Adaire forrester was in the stables with his younger brother, Ryner. Adaire had worried about the short, brown haired teen while he was off at war, but was pleased to hear that his health had begun to improve when he returned. Upon Adaire's return he had to break the devastating news that their father, Lord Dayron, had been slain in battle. Ryner had not taken the news well, and Adaire made a point to spend more time with him. He was currently teaching him how to groom his favourite horse, Zephyra. Zephyra was a heavy courser and Dornish mix. She was raven black in colour and mean tempered except for when she was around Adaire or his family. Adaire was slightly taller than average height with dark honey-gold hair that was tied back in a loose pony tail. He had a lithe and athletic build, while his younger brother was thin and almost frail looking from years of being sick. Though the youth had put on some weight since Adaire had last seen him, much to his relief.
"Do you want to go riding?" Adaire asked the fourteen year old.
Ryner shook his head as he stroked the horse, "Not really."
"Are you feeling okay?" Adaire asked, Ryner's health had just started to improve a month ago and everyone was worried that the young lord would fall ill again soon, especially with their father's recent passing.
Ryner nodded, "Just a little tired."
"Excuse the interruption, My Lord." A servant said to Adaire as he entered the stable. "Your mother needs to see you right away."
"What's wrong?" Ryner asked, looking at his older brother concerned.
"Nothing for you to worry about, why don't you go get some rest?" Adaire suggested, worried about his brother's health.
"Okay." Ryner agreed, then took off from the stables.
Adaire ran a hand through his hair as he followed the servant into the manor. He was led to his mother who was waiting in the Great Hall for him. The Great Hall was rather well lit due to the rows of torches that lined the walls. There were tables set up about the room leading to the dais where the head table sat, reserved for the ruling family of Ironrath.
"What's the matter?" Adaire asked as he sat beside his mother at the high table.
His mother, Aiyana, handed him a piece of paper with a frown, "The Boltons are coming."
"Coming here? Why?" Adaire asked.
"They did not say, they said only to expect them tomorrow." Aiyana replied. "This visit can't be good, we don't have the manpower to protect us from the Boltons. Whatever they want we'll have to agree to, we're outnumbered."
Adaire sighed, "I'll deal with them when they come."
Aiyanna nodded, "I'm sure you will handle it well."
"Thank you, mother." Adaire said.
"How's Ryner?" Aiyanna asked.
"He's as well as can be expected. He's tired though, but I'm glad he's spending more time outdoors."
"As am I, although I find the more time he spends exploring the more tired he gets. I'm sure he'll get used to it as he grows stronger. I just hope the stress of all of these changes do not make him ill again. Don't tell him much about the Bolton visit, I don't want to worry him." Aiyanna cautioned.
Adaire nodded, "Nor do I, he's only just regained his health. No one wants to see him fall ill again."
"You've been given a great burden, Adaire. But with guidance from your advisors I'm sure House Forrester will flourish in these troubled times."
"I hope so." Adaire said.
Adaire gathered his younger siblings, Reena and Ryner, into the Great Hall to break the news to them. He eyed Ryner cautiously, despite his pale skin he looked healthy. Ryner had spent much of his childhood bedridden and Adaire wanted to make up for the teen's lost childhood. Reena, on the other hand, was guarded and quiet as always. Her wavy brown hair was cut short, contrary to the trends of highborn ladies. At the age of seventeen she was turning into a woman with her curves developing. Her green eyes looked distant as always.
"What's going on?" Reena asked bluntly, cutting to the chase.
Adaire sighed, "The Boltons are coming tomorrow. I don't know why, but they have demanded an audience with us," He said then looked at Ryner. "All of us. Just, let me do the talking and everything will be fine."
Ryner and Reena nodded in unison.
"That's all I needed to tell you, they probably just want me to bend the knee." Adaire said, trying to reassure his siblings.
"And if they want more?" Reena asked.
Adaire sighed, "We'll worry about that if it happens."
Reena nodded, unconvinced, but she didn't want to say anything to worry her younger brother.
"Do we all have to be there?" Ryner asked.
"Unfortunately, yes, but don't worry you and mother will stand off to the side. They're coming to see me. I'm sure they won't spare you a second glance." Adaire replied.
Ryner nodded.
"Do you have anymore questions?" Adaire asked, glancing at each of his siblings.
"What if the Starks want to go to war again? Who will we support?" Reena asked.
Adaire sighed, "The Starks, of course, but no one has heard or seen them since the war. I'm not entirely sure that they all survived."
"So until then we support the Boltons?"
"Publicly, yes, we have no choice." Adaire answered.
Reena simply nodded seeing no reason to voice her disagreement with Adaire. There was no point in arguing matters she had no say over.
