Some time later, the two returned to the village.
Behind Dacey, the two bear cubs followed cautiously. Every now and then they would stop to sniff their surroundings before quickly hurrying after her again.
Naturally, this drew the attention of everyone they encountered along the way.
People stopped what they were doing and stared at Dacey in astonishment.
Several quickly approached and asked what was going on with the cubs.
They knew perfectly well that those little creatures were usually the first to run away whenever they saw anything that was not their mother.
"Harry helped me tame them," Dacey said briefly, offering no explanation before continuing on her way with Harry.
Everyone fell silent.
Then they turned to look at Harry in disbelief.
Generations of islanders had tried to tame bears, yet Harry had managed it after spending only a single day on the island?
The small crowd followed Dacey all the way to the longhall, where Maege and Ned had just stepped outside.
"Mother!" Dacey called out from a distance, immediately drawing their attention.
Maege was stunned when she saw the pair of cubs following her daughter.
The cubs kept a wary eye on their surroundings while sticking as close to her as possible, displaying a clear sense of dependence.
Ned merely saw his son beside Dacey and assumed he was somehow responsible for the small crowd trailing behind them.
"Mother, Harry helped me tame these two cubs," Dacey said when she saw Maege's questioning expression.
Maege did not answer immediately.
Instead, she carefully observed the cubs.
There were countless records of attempts to tame bears, but they had always relied on feeding them and trying to earn their trust.
In the end, one usually became the bear's servant only to eventually become its dinner.
Yet these cubs behaved differently from anything she had ever heard of.
Perhaps there truly was some truth to Dacey's words.
Her eyes shifted toward Harry.
There was a hint of fervor in her gaze.
"The rumors about you were not exaggerated," the woman murmured excitedly.
She did not dare ask how he had done it.
This was a gift for her daughter.
With two grown bears at her side, Dacey's capability as heir would never be questioned again.
Things quickly settled down once Maege drove away the gathering crowd and ushered everyone inside.
Harry had not even eaten breakfast yet, so food was quickly brought to him.
Fish was the staple food of the island, and unsurprisingly, that was exactly what he ended up eating.
In Winterfell, fish was served only rarely.
Although rivers flowed nearby, fish populations around Winterfell had nearly been wiped out.
Not that he could blame anyone.
When there was little food available, people could only turn to the rivers.
Harry ate quietly while observing the women of House Mormont.
All of them seemed focused on the bears.
The cubs appeared comfortable around every member of the family, though as the original source of the bond, they still preferred Dacey above everyone else.
Jon and Theon seemed interested as well.
They were crouched a few meters away, watching the cubs curiously.
Jon in particular had always loved animals.
The cubs, however, clearly wanted nothing to do with him.
Or anyone who was not a Mormont.
At that point, Maege no longer had any doubts.
Quickly grabbing a piece of fish, she fed the cubs as though they were the greatest treasure House Mormont possessed.
Ned likewise felt no urgency to learn how his son had accomplished such a thing.
He already knew there were matters best kept known by as few people as possible.
...
At Harry's insistence, they spent three more days on Bear Island.
He thoroughly enjoyed his time in the new environment.
He trained with Dacey, Jon, and Theon.
Though the latter two were soundly beaten by her.
He fished alongside the islanders, hunted in the mountains, and even learned a bit about tanning hides, observing how hardened leather armor was made.
In his opinion, the trip had been completely worthwhile.
The only unpleasant part was thinking about the torturous journey back.
Before they departed, Dacey hugged Harry and promised she would visit him in Winterfell soon.
Her words immediately drew whistles and teasing shouts from several islanders.
Dacey did not seem embarrassed in the slightest.
Instead, she looked at Harry with complete shamelessness.
Chuckling softly, Harry told her he would be waiting for her before finally boarding the ship.
The return journey was much the same.
The only difference was that they made a long detour south before eventually arriving at a castle called Torrhen's Square.
The seat of House Tallhart.
As a vassal House located a moderate distance from Winterfell, its castle was quite impressive in Harry's opinion.
From the outside, he could see stone walls nearly ten meters high.
