Chapter Two

I awoke the next morning to the sound of a bugle. I sat up on the cot that had been given to me for the night and stretched. I yawned and rubbed some sleep out of the corner of my eye. I swung my legs over the side of the cot and walked over to the table that had a small hand mirror on top of it along with a brush. Someone must have put them there during the night. That should creep me out but for some reason it didn't. I brushed through my dark brown, wavy locks. I braided part of my hair and pinned it up. I took my cloak and swung it over my shoulders to cover my dark brown, corseted top with laces near the collar, black pants and brown knee-high boots. I strapped my sword to my hip, feeling the reassuring weight around my waist. I suddenly remembered Robb's invitation to have breakfast in his tent.

I exited my tent and felt the early morning sun shining against my face. This time there were thousands of men out an about the camp and I felt like every pair of eyes was on me. I quickly found my way to Robb's tent and pulled back to curtain that was the entryway. I found Robb sitting around the table, which once was covered by a map along with Theon and a red haired woman. From what I've heard this was most likely Robb's mother, Catelyn Stark. Grey Wind was curled up at his master's feet sleeping soundly.

"Morning Kyra." Robb smiled gesturing for me to sit. I sat next to Theon, who looked rather pleased with my presence next to him.

"Mother, this is Kyra Farrin. She is a traveller from Harrenhal who was riding through the woods last night. Grey Wind must've mistaken her for a Lannister solider and tried to attack her and her horse. I offered her a tent for the night. Kyra where will you be travelling to after today?" Robb asked turning his attention toward me.

"I'm headed North." I said simply. I didn't want these people to view me as a joke especially with Robb being the proclaimed King in the North. However, something inside me was nagging me to simply tell them. Maybe they would be different. Maybe they would support what I was trying to do.

"How North?" Catelyn asked.

I hesitated for a second before speaking even though I wasn't positive I was making the right choice in telling them. "I was thinking the Wall." Everyone fell silent for a moment.

"Why the Wall?" Robb asked setting down his utensils.

"I wanted to join the Night's Watch, perhaps." I said cautiously, glancing down at the table sheepishly. Three very different looks flashed over everyone's faces. A look of slight disgust over Catelyn's, a look of fond nostalgia over Robb's and an inquisitive look overtaking Theon's face. I had a feeling that all three of these reactions stemmed from one common source.

"There's never been a woman in the Night's Watch." Catelyn said simply. I was unable to decipher what she was thinking.

"I think that's just because no woman has ever tried hard enough." I said confidently. There was a silence for a moment or so.

"I think you should try it." Robb said cutting through the silence. My face whipped around to look at his.

"Really?" I asked with a raised brow.

Robb nodded in response. "You seem strong enough, brave enough, tough enough. You've travelled all the way from Harrenhal on your own. Hell, the fact that you survived in Harrenhal is a reason in itself to admit you. I think you can handle it."

"Thank you, my lord." I said trying to hide a blush that was threatening to creep it's way onto my features. We finished eating breakfast and soon enough it was time for me to depart.

"You should send a raven when you reach the Wall to let us know that you have arrived safely." Robb said as I was climbing on Valkyrie's saddle.

"I'll make sure to do that. Thank you for your hospitality, King Stark." I said making sure to address him as King. I wanted him to know that I supported his claim to the throne of the North and his rebellion against the Seven Kingdoms.

"It's no problem. If you ever find yourself in Winterfell come and visit the castle. I hope to have returned home by then." He smiled helping me untie Valkyrie from the post outside his tent.

"I'll make sure to do that as well. Goodbye for now, Robb." I smiled back at him.

"Goodbye, Kyra." He returned. I gave Valkyrie a small kick urging her on. I looked back once I had gone about a hundred feet away and saw Grey Wind had joined his master and was sitting obediently next to him. I was going to miss the hospitality provided to me by these people who less than a day ago were complete strangers to me. Once we trotted a substantial distance away from the camp site I kicked Valkyrie once more and gripped her reins tighter as she started to sprint North.

Several hours later it was around noon and I had decided to stop for a while to let Valkyrie rest. I sat on a tree stump with my elbows leaning on my knees. I ate an apple that was part of a large spread of food that the Starks had given me for my journey.

