Chapter Text
Harry and Neville’s arrival does convince the rest of the Targaryens to leave Valyria, but the cousins aren’t very impressed with Harry’s appearance. The female cousins are all also not happy that he won’t age like they will. Jealous, mostly. Or disbelieving. Aegon and his sister wives are annoyed. Harry shrugs it off. They’re all children to him anyways. Though Aegon looks older, Harry’s outlived five generations of his own descendants. Not that they’d miss him if they knew he’s left Earth. Sadly, he doesn’t miss the last couple generations and has had no contact with the current generation, nor does he want to. Starting a new family is the last thing he wants. Still, he understands the weight of prophecy, so he was willing to try. Is willing, if unhappy about it.
That doesn’t lessen the shock when 12 yr old Daenys announces that she doesn’t mind that he’ll outlive her and is willing to marry him. He honestly does not know what to do with that. Unfortunately for his sanity, the culture here is that girls who have had their first period are of marriageable age. Fortunately, Daenys is understanding when he counters with the fact that he won’t consummate the marriage for a few years. Unfortunately, she bargains him down from 18 to 16, citing that her parents won’t understand not consummating the marriage past age 16 and will be very offended.
Gods save him from offended in-laws.
Daenys does, at least, agree not to have a child before age 18 after he makes it clear that having children younger than that is probably bad for her health. She also understands that he’s unwilling to have more than one child should their first be a girl. Though this requires spilling the tale of his decidedly unfilial descendants.
So, he marries a 12 yr old, because Aegon has NO patience for his objections. Ugh.
~
Aegon’s half-brother, Orys Baratheon, is a big bluff man with a hearty laugh. He’s not allowed a dragon by Valyria’s laws, because he’s a bastard, but he doesn’t seem to mind, wielding a sword and a war hammer with equal skill. Frankly, Harry likes his warm, open personality. Though he does wish he wouldn’t insist on dragging him into spars.
Harry can use a sword competently, but he’s not overly skilled with it and Orys is twice his size which means his blows are heavy and tiring to block. He does learn from the spars, though, so he can’t complain too much. Daenys just giggles when he does anyways. And he does get some practice in on fending off swordsmen with spells. Both Orys and Aegon insist on that. Visenya too, actually.
He gets Daenys back by insisting she join the swordsmanship lessons to at least learn to block and turn aside blows or spells for purposes of self-defense on the premise that Aegon’s plans for Westeros are going to gain them a lot of enemies who will be more than happy to attack the perceived weakest members of the family in retaliation. Well, it’s not really retaliation on his part, because he truly is serious about that, but he does enjoy her misery as much as she enjoys his. She rants at him a few times because of it, but he just grins at her until she winds down. At least she does do her best and improves rather quickly.
~
Daenys and Harry stay on Dragonstone while Aegon, his sisters and Orys conquer most of Westeros. Daenys’ dragon is older than Neville, but still rather on the small side, not being more than a few years old. Neville spends the time in Valyria and Dragonstone growing like a weed fertilized with dragon dung. His golden coloring makes him the prettiest dragon around, though Daenys’ lilac and purple colored dragon is quite attractive too.
Harry’s ability to turn a trunk into a space expanded habitat allows Harry and Daenys to bring plants from Valyria with him. He’s never been so glad for having learned a ton of oddly specific spells out of boredom once his friends and wife passed on. His ability to make bags with space expansion charms on them also allows the family to bring far more luggage than they’d been planning for.
Orys is thrilled and at his suggestion, Harry makes two space expanded trunks for Valyrian steel weapons and Valyrian steel ingots. Apparently, the steel can’t be found outside of Valyria and it’s superior to regular ‘quality’ steel. Since they’re buying in large quantities, they actually get pretty decent discounts on all of it. Even if it does mean that Aegon has to endure mocking from other Valyrian nobles about his gullibility and paranoia.
They end up with an army’s worth of Valyrian steel, if perhaps a rather small army. Surprisingly, they agree that Harry and Daenys should keep most of the stash safe other than what the family is using and a number of weapons set aside as rewards (bribes) for the rulers who bend the knee to the Targaryens. Harry’s not actually sure whose idea that is, because it wasn’t his or Daenys’. He does agree that it might be needed against the white walkers, not that he’s entirely sure what those are yet, so he goes along with it.
Daenys and Harry use the time at Dragonstone to start experimenting with potions. It involves a lot of explosions and the occasional melted cauldron, but they do manage to come up with a mild version of Pepper-Up that doesn’t involve steam coming out of ears.