A sizable town had formed around the castle, neat and orderly in appearance.
The entire settlement stood beside a massive lake, which was one of the main reasons for their visit.
They had not even reached the castle when Helman rode out to meet them with a small escort.
Stopping several meters away, Helman inclined his torso respectfully from horseback.
"Helman, I'm glad to see you in good health," Ned said with a warm expression.
"My lord, thank you for your concern. Please, the feast is already prepared," Helman replied with a smile, inviting them to enter.
This time, all one hundred soldiers were finally able to participate in the feast.
Clearly, this castle was far wealthier than Bear Island.
Agriculture flourished here, leaving them in a better position than most of the North.
After the feast and some idle conversation between Ned and Helman, the latter finally asked the purpose of the visit.
"As I understand it, you cultivate a great deal of land around the lake," Ned said, looking at him.
"That's correct. If you require anything, my lord, simply say the word," Helman replied.
His heart beat a little faster as he wondered whether someone had accused him of misreporting his revenues.
He had most certainly fulfilled every obligation owed to Winterfell.
"There are new seeds that withstand the cold remarkably well, and their yields are abundant. They produce far more than the rye you currently grow. All of my lands have already been planted with them. Now that we have a surplus, I came to see whether you'd be interested," Ned said with his usual stony expression whenever business was involved.
Helman looked both relieved and astonished.
"Of course I'm interested. If my lord has planted them, then so will I. We were planning to begin sowing within the next few weeks, so whatever you can spare will be received with gratitude," Helman said, placing a hand over his chest.
In truth, he already had a modest plot growing these new grain.
Rumors about them had spread throughout much of the North, and due to his proximity to Winterfell he had managed to acquire small quantities over time.
He had always hoped to obtain them in greater amounts, though with little success.
Now that they were being offered directly, he could not help feeling both grateful and excited.
His gaze drifted briefly toward the green-eyed boy standing beside Ned.
The supposed source of it all.
Even so, many of the rumors surrounding him were so ridiculous that it was difficult to separate truth from fiction.
"Hm. Then that settles the matter," Ned said, rising to his feet.
"My lord, won't you stay the night?" Helman asked, standing as well.
"No. It's still early, and we must continue on to Cerwyn. We've already been away for many days and wish to return to Winterfell soon," Ned replied, shaking his head.
"I see. Then I'll have a caravan prepared for Winterfell immediately," Helman said with a nod, unable to hide his disappointment.
Ned nodded, bid the man farewell, and thanked him for his hospitality. With full stomachs and well rested, they set out once more.
It took them two days to reach Castle Cerwyn.
Of all Winterfell's vassals, House Cerwyn was the closest, and its position beside the river made it a strategically valuable location.
The process was much the same as before.
Lord Medger Cerwyn immediately accepted the offer and voiced his full support for the new agricultural initiative.
After another generous feast, the entire group rode along the Kingsroad toward Winterfell.
After half a day's travel, they finally returned home after more than a month away.
Everyone was exhausted.
Even so, Harry was genuinely satisfied with the journey.
He already wanted to visit other Houses and see new lands.
Of course, he still needed to do something about transportation.
It truly was terrible.
As they entered the castle, Harry found himself being welcomed home for the first time.
He had to admit that it felt good to be home.
His mother and siblings were waiting by the gates.
Arya looked ready to run toward him, but Catelyn held her hand firmly.
Dismounting, Harry gave each of them a hug and a kiss before everyone headed inside.
The soldiers were finally allowed to rest as well, reuniting with their families and receiving a small reward for the successful journey.
Harry was quickly surrounded by his sisters, who eagerly demanded stories about everything he had seen beyond Winterfell.
Meanwhile, Catelyn was asking Ned whether he had resolved the matter concerning the Lord of House Mormont.
Harry entertained his sisters with exaggerated and humorous tales of the journey.
The endless forests.
The miserable nights spent sleeping outdoors.
The agony of riding for days at a time.
The beauty of Bear Island.
And what it was like to travel by sea.
Jon and Theon took the opportunity to tease him about Dacey.
