Chapter 108: Eddard's Matchmaking

Ever since Fellan saved Lady Barbrey, the widow of Barrowton, from wild wolves in the Wolfswood, the relationship between Lady Barbrey and Fellan had grown increasingly intimate; they went horseback riding in the wild every day, picked produce at the manor, and prayed together in the Godswood at dusk.

Domeric told Eddard that he had never seen his aunt, Lady Barbrey, so happy. Sansa and Catelyn both felt that Lady Barbrey was in love.

The alliance formed through marriage between Barrowton, the Rills, and the Dreadfort had once given Eddard a headache, but now that Eddard had kept the Dreadfort Heir, Domeric Bolton, at Winterfell as a ward, he had successfully checked the three-way alliance.

Fellan had become a vassal of Winterfell; with his noble status, he could better pursue Lady Barbrey.

Once Lady Barbrey married Fellan, it would undoubtedly strengthen the relationship between Barrowton and Winterfell. Lady Barbrey was a daughter of the Rills; if Eddard won her support, the Rills would also become more loyal to Winterfell because of it.

A few days later at noon, in the square of the Winter Town, Eddard stood on a high platform with Dawson, Fellan, and Syrio Forel.

Fellan wore a blue velvet robe and a sable fur cloak, with a Dragonbone Bow slung over his shoulder, looking exceptionally magnificent; the guard Dawson wore enamel scale armor, his dark gray cloak fastened with a Direwolf Silver Pin, looking immensely valiant; the Water Dancer Syrio Forel, much like an assassin from Braavos, wore a yellow and green robe, looking thoroughly flamboyant.

The people of the Winter Town—the boy selling bread and Hot Pie, the fishermen selling catches from the White Knife, and the farmers selling turnips and pumpkins—gathered one after another before the platform, gazing at the Northmen warriors and Duke Eddard upon it.

Because Fellan was skilled in archery, possessing the ability to hit a willow leaf at a hundred paces, and was a master archer, Eddard chose the surname "Barrett" for Fellan. Fellan did not understand what Barrett meant, but he accepted the surname nonetheless.

Dawson was Eddard's personal guard; this burly, bearded man was almost inseparable from Eddard and was loyal to the core. During the Rock-born War, a Rockborn warrior attacked Eddard on the battlefield but was intercepted by Dawson, who smashed the enemy's face in with his shield; therefore, Eddard chose the surname "Shield" for Dawson.

Dawson Shield, Fellan Barrett, and Syrio Forel knelt before Eddard; after rising, they became nobles under Winterfell in the North.

Eddard spoke loudly to the onlookers around him: "Fellan was once a horse thief and a poacher, and Dawson was also a poacher in the Wolfswood, while Syrio Forel comes from Braavos. They have rendered meritorious service to Winterfell and performed bravely in the war against the Rockborn on Skagos. I therefore grant each of them the title of Baron, and bestow upon them manors, horses, and coins. They and their descendants shall become lords of Winterfell!"

The onlookers immediately erupted into a clamor, discussing it fervently.

"Horse thieves, poachers, and foreigners can become lords if they perform military service. It seems there are benefits to being a soldier for Stark!"

"Lord Stark rewards merit."

"It seems I must send my son to Winterfell to be a soldier."

A burly farmer carrying a hammer asked, "Lord Stark, are you still recruiting?"

"Military colonies and the Wall are both recruiting," Eddard told the farmer and those around him. "These soldiers, if they perform meritorious service, have the chance to become Winterfell personal guards, military colony commanders, or captains of castles on the Wall, and even have the chance to obtain titles. A common soldier's pay is 40 copper coins, a Winterfell personal guard 50 copper coins, a military colony commander 80 copper coins, and a captain 100 copper coins. Once a soldier is promoted to Baron, they are a noble."

"Right now, the Crown Town military colony, and the Green Guard, Westbridge, and Nightfort on the Wall are all recruiting. There are not many spots left, so hurry if you want to sign up."

Watching the glorious Fellan, Dawson, and Syrio Forel on the platform, the people of the North eagerly signed up one after another; in just one afternoon, Eddard recruited over eight hundred soldiers for Winterfell.

These soldiers would be sent to the Crown Town military colony and the Wall. Now, Winterfell and the Night's Watch had reached a cooperation; Night's Watch craftsmen and Winterfell soldiers were working together to repair the Green Guard next to Eastwatch, the Nightfort in the center of the Wall, and Westbridge at the westernmost end.

Once these castles were repaired, they could become "refrigerators" for the North's winter reserves, places for the people of the North and the Night's Watch to store grain and seafood. To the south of the Green Guard, the Nightfort, and Westbridge, Winterfell's soldiers would back themselves against the Wall to open up a series of manors and military colonies.

Eddard not only hoped to build the Gift into a defensive line for the Wall, but he also hoped the Gift would become a granary in the future; he needed manpower, and these new recruits could inject fresh blood into the Wall and the Gift.

Green Guard Captain Haihua wrote to Winterfell, claiming that he and Eastwatch commander Cotter Pyke were cooperating happily, and that the brothers of the Night's Watch were very fond of the longships sent by Winterfell; these longships were all captured by Winterfell from Ironborn Pirates and the Rockborn during the Rock-born War.

Now these longships were used to guard the coastline and apprehend smugglers, and Eastwatch's naval power had increased. Many longships were also used for fishing—salmon, cod, herring, saury, yellow croaker, tuna, and more—enriching the tables of the brothers of the Night's Watch.

Fellan, Syrio, and Dawson returned to Winterfell with Eddard. Dawson said in a rough voice, "Lord Eddard, I never thought I would be able to become a lord in this lifetime."

Eddard smiled, "These are all things you deserve."

Syrio stroked his assassin sword, "Lord Eddard, we will certainly repay your kindness and trust. My sword will always fight for Winterfell!"

Fellan's hand slid over his Dragonbone Longbow, "And my bow and arrows!"

After Dawson and Syrio left, Eddard called Fellan back, "How have you been getting along with Lady Barbrey these past few days?"

Fellan's eyes shimmered with happiness, "I accompany Lady Barbrey every day, walking in the Godswood and the Winter Town, and sometimes we go to nearby manors. Yesterday we went to the Library Tower, and Lady Barbrey even taught me how to read! We are going hunting in the Wolfswood this afternoon."

"Lady Barbrey is a charming woman." Eddard patted Fellan on the shoulder, "You must seize the opportunity."

Fellan immediately became nervous, "Lord Eddard, Lady Barbrey is of noble birth; even if she were willing to accept me, her maiden family would certainly object. As for the people of the Dustin House in Barrowton, they would certainly object to Lady Barbrey marrying me as well."

"You are now a vassal of Winterfell, a noble of the North." Although compared to the Dustin House and the Roderick Dustin family, Fellan only had a few manors as his territory, which seemed insignificant, Eddard felt there was no need to remind Fellan of this.

"Lady Barbrey will not listen to her father at all. As for those brothers-in-law of hers from her husband's side in Barrowton, they have even less power to interfere with Lady Barbrey's marriage. Fellan, happiness must be pursued by oneself."

(End of Chapter)