Dragon dung is just as strong a fertilizer as it is on Earth and they compost enough of it to create a large vegetable garden on Dragonstone itself. Which the others scoff at but enjoy the fruits of nonetheless.
~
Daenys and Harry stay at Winterfell for a month or so after Torrhen Stark bends the knee. The Starks are wary at first, but hospitable enough.
Torrhen’s maester, Gregory, is kind enough to explain how to care for ravens and how to train them after Harry mentions that he used to use owls as messengers and is interested in the differences. Though that could be partly because Harry has admitted that he doesn’t intend to employ a maester because most of them follow the faith of the Seven, which he’s heard dislikes magic. It does take a demonstration for Gregory to believe it’s not just an excuse.
Gregory is a Northman, though, and gets very excited after Harry demonstrates a Lumos and Wingardium Leviosa and wants to know what other things he can do.
In response, Harry puts a permanent warming charm on the outfit Gregory is wearing. He’s pretty sure he earns Gregory’s devotion for life with that act.
The maester tells him he should offer to place the charm on Torrhen’s wife’s cloak, as she suffers from the cold more than average.
Harry shrugs and does make the offer, which is accepted enthusiastically.
The Starks are more friendly after that. Torrhen’s wife, Lysarra, and daughter, Leena, actually make the effort to befriend Daenys. His second son, Rickard, finally stops fuming at being in Harry’s presence and starts talking to him civilly, and his eldest and younger sons stop looking at Harry and Daenys with hate in their eyes.
He advises Rickard that Torrhen might want to marry off Leena before Aegon and his sisters get ideas about marrying her off to a southerner, citing how his own marriage occurred.
Leena marries some Northern lord named Walys Dustin before Harry and Daenys leave for their new lands.
A week after Harry and Daenys move into their new castle, Harry gets a raven thanking him for warning them because Queen Rhaenys had sent a message wanting to marry Leena off to a southern lord.
Rickard seethes about the Queen for a fortnight after hearing that.
Harry supposes that the other brothers took it even worse, but at least it can’t be enforced since Leena is already married. He’s pretty sure the entire coterie of northern lords would be offended if Leena had been forced to marry south.
When Daenys gets a ranty letter from the Queens, he just sighs. Can’t please everyone.
~
They find five families of smallfolk still on the property, which is more than Harry expected. Meeting them nearly gets him shot several times, even though they come in on horseback and not slinking through the woods. After some negotiations, they agree to move closer to the castle. The men at arms are to protect the tiny village as it’s being built, so the builders aren’t ambushed, and after, they are to be called on if the wildlings attack.
Very fair terms, all considered.
They bring their small flocks of half wild shaggy goats and cattle with them, which is interesting. Curious, Harry asks, “Can they be used for wool?”
The smallfolk man he asks jolts and then looks at him carefully. “Aye. That and milk and cheese is what we use them for. Goat hair is very fine and makes soft undergarments and the cow hair makes good outer garments.”
“Hm. I suppose I’ll need to get more of them, then. Wool should sell well enough.”
“What would a lord need to sell things for?”
Harry looks at him in amusement. “Do you think I can protect a property for free? Men at arms have to be paid. Food needs to be bought until we’re self-sustaining. Spices need to be bought, and salt. Seed grain needs to be bought. Anything these lands don’t provide has to be purchased. The king is making sure I have the money and help to rebuild these lands, but most of that money will go away in five years and the rest has a specific use. Wood sells, but that only brings in so much. It’s not enough on its own to keep these lands profitable. If you have any ideas for it, let me know.”
The man looks thoughtful. “We’ve willow trees. Can make cord, nets, mats, baskets and clothes with it. And some wild hemp. Good for making bags and rope. Can make softer cloth with the nettles, though it’s enough trouble that most don’t. Goat hair’s easier.”
He nods. “That’d work. Thanks. You can call me Harry.”
“Thom. Might have gold in them dry hills. I’ve found a couple nuggets. Small ones. In the streams downhill.”
“Oh? That would be good news. I’ve been meaning to check those hills for anything valuable.”
“You know how to look?” Thom looks curious.
“I know a spell for it. Like for making houses warm, but for looking for things instead.”
“Oh, aye. Forgot you have magic,” Thom acknowledges.
Harry smiles. That’s nice to hear.
~
Rickard blinks at him. “You’re buying long-haired goats and cattle for the wool? You want a loom house and a threshing barn? I understand the threshing barn, but. Why are we growing willows and nettles? Hemp, yes, makes for good rope. And you want to know my opinion of which grains to grow? Am I correct?”