The next day the Boltons arrived. The Forresters were gathered in the Great Hall for their arrival. Adaire stood on the raised dais while his mother and younger siblings stood off to the side, almost out of sight. Ryner stood close to their mother while Reena stood her ground. King Theodore Bolton entered the room with his son, Thoren, at his side and his soldiers following behind him. Theodore was a tall and muscular man, having good physique for a king. Due to his receding hairline, his black hair was cut very short. He had brown eyes and a permanent scowl on his face. Thoren was a bit shorter with a slight muscular build. His hair was dark brown and almost looked black. His icy blue eyes showed no emotion as he and his father approached the dais. He had a scar that went through his right eyebrow, a battle wound no doubt.
"Welcome to Ironrath, Your Grace." Adaire greeted Theodore with a bow. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"Ironrath controls the largest supply of ironwood. I understand that under Stark reign you supplied them with the ironwood that they required." Theodore said, getting straight to business. "I expect to be granted the same loyalty. That is, unless you're still loyal to the Stark traitors?"
"I assure Your Grace you will have access to as much ironwood as you need." Adaire said.
"I thought you would say that, but I have my doubts." Theodore said, his eyes scanning over Adaire's family. He locked eyes with Ryner who clung to his mother. "What's your name, boy?"
"Ryner, Your Grace." Adaire answered for him, used to protecting his younger brother.
"Thoren." Theodore instructed.
Without a word Thoren walked towards Ryner and grabbed him by the arm. He yanked the teen away from his family and into the ring of Bolton men.
"You see, Lord Forrester, I don't quite trust you." Theodore said as Ryner struggled in the grasp of his men. Thoren punched him in the face eliciting a cry of pain from the youth. Thoren quickly shackled the boy's wrists while he was surprised by the pain.
"We'll be taking your brother in as a ward, to ensure your compliance." Theodore said simply.
"No!" Aiyanna protested.
Reena, on the other hand, clenched her jaw and formed her hand into fists as she stormed out of the Great Hall. Theodore watched with a satisfied smirk as the doors slammed shut behind her.
"Forgive me for asking this Your Grace, but wouldn't it be better if we waited a little while? My brother has only started getting over his illness. The Maester was adamant that if Ryner became stressed, as this will likely make him, it could cause the illness to return. May we be able to at least keep Ryner here until the Maester thinks it's safe?" Adaire asked forcing himself to remain calm.
"I have a maester in Winterfell, your brother will be fine," Theodore said dismissively. "He will return with us. Just remember that despite your status as a Lord, you still answer to your King. Any misstep, any ounce of suspicion that I may feel your brother will answer for."
"I understand, Your Grace, I assure you that we will prove our loyalty. May we have a moment alone with Ryner? Just to say goodbye." Adaire said as he made eye contact with Ryner. Ryner's forest green eyes were wide with worry.
"Very well, but only for a few moments." Theodore said. Within moments the Boltons had cleared out of the Great Hall, leaving the Forresters alone. Aiyanna and Adaire rushed to Ryner.
"Don't make me go with them!" Ryner pleaded, fidgeting with his chains, trying to remove the shackles that bound his wrists.
"I'm sorry Ryner, there's nothing we can do. We're outnumbered." Adaire said, then rested his hands on his brother's shoulders. "The next time we see each other, won't take long. We'll come to get you soon, I promise. So just do you best to hold out for at least that long, okay?"
Ryner nodded quietly and stared at the ground, blinking back tears.
"You'll be okay, I promise you, we won't give them cause to hurt you." Adaire said as he pulled his younger brother into a hug.
Theodore, Thoren and their men re-entered the Great Hall. Thoren grabbed Ryner roughly by the arm and jerked the boy towards him.
"I think that's enough time to say your goodbyes." Theodore said
"The winters are hard but the Forrester will endure. We always have, and you will do the same I hope?" Adaire said to Ryner who silently nodded his eyes on the floor.
Without a word Theodore turned and left the room. Thoren grabbed Ryner by the neck and pulled him along. Adaire watched helplessly as his younger brother disappeared behind the doors of the Great Hall.
"I'll get him back, Mother, I promise you." Adaire said.
"I know you will, I just hope you get him back before they do too much harm." Aiyanna said.
Reena watched from her room as Thoren shoved Ryner into a cage. Ryner crawled to the back and drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around his knees. She hated how helpless he looked, and how she was unable to help him. She had always been there for him, as much as she could be when he was sick. She would sit by his bedside when their mother couldn't and read to him or comfort him in anyway she could. There was a knock at her door as her brother was taken away. Reena said nothing as the door to her room opened and Adaire walked in.
"Are you okay?" Adaire asked as he approached his younger sister.
Reena shook her head and burst into tears. Adaire pulled his younger sister into a hug. Reena returned the hug and cried onto his shoulder.
"Shh, everything will be okay. We'll get him back." Adaire said as he rubbed Reena's back soothingly.
"I will skin every Bolton and their men alive if it means getting Ryner back." Reena said once she regained her composure. She pulled away from Adaire and rubbed her eyes.
