had to keep an eye on the food stored in the port's granaries, as it was fundamental for his people and his military campaign.

In any case, Daemon opened his eyes that morning, and his day began quietly. Today he thought of doing more than simply answering letters and checking castle matters. He decided to return to his routine. He dressed quickly and left his room, followed by his men, who greeted him as soon as he opened the door. Jon also felt another invisible presence in the corridor following him: his mother, who waited for him every morning to follow him for the rest of the day.

She could not leave Winterfell, and it seemed there was nothing more interesting for her than to observe her son's routine, remaining invisible and only appearing when they were alone. She had also developed a strange habit of enjoying scaring people in the crypts. She would usually let out screams and moans at the entrance, and the guards and whoever passed nearby would hear them and become frightened.

Jon had to change the guard nine times.

And the rumors spread: they spoke of a ghost and even asked Jon to use his special powers to eliminate the supposed 'evil being.' Some even said they were the ghosts of the Starks, enraged at Jon for having taken Winterfell, going against the wolves themselves. But such comments came from a minority who did not sympathize with him.

Thanks to the event that had taken place with Dawnbreaker, Jon had gained the admiration and adoration of everyone. The people of the North looked at him with respect and submission, for they believed he had received a shining sword from the old gods. The flash they had seen was interpreted as a divine sign, and since it occurred in the godswood, the association with the old gods was immediate.

Jon had also done something that surprised not only the northerners but even the free folk, who seemed satisfied with his decision.

That morning, the first thing he did was go outside the castle, where he observed the men wielding hammers. Their task was clear: to tear down the sept once and for all. The blows soon began to echo against the walls, stones breaking free and falling, cracks spreading through the place, weakening the foundations of the temple of the southern gods more and more.