Their comments immediately caught Catelyn's attention.
Harry shot both of them an annoyed look, he genuinely feared arranged marriages.
He was growing older, and it would not surprise him in the slightest if one day his mother appeared to inform him that he was betrothed.
Escaping the conversation with only a few words, Harry retreated to his room and changed his clothes.
Even so, he knew that sooner or later, a political betrothal would find its way to his doorstep.
Harry remained reluctant.
Even if he were willing, there was no obvious marriage that would significantly strengthen the North.
They already had strong alliances with Houses Tully and Arryn, so another marriage with either of them would be redundant. Not to mention that neither House had any unmarried daughters. He would have to marry either within the North or a woman from farther south, such as a Lannister, a Tyrell, or a Martell.
The Lannisters were not an option, at least according to his understanding.
That left only the Tyrells and Martells.
Shaking his head, Harry pushed those pointless thoughts aside and turned his attention toward more important matters.
Agriculture was progressing well.
Within a few years, it should be possible to spread it throughout the entire North, providing enough food for the population to begin growing steadily.
His thoughts drifted back to the train.
As he had already concluded, building the train itself was not the difficult part.
The difficult part was building enough rails to span the North.
He needed metal.
A great deal of metal.
More importantly, he needed greater influence throughout the North so the lords would be willing to send laborers who wished to earn extra coin.
If he could gather ten thousand workers and divide them into groups, he believed he could construct a rail line from Winterfell to Moat Cailin within a few years.
Just thinking about forging that many rails gave him a headache.
Which meant he would also need countless blacksmiths.
And an enormous amount of money.
For now, those ambitions would have to wait.
Still, he intended to keep a close eye on the vast mountain ranges north of Winterfell.
He was certain valuable mineral deposits had to exist there.
Perhaps creating a spell capable of detecting ore veins would make things easier.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Harry decided to work on that as well.
For now, however, his attention would shift from agriculture to livestock.
It was an area he had wanted to develop for quite some time, but until now food supplies had always been the limiting factor.
With additional grain available, things became much simpler.
Livestock was always a worthwhile investment, especially considering the enormous territory they possessed.
Furthermore, large numbers of horses would be needed to build railways.
Though oxen could easily replace them.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Harry decided to rest for a few days before seeking out Vayon.
He spent time with his family.
Read several books.
And continued training with Jon and Theon as usual.
Two days later, the caravans from Houses Cerwyn and Tallhart arrived.
Without Harry needing to involve himself personally, Vayon supplied them with several thousand kilograms of seed, enough to sow their lands this year and expand production the next.
The leaders of both caravans were astonished by both the quality and quantity of the grain.
It looked almost identical to the grain imported from the south, save for its unusual bluish hue.
After thanking the steward repeatedly, both men hurried home to begin planting and deliver the news to their lords.
Three days after returning to Winterfell, Harry sat behind his desk with a thoughtful expression.
The sound of the door opening pulled him from his thoughts.
When he saw Vayon enter, he immediately gestured for him to come closer.
"Vayon, tell me, what kind of livestock do we currently have?" Harry asked.
He remembered seeing aurochs, sheep, and horses around Winterfell in the past.
Though most of them had since been relocated so the land could be used for farming.
Vayon was slightly surprised by the question.
He could not help wondering whether his Young Lord was about to turn his attention toward animal husbandry.
"Most of our vassal Houses keep aurochs, goats, and horses. Livestock is an industry that largely belongs to the nobility."
"Even so, aurochs are by far the most profitable. Nearly every part of them has value, and the quality of their meat makes it highly sought after in the south," Vayon explained while watching Harry carefully.
"Aurochs? I heard they're incredibly large and strong. How do people control them?" Harry asked.
"The men of the North are strong as well," Vayon replied with a grin.
"Perhaps with enough food," Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Where are they raised?" he asked with interest.
If the stories were true, they would be perfect as draft animals in the future.
Though he had seen them before, it had only been from a distance, little more than silhouettes on the horizon.
Besides, auroch meat was delicious.
The creatures were almost magical in a sense, and he never seemed able to stop himself from asking for another serving whenever it was available.