Valkyrie was grazing a bit in a clearing of the forest we were riding through. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard the snapping of a tree branch come from behind me. I dropped the apple in the dirt as my hand went immediately to my sword. I unsheathed the steel from the worn leather sheath and got into defensive position. I started moving toward the clearing where Valkyrie was still eating the green grass. A figure emerged from the underbrush. It was a small child covered in soot and dirt with tangled hair and a fur lined hat. The child looked frightened and alone. I sheathed my sword, thinking they could do me no harm. I squatted down so I was closer to his height.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly. The boy didn't say anything. He simply stood there and looked straight at me. "Are you alone?" The small boy nodded. "Where did you come from?" He pointed back into the thick forest. "Do you need me to take you back?" The boy shook his head violently. "Why not? Won't your parents be worried about you?" The boy didn't say anything. "Are you sure? I can bring you home on my horse and…" I offered turning around just in time to see an arrow flying directly toward my shoulder. My reflexes caused me to duck and roll out of the way. I looked up at the mountainside and saw a man dressed in a fur coat with a hood pulled up over his ears. He held a bow with another arrow notched and ready to be shot at me. I started running to Valkyrie in a zig-zagging pattern as to avoid getting an arrow in the back. I grabbed my bow and quiver of arrows off Valkyrie's back and notched one, aiming it toward the man standing on the hill. I released the bowstring and sent the arrow flying toward him. From what I could tell it grazed his leg as he started to limp as he ran. I typically fought with a sword, as it was what I was trained the most in. I had just picked up the art of archery a few days after leaving Harrenhal.

I shot again and this time managed to sink an arrow into his thigh. He collapsed on the ground in pain but not before letting an arrow fly in my direction. This one managed to graze my shoulder. Actually, it was a lot deeper than a graze. I inhaled a sharp breath and hunched down, grasping my arm in pain. I felt something light land on my shoulder. I looked behind me and saw the little boy, totally unharmed. He stood as tall as me even when I was kneeling on the ground. "Are you okay?" I asked putting his safety above mine. He nodded softly.

"Are you okay?" He spoke softly. These seemed to be the first words he'd spoken in a long time. I nodded.

"Just a little cut is all." I said trying to sound reassuring. Seconds later there was a snapping of more twigs from the forest. I turned and saw a woman standing on the edge of the clearing with a look of relief flooding her features. That expression soon contorted into one of anger. She started marching into the clearing straight toward us and I moved instinctively in front of the small boy.

"What are you doing with my son?" She thundered stomping over to us. I stood, shaking and still grasping my arm.

"Nothing, I swear it. I simply found him in the woods and I offered to escort him back to wherever he came from but he said now. We were attacked but I think he's okay. He appears uninjured to me." I said quickly hoping she wouldn't do anything rash.

She appeared to be mulling something over for a minute before she spoke again. "I believe you." She turned her attention to the young boy and quickly pushed past me to embrace him. "Darolf, are you okay?" The boy nodded. They talked for a few minutes while I walked over to Valkyrie and brought out some bandage wrap that I had stashed in her saddlebag. I took off my cloak and slung it over her back. I pulled my arm out of the sleeve and examined the wound. Blood surrounded the cut. It was fairly deep but it was a short cut. I assumed it would be okay. I would have to see a Maester sooner or later. It depended on when I reached a keep.

"Do you need some help? I know a little bit about healing. It's the least I can do for protecting my son." The woman asked walking over to me with Darlof trailing close behind. I nodded and handed her the wool I was wrapping tightly around my bicep. "My name is Birwyn, by the way."

"I'm Kyra Farrin. I've never heard a name yours before. I like it. Where are you from?" I inquired watching her carefully wrap my wound.

"Beyond the wall." She said simply.

"Beyond the wall. What's it like there? How did you get over the wall?" I asked with my interest suddenly sparked.

"It was great being a part of the Free Folk. There's no one there to tell you what to do and no one that you are obligated for follow." She said fondly. She finished wrapping my wound.

"Why did you leave if you liked it so much?" I raised a brow at her.

"It's getting dangerous out there with winter coming. It's no place for children." She explained. I nodded in understanding.

"I plan on travelling to the wall to try to join the Night's Watch." I explained. Birwyn had a look of distaste flash over her face. I'm guessing the Free Folk didn't like the Night's Watch too much.

She handed me back the wool and I stored it in Valkyrie's saddlebag again. I pulled my sleeve and cloak back on and waited for her to say something. "If you do join the crows, Kyra, take care when wandering beyond the wall. Things are happening in the North, dangerous things."

A/N: Hello everyone. Thank you so much for reading. I decided to update the story because I got some positive feedback from y'all and I'm really dedicated to this story so expect at least somewhat frequent updates. It would mean a lot if you would review or follow or favorite this story and all that. I'll see you in the next chapter.

- xlovelylunax