Brandon Stark, second born son to Eddard and Catelyn Stark turned to take in the sight of his family's home upon a hill almost two leagues from where the heart of The North stood. Even at this distance the walls and towers portrayed a statement of solidarity and strength, with constant patrols both inside and outside of the castle itself and Wintertown, the near city that surrounded Brandon's home.
"We will return", he stated in an almost prophetic manner "and my family will be there to greet us, although I fear they shall face troubles of their own whilst I am abroad."
"Aye" agreed his companion, "for the Winter coming will be harsh and cruel, yet as that old crone in your castle would preach, you Starks endure, Brandon."
The young lord only smiled at his companion Val, one of the 'spear-wives' descended from the Free-Folk that migrated south to settle in The Gift and The New Gift at Lord Cregan Starks request following the Dance of Dragons. Lord Cregan promised then the North would never be mocked by the South in his prescence again, as had happened when the pact of ice and fire, promising a Targaryan bride to be wed to a Stark, was broken. Val was older than Bran by a good ten years, yet the two held a strong friendship and were occasional lovers following the Iron Born Rebellion coinciding with the Bolton uprising in The North five years previous, in which they shared battle and glory.
With a sigh and one final look at his home, Brandon mounted his bonded Direwolf Summer, who was now the size of a large warhorse, and set off south to join the Kingsroad once more on their journey to the only true city of the North. Brandon had decided to spend a year or two abroad from Winterfell, as second sons were wont to do, in order to see the wider world, wonders such as the Titan of Braavos, the Summer isles and perhaps even the fabled Jade Gates or Asshai. Although supposedly cursed, Brandon found the idea of searching the ruins of Old Valyria and finding Valyrian Steel swords and armour in abundance grand and would surely see him named as a Stark of legend, such as Theon the Hungry or Cregan, the old man of the north himself.
Thoughts of the glory and wonders they would come across on the journey danced around Brandons head as the pair, one mounted on a huge silvery wolf and the other on a graceful white mare passed into the city of White Harbour. Yet almost straight away they were hit with the sense that something of import had taken place recently, of which the city folk were still in throes about. Fearing the worst, young Lord Brandon all but commanded nearby guards to explain the commotion, a lot of which seemed to be increasing as the two companions grew to be noticed by the residents and word started to be spread of their arrival. Instead the two were hurried up the towards the New Castle with only apologies that Lord Manderly had requested their presence and the commotion could only be explained by the Lord of White Harbour. As they stepped into the merman court they were greeted by the fat Lord and his family, all of which Brandon was familiar with from his travels throughout The North in previous years.
"Young Lord Stark," greeted the large and elderly Lord Manderly "please accept my apologies for the haste in which you were brought to me".
"It is of no consequence my Lord" replied a curious Brandon whilst accepting the traditional bread and salt from Lord Manderly's granddaughter Wylla, "I do not recall such commotion being common in your fair city upon my previous visits, and I have a feeling it has been spurred further by my arrival, is there news from Winterfell?"
"Nay, young Lord, not as such, we were aware we would be receiving you at some point this week from the raven your father sent ahead, however it seemed another expected you aswell, their entrance to my city I would not have believed myself, did they not present themselves to my retainers, household knights and family whilst I was sat in this very seat."
At Brandon's bewildered look Lord Manderly signalled for his sons to usher out the noble vassals and family members in attendance until only Brandon, Val, Summer and Lord Manderly along with both his sons remained. "I cannot say I had knowledge of any persons of import also visiting White Harbour during my short visit," Brandon stated curiously, unsure as to where this was going, " I seem to be getting the impression it is I this visitor would like to see, is that correct".
"Indeed my Lord, your perception sharp as ever. You would do well in the southern court with your Aunt and your cousins, a sharp mind and ear as yours would see through many of the false word games the Southrons love to play" the jovial Lord Manderly continued and noticed the frown steadily appearing on Brandon's mouth, "Ah I see your Stark honour remains true, you would prefer anything but no?"
"Aye, my Lord, whilst I have love for my kin in the South my heart remains truely northern. I simply felt restless at my home whilst Robb sees to his duties as heir and sought to see the known world" replied Brandon, "I will return to the North for it will ever be my home."
"Yes, another wondering wolf!" Proclaimed Lord Wyman, "I recall your sister said something similar when she passed through my city a year previous with her husband, yes she has the wolf blood in bounds young Arya. You however, I would never have had you pinned for one to roam, Young Brandon, a keen mind and a keener sword in a Stark I have not seen in my lifetime, yet I digress, Wylis, retrieve our guest I am sure young Brandon's patience may wait no longer."
Brandon Stark simply smiled and nodded politely as Lord Wymands rotund son left the Mermans court. "My sister has been that way since I can remember, Lord Manderly, I am simply glad she found love in a husband that would not hold her back, for that would not go well for such a man" he japed whilst waiting, for Arya's skills with a blade was well known throughout The North, and not far off his own. Whilst he had been able to beat her soundly due to his skill and strength from his own ten and fourth name day, the same could not be said for the majority of men that Arya rejoiced in sparring with.
"The young Lord Baratheon was clearly enamoured with your sister still, almost a full year since they were wed, when they passed through my City, it is clear to me he would never presume to do anything of the sort. Although the spars between the two I had the pleasure of witnessing from a distance seemed to bring out his houses infamous fury then only."
"My sister is truly a she-wolf of The North, I hope to meet with her when I reach essos, word reached Winterfell that she was departing from mine Uncles manse and heading to Bravos shortly before my departure."