"More than a year ago, we moved them to a plain north of Winterfell, near Long Lake," Vayon replied.
"It was quite an undertaking. We had to fence off a large amount of land."
"They don't have problems with the cold?" Harry asked curiously.
"My Young Lord, aurochs survive without issue even beyond the Wall. Their hides are remarkably resistant to the cold. In fact, many of the garments worn in the North are made from their leather," Vayon replied with a smile.
Harry nodded.
It seemed these animals were every bit as hardy as he had heard.
"How many days away by horseback?" Harry asked.
"Three days," Vayon replied, beginning to suspect that his Young Lord truly intended to visit them.
"Hm, I see. By the way, how did the collection of plants go while I was away?" Harry asked.
"It went quite well. Several plants were also sent from the Wall in exchange for food. Your uncle Benjen helped arrange the agreement. From now on, the rangers will collect the specific plants you requested whenever possible during their patrols."
"Excellent," Harry said, visibly pleased.
A steady supply of magical plants from beyond the Wall was something he had wanted for quite some time.
"I didn't dare move them upstairs, so they're all stored in the floor beneath your room in the tower," Vayon added.
The upper floor of the tower had practically become forbidden territory.
"Hm. Good work. I'll look into the aurochs in a few days. First I want to inspect the farmlands, and afterward I'll travel farther north to see the herds," Harry said, tapping his fingers against the desk.
"As you command," Vayon replied with a slight bow before leaving.
As soon as he was gone, Harry headed straight for his laboratory.
Once again, he replenished his stock of magical plants.
Rolling up his sleeves, he got to work.
This time, he intended to brew a different potion.
While at Hogwarts, he had taken Care of Magical Creatures as an elective.
Being particularly close to the half-giant, Harry had benefited greatly from his lessons.
The man had shared books, notes, and ancient scrolls without the slightest hesitation, many of them covering material far beyond Harry's year.
Part of his fascination with dragons came from that experience.
In fact, he knew how to hatch and raise dragons, along with most magical creatures found in the wizarding world.
With that knowledge in mind, Harry believed it would not be difficult to raise aurochs far more efficiently.
After adjusting the formula in his mind, he quickly got to work.
Through a mixture of experimentation and trial and error, he eventually succeeded.
It took him a week to produce one hundred potions.
In the end, he named it the Breeding Potion.
Considering its purpose, the effects were straightforward.
The potion kept animals healthy and vigorous, greatly increased the chances of multiple births, and slightly accelerated gestation.
Aurochs were ultimately bovines.
The natural chance of twins was roughly one percent.
Triplets were possible as well, though about as likely as winning the lottery in his previous life.
The potion would improve those odds considerably.
At the very least, twins would become far more common if the animals consumed the potion before conception.
With its help, the auroch population should increase by roughly two hundred percent with each calving cycle as long as the animals continued receiving the potion.
One hundred potions would be his entire investment.
If more calves were born than he could afford to feed, the situation would be rather amusing.
Not to mention that he had exhausted every magical plant in his reserves.
As for sheep, they simply were not as valuable as aurochs.
Increasing their numbers would only raise feeding costs.
Leaving the tower, Harry made his way to the dining hall.
He had not slept the previous night while finishing the potions.
Though traces of fatigue could be seen on his face, he still felt surprisingly well.
"Harry, didn't you sleep last night?" Catelyn asked, frowning from across the table.
"No. I was finishing something. Don't worry, I'll go to bed early tonight," Harry replied, giving his mother his most innocent look.
Catelyn glared at him as though to say that looking adorable was not going to save him.
"Father, I'd like to visit the farmlands by the river. After that, I plan to travel farther north and inspect the livestock herds," Harry said, quickly changing the subject.
"Hm. Vayon mentioned that you wanted to go. Are you planning to take charge of this as well, just as you did with agriculture?" Ned asked, looking at his son with mixed feelings.
Lately, Harry had spent a great deal of time in his tower doing who knew what.
Ned could not even begin to guess.
Still, considering what had happened with the crops, he suspected his son was working on something similar.
