It was cold but no more so than usual for the time of year, the summer snows farther north would be a welcome sight for Eddard Stark, but for now the cool air and boggy marsh land was he could see and feel, he was tiered, his lungs were burning and his legs where aching begging for him to stop but he dared not; the King wanted him dead and had dispatched men to do the deed, as soon as he had learned what the King intended for him he grabbed his horse and took flight for the North and home, but the King had moved much faster than he had thought the mad man would, it wasn't enough the mad King had killed his father and brother but he now seemed hell bent on ending the Stark line completely. He was panting lungs aflame his horse had been killed from beneath him by a Royal sheriff forcing Eddard (Ned to his friends) to go on foot, he had nowhere to hide so he could only run, the marsh lands slowing his pursuers but not stopping them, even with his heavy breathing he could hear the heavy galloping of a warhorse it was only by luck that he ducked in time to avoid a sword slash aimed at his neck.

This was where Ned didn't want to be, on foot facing a mounted knight with only his sword and his wits, with enemy reinforcements coming he would soon be facing three mounted knights, he was tiered but had no choice but to stand and fight, with everything against him he prayed to the old gods that he may live to see his home again. The first knight circled Ned seemingly content to wait for his companions so they could set upon the Stark like a wolf in a trap, Ned crouched slightly his body weight was moved to the balls of his feet his knees bent ready to move at a moment's notice, his sword was held in both hands he knew he would have one shot and only one shot to take down these knights, then the knight charged at him Ned raised the blade above his head he needed to time this just right.

The horse reached full gallop and the knight had his lance aimed at Ned's chest, and Ned could practically feel the smirk behind the knight's helm, as he bore down on Ned he moved batting the lance away with the flat of his sword, the knight recognising that he was in imitate danger tied to manoeuvre himself away, but he knew it was hopeless had the knight been older man more experienced then maybe he wouldn't have fallen for this, Ned hammed his blade like his friend Robert would his War Hammer across the chest of the knight who fell from his horse into the bog, Ned knew it would be imposable for the knight to get up, taking advantage he stabbed into the sweat spot between armour plate and arm pit, the blade sank deep into his body ending the life of the loyalist sheriff.

Ned lingered too long on his first real kill and didn't notice the other knights bearing down on him and only moved when he heard a sudden deep cry of

"Move yah fool" Did Ned actually turn to see the two knights bearing down on him; he seemed lost for a moment too stunned to move, he could only watch as the two knights charged at him there lance points gleaming in the sun, Ned was rooted his mind was screaming move but his body would not, then a sudden massive impact knocked him on his stomach and sent his sword tumbling out of his hand, "bloody idiot, are you trying to get killed" Ned looked at the man who had saved him

"Are you an Umber" he asked slightly dazed the man looked allot like the Greatjon only much larger and dressed in strange clothes

"What the hell is an Umber" asked the large man as he got up helping Ned get to his feet grabbing his sword and handing it back to him "there coming back around I hope you have a plan" he said as he grabbed the dead knights sword, it looked like a metal tooth pick in his hands, the two knights got into a full gallop once again and charged at them, this time Ned didn't freeze he moved to the right of the giant Umber looking man

"Aye I have a Plan" Ned grabbed the lance from the fallen knight timing his attack just right he once again deflected the knights lance and struck the knight on the head the blow was enough to knock his helm askew, the knight tumbled from his horse his numb hands pulling the rains as he fell slowing the horse to a stop as he hit the wet mud like a sack of potatoes.

Ned saw his chance and immediately jumped into the saddle of the horse and chased after the last knight, he tucked the lance tightly into himself as he was taught, he caught the knight as he was turning about, he aimed for the point between the helmet and the breast plate usually protected by a gorget but for whatever reason this knight didn't have one, he didn't feel anything as the lance point drove into the knights throat, as he let go of the lance the knight slid out of his saddle and flopped to the ground like a boneless dead eel.

Ned turned to see the man who had saved him from sheer death and saw him toying with the knight he had unhorsed, deflecting sword blows and mocking the knight while he did so, the knight charged at him and he spun out of the way slapping the knight on his posterior with the flat of his blade,

"Are you even trying?" he said to the knight who growled in rage "because I know I'm not" the knight made to slash at the un-armoured giant but he moved much faster than a man his size should have any right two catching the wrist of the knight stabbing the blade into his guts, he seemed to stop suddenly looking down at the sword now impaled into the knight like it was some kind of monster, he didn't move as he released the knights wrist and the body slid slowly off the blade leaving a thick track of blood on the blade, the man landed with a lifeless wet squelching thud on the ground dead.

Ned approached the man unsure as to what to say to him, the man seemed to register Ned as he moved closer to him

"I..." he stopped himself he seemed unsure on what to say

"My name is Eddard Stark Lord of Winterfell" the large man turned to face him he looked somehow hollow "I thank you for saving my life I am indebted to you Umber" he didn't say anything just turned back to the man he had killed the stood silent for a moment or two before Ned tried to speak to him again "was he your first?" he asked

"Aye" he said simply "I never" he stopped to gather himself "it seems so easy when you read about it, the techniques the...the exploitation of weakness but to live and... to end a life they don't prepare you for that"

"No they don't"

"My name is Llewellyn, Llewellyn Jones"

"Thank you for saving my life Llewellyn"

"It was nothing, anyone would have done the same" he held out his hand to Ned who grasped his forearm tightly "just one thing though, do you know where I am" he asked "one moment I'm walking home from the library and the next thing I know I'm in a marsh" he said planting the sword point down into the ground firmly "I know I'm not in Pembrokeshire anymore but saying that I didn't think Wales had any marsh land at all"

"You are in the North"

"The north of what?"

"Westeros"

"Shit" he stood there silent "I...I don't" Ned could see the hope drain from the man, and wanting to repay him for saving his life Ned came to a decision

"You could come with me" Ned said as he patted the man on the back "the North needs good men and you do need somewhere to stay"

"thank you" he said looking at the smaller man "I just need to get my bag"