“Yes. Cloth should sell. Though might sell better if dyed, I suppose. Willows and nettles can also make cloth and willows can make baskets. And yes, I don’t know anything about grains other than wheat makes flour and oats make cereal,” Harry says patiently.
He sighs. “Okay, fine. You have a point. Cloth, especially dyed cloth, sells well. We could grow flax as well, if cloth is what you want. Grains you might want include: barley, soft wheat, hard wheat, spelt, rye, oats, corn and millet. Soft wheat makes fine flour. Hard wheat makes bread flour. Oats and millet are cereals and feed for animals. Barley is hearty in soups and such. Spelt is good for those who have trouble with wheat flour or just prefer it to regular wheat. Flax can be used for oil and animal feed and such. You’ll have to order looms made and have them shipped in pieces to be put together when they arrive. The bigger the loom, the more expensive. Might I point out that goats and cattle are also good for meat, leather, milk, cheese and butter?”
“Oh, good point. Neville and Onixa will need a source of meat once the fields are cleared.”
Rickard sighs. “I meant for humans, but yes. We should have a separate herd for the dragons.”
“Sounds good. How about we start with soft wheat, hard wheat, barley, oats and flax? We can diversify later if needed.”
“Alright.” Rickard writes out a list of things to obtain. “I think I’ve seen nettle patches. I’ve never heard of nettle seed, so we may need to gather it from the patches. We may be able to make a willow orchard from seedlings already growing here. I’ll arrange to purchase the other seeds.”
“And large looms.”
Rickard’s head comes up in alarm. “Large looms? Can you afford that?”
“Yes. And I think it’s more that we can’t afford not to have them.”
“I suppose. How many?”
Harry considers. “Ten. And a couple smaller looms for narrower fabrics.”
“Ten!” Rickard says despairingly, but writes it down.
“I have five years to buy all the necessities we need to run this place. After that it will be much harder, so the sooner the better,” Harry says firmly.
“Do you want spinning wheels?”
“What?”
“To make thread and yarn.”
“Oh. Yes. Get ten of those too. No, twelve. And speaking of orchards. Can we get apples and pears and cherries? Also, what are the options for growing vegetables? We probably need those too, right? What about berries?”
“Yes, we should be able to obtain some fruit tree seedlings. Vegetables, I’ll think on it and make a list. Mayhap ask the smallfolk. Perhaps apricots as well? There’s blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and a few others. I assume for the garden?”
“And for the fields. Berries are a delicacy. And I have a way to preserve them across long distances, so we can sell them.”
“Oh. Magic?”
“Magic containers at least. Do grapes grow in the North?”
“Jelly grapes do. Eating grapes are a southern thing. Wine grapes, no one’s ever tried. Probably southern, though.”
“Let’s get some eating and wine grapes anyways. Enough to try. I can always grow them in the greenhouses.”
“Greenhouses?”
Harry pauses. “Glass houses. Though I suppose we need glass for that. Which means buying or making it.”
“Glass comes from Dorne and Myr. Dorne’s glass is rougher. You won’t be able to get a glassmaker from Myr. They send assassins after them if they try leaving,” Rickard warns.
“Hm. Okay. See if we can entice a glassmaker from Dorne. Our glass doesn’t need to be pretty, just functional. We need a blacksmith too. See if you can find a good one willing to come here.”
“You’re giving me a headache. We’ll need chickens too.”
Harry grins. “Don’t worry. Daenys finally worked out a headache tonic.”
Rickard groans. “You’re giving me so much work.”
He snickers. “You’ll look back on this and lament that you’re bored later.”
Rickard scoffs. “I doubt that. You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Eh. ‘Sfine with me. Remain insane, no strain on the brain.”
That gets him a deadpan stare.
“Seriously, though. Do you know what dyestuffs we’ll need for the fabrics?”
“I do not,” Rickard says with dignity. “I will raven Lord Manderly and see if he knows.”
Harry nods. “I’ll talk to Daenys and we can experiment with dyes.”
“You do that,” Rickard says tiredly. “Was that it or can you go away now?”
“I’ll go away. Daenys and I are going to fly to the dry hills and see what we can find in them.”
“Take at least one guard,” Rickard says absently.
“Yes sir.”
“Not a ser.”
“That’s not what- Ugh. Never mind,” Harry grumbles and wanders off to find Daenys. He really needs a glassmaker, but he can start with making another environment trunk for southern Westeros plants. And probably a third for Essos plants.