This is my first attempt at Fan Fiction. I don't consider myself a very good writer, so I thought I would give it a try and see if all of you nice people would help me out! This story is supposed to be set in the Song of Ice and Fire series, but I haven't read them in quite a while, so forgive me if I forget something crucial to the plot!

Miralia and Darmic are my characters, but the setting belongs to others that deserve the credit.

Like I said, I am testing my writing ability, so helpful advice/ideas/criticism would not hurt my feelings. :)

Please enjoy, I'll try to post again soon.

Curled up in a large stuffed chair, Darmic rested his head against the glass of the window pane, eyes down. Rain pelted down against the other side of the window, and mostly everywhere else. It had been pouring for two days now, and the young man was developing cabin fever.

At the moment, he was admiring the wood grain of the window sill, the pattern it made from one side to the other. Having already finished his chores for the day, already practiced his letters, and already used up the potential fun in the few toys he owned, his mind despaired at the thought of spending another day inside.

A loud thumping on the door shocked the boy out of his melancholy. In fact, it nearly shocked him right out of his chair. He gasped and held his chest, trying to calm the furious beating of his startled heart.

The banging came again, more insistent. His mother came rushing from the room at the back of the house, where she was folding the linens.

"Aye!" She cried to the knocker, unlocking the wooden door of the home. "I'm-a coming, master."

Darmic stood from his chair and scooted it back into the proper place. Then, he stood off to the right of the door, curious as to who had come to visit in such dreadful weather. All thought of boredom was lost in the excitement and fear that came with a knock at the door.

These were dangerous times, after all, with the King's death and all the fighting that was going on. Though he and his mother had no visible marks of allegiance, it still wouldn't save them from a Lord who took it in his mind that they were traitors to one cause or the other, depending on whose coat of arms he wore and where he was heading. It was all very confusing to Darmic, and he preferred to have no visitors at all, because one could never be certain which side the soldiers would be standing. There was also talk of men that stood on no side but their own, taking advantage of the chaos left by the King's death to raid towns and homes, stealing and killing and doing other unmentionable things as they passed through.

Sure enough, a scraggly bearded Commander stood at the door, with at least a dozen men behind, all soaked through to the skin with rainwater and mud. Darmic decided they may possibly be more miserable than he had been a few moments ago.

Miralia withheld her thoughts on the sudden onset of soldiers, but her mind raced with worries. How would she ever hope to feed and house this many men? The house she and her son lived in was just big enough for them two. With all the heavy rains, she doubted she would have fresh food for herself and Darmic this evening for dinner, let alone for a dozen hungry, drenched soldiers.

"Ah! Y're soaked to the bone, masters, please honor me by dryin' yerselves by my fire." She said amiably, shooting a deadly serious look to her son. He immediately scurried away to fetch more dry firewood without a word passed between them.

Yay, my first chapter of my first fanfic! More to come, unless you all tell me you hate it... then maybe I'll spare you.

Review pweeze?