Chapter 1
The air was cold. Snow was lightly falling, catching in the thick brown strands of Damaris' hair. This was the first time she had ever seen snow. She hugged herself tight as she forced her horse to go on further. "Come on Tar," She whispered as she scratched behind his ear. "Winter is coming."
. . .
"Lord Stark, forgive me but a stranger was found unconscious on their horse just outside the wall." Interrupted Jory, cautiously approaching the Lord of Winterfall at his crippled son's bedside. "We brought her and her horse in the walls; Maester Luwin is attending to the girl now. Would you care to question her or perhaps you would prefer for someone else too?"
Eddard Stark turned to face Jory deciding what to do. "Send Robb or Jon in my place, whoever you can find first. I need to arrange some things. Have them report back to me after though." With that Jory walked away in search of an interrogator.
He had only walked a down the corridor when Jon came into his sight. "Ah, Jon!" Jory yelled beckoning for Jon to walk with him. "Your father is unable to question the girl that was found today, he has asked you to do so in his absence."
"Well of course of Ser Jory, I take she is in the infirmary?" asked Jon.
"Yes, but if you would please excuse me I must attend to another matter." Jory replied regretfully, and with a nod of his head was off.
Jon was surprised that he was allowed to be doing something like this, usually if anything Robb would be asked to do so. Then again Robb was much too busy these days now that he was to be the Lord of Winterfall once his father and two sisters left. Jon made his way to the infirmary only to hear a scream and the sound of breaking glass.
"What in the seven hells is going on in here?" cried Jon as he rushed into the chamber. He surveyed the room as he was eyes were accustoming to the dim light. He found Maester Luwin backed against the wall with a bed separating him and the newcomer. She was now in a crouched position eyeing Jon. Her eyes were wild looking as they seemed to grow bigger.
"She's in a state, she broke the looking glass as I tried to bandage her torso! She pushed me off her and then started to scream." answered Maester Luwin with a stricken look in his face.
Jon had to supress a laugh at the expression he held on his face. "Well thank you Maester Luwin but you may take leave, I believe I can take it from here."
Maester Luwin just bobbed his head and exited.
Jon walked over to the dresser and lit another candle. The room grew much lighter and he could now see the girl clearer. She was still on the other side of the bed, but she had stood up now. She was tall, not as tall as Jon though. Her hair was a dark brown like the weirwood tree trunks in the Godswood. Her eyes the most captivating feature, they were large and Jon noticed they were a beautiful deep green shade. She was pretty, very pretty. Jon blushed at this thought. He cleared his throat.
"I am Jon snow, I am the Lord of Winterfell's bastard son, and who might you be?" asked Jon in a cool tone.
The girl stared at him for some time before replying. "I am Damaris Rein, daughter of the Earth."
"Daughter of the Earth?" asked Jon, a puzzled look on his face. Again, she hesitated as if debating to share something or not.
"Yes, there are few of us left. At least there was." A shadow passed over Damaris' face before continuing. "My tribe are somewhat similar to the Dothraki people I guess you could say. We have no permanent home but we are servants of the earth. We were out looking for new land to rest upon when we came under attack. I was ahead of everyone else, I guess you could say I am a kind of scout. We didn't think of danger behind us. I am the last one of my kind."
"I am sorry, I mean that."
Damaris surveyed him, he seemed genuine. He looked strong and menacing almost but she could see sadness and compassion in his eyes. She decided to believe him.
"I did not mean to come here, to Winterfell. I just kept riding and riding until I could ride no more."
Jon noticed now how weary she looked. She was slightly shaking he guessed not just from the cold. "Lie down and get some rest, food will be brought to you when you awaken, but for now sleep."
She obliged and got inside the bed. Jon placed a fur over her and the gesture made her smile. Perhaps, being here would not be so bad. Especially if everyone was like this Jon Snow.