At this point the doors to the side of the raised Dais where the Lord of White Harbour sat opened and Lord Manderly's son entered with the guest that had caused such ruckus in the city. The mood instantly became serious as Brandon locked eyes with a member of a race Westeros had deemed lost, to be only heard of in old songs and stories, it's large yellow orbs displaying an intense intelligence and wisdom. The two northern companions were left speechless.
"Brandon Stark," said the child of the forest, "I am Leaf, I have been tasked by my elders and the Raven to accompany you both on your journey"
-/
"You are a child of the forest!" said Bran in awe as he stepped closer to what he thought was only a legend in the North, "I thought your race were long gone from Westeros, why is it now you appear and apparently to concert with myself?"
"We have not been seen south of your namesakes wall since centuries before the dragon arrived on the shores of this land, yet our greenseers have watched for you all the same young Stark. I have known I was to meet and journey with both you warriors, the winged wolf and the free woman of the north, since shortly after my birth nigh on four centuries ago."
The silence in the room seemed to grow deeper. "My Lord, the honourable Leaf here simply strolled through my city right up to the New Castle when I was holding court, walked straight up without a care for the thousands of eyes astounded at the presence of legends of old, and stated that here she shall wait until the winged wolf arrived. It was only myself who was privy to the knowledge of your journey, as you can imagine the gossipers and fishwives are having a field day with what has occurred and what with your arrival...".
The Manderlys as proud worshippers of the Seven began to look uncomfortable with a living reminder of the Old Gods original worshippers present along with talk of what could only be magic and started to make their excuses to leave their liege lords son in privacy with their guest, no doubt to discuss Leaf's revelation of Brandons importance amongst themselves. Before they could do so, Brandon made the three of them swear on their house and their fealty to House Stark that this would not be discussed outside of the three of them and Brandon's parents and eldest brother, the Mermen easily accepting to do so, their own loyalty to House Stark never in question.
After their departure there were a few moments of silence whilst the two companions from Winterfell processed this sudden revelation. "My mother told stories of her mother's grandmother meeting one of your kind in the far North before the movement south. She said my ancestor was sick and caught in a blizzard on her way back from a stream to gather water when she fell ill and was then nursed back to health under an old weirwood tree by a child of the forest. I never believed that could be the truth." Val was staring awestruck at Leaf, Brandon had never seen her so shaken, always as solid as Winterfell, the castle she guarded as her mother and grandmother had with their spears before her.
"That was I daughter of the North, for our seers saw your importance in the times ahead, I was ordered to heal and care for your ancestor and it was I who advised to take Lord Stark's offer when it came and to offer your family's spears to protect the Wolf."
Brandon began to piece together what Leaf had been hinting towards, yet needed clarification for the very idea brought a chill to his bones. "What is coming for us all to be involved so, Leaf, Westeros has been at peace since my Father and the King destroyed the Ironborn and the Boltons in the North." Yet Brandon could sense the direction this was going, he had been plagued with dreams of monsters formed of ice in the months leading to his departure from his home. Brandon, as a Stark, was always taught to take stock of his dreams and be proud and yet humble of his abilities. He always seemed to grasp his dreams meanings and recognise the importance as gifts and messages from the Gods with ease, in comparison to his brothers and sisters, yet the ice dreams always put fear in his heart the next morning. He tried to make himself believe these were only dreams and not signs or portents upon recalling them, but now upon meeting Leaf he knew they had to be true. For why would one legend of old suddenly appear and the other to be impossible. "Winter is coming" Brandon all but whispered, as if to himself.
"Yes, young Stark." Leaf stated, "when the builder made the wall with both our cultures magic and the Giants strength, the winter throne was made for your line to watch and prepare for the coming of the others once more. Those words were meant not for the cold and the snow and ice, but the death and ill-creatures this weather brings. And they are awake once more. I will come with you on your journey to both warn the other nations to prepare for the coming war and to aid you in building on your namesakes legacy. There are others elsewhere that will have their own parts to play, some of your kin and some from foreign lands. We have time yet young Stark, for this longest summer has still at least two years before the darkness comes once more. Time for us to prepare others and ourselves."
"Then we must return to Winterfell at once! Robb and my father must be told as it will hit our lands first!"
"Peace Stark! the lands of winter will be prepared for their battles, my kin will make sure of it. Yet what of the other ends of the world? they must be warned as well, for the long night affects all corners of the world, not only the land you men call Westeros, but everywhere that sees the Sun in the Sky will only know darkness should the fight be lost." Stated the Child of the forest with such passion the two Northern companions were taken aback, "My kin and I see longer lives than you men, we remember, stories passed down through less generations retain more truth. The previous long night, when your Ancestor lived and was amongst the heroes that succeeded, saw darkness fall everywhere. All nations of the world that can stand and are powerful enough to help must be warned! And warn them we shall, we will journey to the ends of the world and find those that are aware and make aware those that are not."
Brandon and Val were in a daze. What they thought would be a short adventure to go perhaps as far as Volantis in the East, had turned to a quest of great importance. They stood looking at nothing whilst Leaf allowed them to gather their thoughts. "Come," she said eventually, "you have travelled far and been told much, let us rest tonight and return to our hosts. For tomorrow you will receive the gifts our people have held to pass on to you both. We shall gather our fourth companion tomorrow as well, one for added protection. Although I am a trained warrior and hunter within our people, I am short of stature. You both are blooded warriors in your own right, yet against many you may fall. Our fourth companion will be added protection for this journey as will likely be needed at times, you shall meet Gwun tomorrow, I had to leave him in the wild as the men here would surely not have been so receptive if we both walked through these city gates."
-/