Since Harry had yet to fail him, Ned had decided to offer his full support.
Sometimes he imagined Harry in that tower.
For some reason, strange images always came to mind.
Harry standing over a steaming cauldron.
Potions bubbling ominously.
An odd laugh echoing through the room.
Ned only hoped his son would not accidentally create a new species of animal and frighten half the North.
"That's the plan. We'll probably need to expand the herds within a year or so," Harry replied confidently.
Ned smiled faintly and allowed him to continue.
He had also heard about the reduced grain tax.
The decision had worried him at first.
However, once he realized they were now receiving far more grain in taxes than they ever had before, even after reducing the tax rate, he chose to keep trusting his son.
Winterfell had no shortage of expenses.
Soldiers needed feeding.
Horses needed feeding.
Livestock needed feeding.
Most of their food reserves disappeared into those three things alone.
Fortunately, the last few years had produced such abundant surpluses that the granaries were now completely full.
There was not enough room left for a single additional seed.
In the past, even mice had not bothered approaching the granaries.
Now they kept several cats on patrol.
"Then go ahead. Just make sure to take at least twenty guards with you," Ned said with a nod.
Theon watched the exchange with astonishment and confusion.
The amount of trust Ned placed in Harry was genuinely incredible.
Though he could not really blame him.
Harry seemed capable of doing everything perfectly.
Jon was paying close attention as well.
His lips tightened slightly as he listened.
He had to admit he felt a little envious.
Everything Harry said seemed right.
Everything Harry did seemed right.
Jon suspected Ned would probably agree even if Harry suddenly decided to change the Stark sigil.
"Can I come too?" Arya asked immediately once the conversation between her father and brother ended.
"No," Catelyn answered at once.
Arya pouted dramatically and looked toward Harry.
Harry suddenly found himself in a difficult position.
He would have liked to bring his sister.
The problem was that the trip would be long.
Likely more than a week.
"Arya, we'll be gone for a long time. More than a week. Can you really stay away from Mother for that long?" Harry asked, trying to persuade her.
"I can," Arya declared firmly.
The corners of Ned's lips twitched slightly.
His daughter truly reminded him of Lyanna.
"Fine. If you can convince Mother, I'll take you with me," Harry said, washing his hands of the matter entirely.
Arya immediately turned her large gray eyes toward Catelyn.
Catelyn, however, possessed a heart of stone when necessary.
She rejected the idea without hesitation.
For the rest of the day, arguments could be heard throughout Winterfell as Arya chased after her mother, trying to convince her to change her mind.
Eventually, Harry found Catelyn alone.
"If you want, you can let her come. Nothing will happen to her, and I won't let her out of my sight," Harry said, leaning against the wall.
"Can Arya remain quietly at your side and obey instructions?" Catelyn asked with obvious skepticism.
She knew her daughter far too well.
"I promised I'd take her outside the castle someday," Harry replied, sounding slightly guilty.
"It doesn't have to be this trip," Catelyn said, giving him a pointed look that clearly asked which side he was supposed to be on.
"Just let her come. It's not as if she has anything important to do here," Harry said with a shrug.
"She's about to begin her lessons with the septa," Catelyn replied.
"It's not like that'll accomplish much," Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Harry!" Catelyn snapped, frowning.
"If she's going to start lessons anyway, all the more reason to let her come this one time. Tell her it's a reward for behaving herself during her studies," Harry replied, completely unfazed by the scolding.
The traditions of the Faith of the Seven had never fit comfortably in the North.
A place where women fought beside men on the battlefield.
Catelyn bit her lip before finally letting out a sigh and stepping closer.
"Just make sure you watch her carefully, all right? And you're taking more guards."
As she spoke, she cupped Harry's cheeks with both hands.
Harry leaned into her touch and smiled.
"Don't worry. She'll come back without a scratch," Harry said with a wink.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Catelyn replied with a soft laugh.
Arya collected scratches from every possible source.
She ran through Winterfell like a wild horse.
Harry smiled, wrapped his arms around his mother, and kissed her cheek.
----
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