"Leave the Boltons to me, I'll get him back, I promise."
"I want to help." Reena said.
Adaire shook his head, "You don't know how to fight, I'm not putting you in danger. If you come with us you could be taken captive too. I'm not taking that chance."
"And when are you going to get him? After the Boltons have beaten and tortured him?" Reena asked angrily. "You never should have let them take him in the first place."
"I had no choice, you saw their men, we couldn't possibly fight them off, we don't have the numbers. I'll get Ryner back as soon as I can, I promise you."
"You better." Reena said.
At nightfall the Boltons stopped to set up camp. Ryner was left in his cage where he was curled up in a ball, shivering against the cold. He tensed as Thoren approached the cage, a smirk on his face. Thoren unlocked and opened the cage and waved Ryner forward.
"Come on out, little lord." Thoren said.
Ryner hesitated for a moment before he obeyed and crawled out of the cage. Once outside he was grabbed by the neck and led to the forest.
"If you need to piss, now's your chance." Thoren said as he pushed Ryner further into the bushes.
Ryner glanced at Thoren to see if he would leave. When he realised that Thoren wasn't going anywhere he relieved himself, embarrassed that Thoren was watching. When he finished he walked back to Thoren, who grabbed his neck again. Ryner kept his eyes on the ground as he was led back to the camp. A fire had been set up and Thoren pushed Ryner so he was sitting in front of it.
"Don't even think about moving." Thoren warned.
Ryner nodded and adjusted himself so he was sitting in a more comfortable position. Thoren sat beside Ryner as dinner was being prepared. Ryner ignored the pang of hunger as the men around him ate, he hadn't eaten since morning and he was starving. Eventually Thoren handed him some scraps of food that he was too full to eat. Ryner quickly ate them, afraid the prince would take them away. Thoren smirked and handed Ryner his waterskin. Ryner took it and after he a couple of gulps Thoren snatched it away.
"That's enough for now, little lord, you're not going to die of thirst." Thoren mocked as he put the waterskin in his satchel.
Ryner sighed and drew his knees up to his chest.
"Asher, take first watch. Wake me if our little guest tries to leave." Thoren ordered one of his men, as he stood. "And trust me, little lord, I do hope you run. I'd love nothing more than to hunt you down and beat you for your insolence."
Ryner said nothing as Thoren bent down and ruffled his hair with a laugh. Thoren walked away, leaving Ryner with his guard. Ryner laid down on the ground with a sigh and curled up on his side, idly watching the fire. Eventually sleep overtook the youth and his eyes fluttered shut.
Ryner woke up to pain in his stomach, he groaned and curled in on himself, squeezing his eyes shut. It took him a moment to realise he had been kicked. He slowly opened his eyes and rubbed them to see Thoren standing over him.
"Get up, little lord." Thoren demanded.
Ryner slowly stood. His stomach grumbled but Thoren offered him no food. Instead he grabbed the boy by the neck and led him back to his cage. He shoved Ryner inside and slammed the cage shut then placed the lock on it.
"We'll be at Winterfell soon, then we'll have some fun together, little lord." Thoren said with a smirk.
Ryner swallowed a lump in his throat as Thoren walked away, wondering what the prince meant by fun. He watched as the men mounted their horses, some gave him sideway glances but most of them ignored him altogether. Ryner leaned against the cage as it started to move. I want to go home, he thought miserably as he was taken further away from Ironrath and closer to Winterfell. He rested one hand on the bars of the cage, wishing he could push it open and run home. But he knew it was impossible, he was Theodore's prisoner until his brother saved him. He just hoped he would be rescued sooner rather than later. At midday they stopped to let the horses rest and eat. Thoren allowed Ryner out of the cage, but kept the shackles on like the previous night. Again, Ryner was fed only scraps and given enough water to sustain him. Once they were ready to move on Ryner was locked back in his cage.
They arrived at Winterfell by nightfall and Ryner felt uneasy as they made their way through the gates of the castle. Within moments of stopping Thoren opened the cage and Ryner climbed out without prompting. Ryner tensed as Thoren grabbed him by the neck and pulled him inside of the castle. Ryner was led to a small, but surprisingly comfortable room. A fire was burning in the fireplace and the bed was made. The room was clean, with a small table with two chairs on either side of it. Thoren grabbed Ryner's arm and turned the boy to face him. He then removed the shackles from Ryner's wrists and they fell to the ground with a clang.
"I hope you enjoy your room, little lord. You are responsible for keeping it clean, I'm not wasting my servant's time to take care of you." Thoren said.
Ryner nodded.
"Don't even think about trying to leave, guards will be right outside of your door. I'll see you tomorrow, little lord, and the real fun will begin." Thoren said then patted Ryner on the cheek. He left the room and Ryner could hear the clicking of a lock falling into place. Ryner sighed and sat on his bed, staring at the door, he wondered how long it would take for Adaire to rescue him and feared what Thoren had planned for him.