Chapter 2. Love at First Sight
Nathan's company rides all day and all night, then at sunset on the second day they stop to make camp and rest the horses. Nathan and Daven sit around the fire exchanging stories with the men. They talk of sword play, weapons, women, and the glory of House Stryder. "So you talk with her and didn't at least try to kiss her?" Barn asks.
"Barn leave Lord Stryder alone…"
"I agree with Sir Barn…I would have grabbed her ass or her tits…"
"Show some respect…by next year she will be Roen's wife…"
"Okay greatest battles ever fought…" Daven says.
"Battle of the Trident…" A soldier says.
"When old Torrhen Stark bent the knee…" A man standing behind Daven said and everyone laughed.
"That was no battle…" Barn said.
Nathan smiled as Daven spoke up, "It would have been if House Stryder had been there…"
"You forget the first rebellion of the Iron Born…"
"No one rebels like the Iron Born…"
A young man raises his hand, "Excuse me milord…" Everyone looks at the young man and laughs.
"Novel is your name right?" Nathan asks.
"Yes milord…"
"What is that at your hip?"
Novel looks down, "My sword Bone Cleaver…"
"Bone Cleaver…A good name for a sword…At Guardstone boy I am your Lord…Out here on the field we are all sword brothers…Now ask your question…"
"In a respectful manner!" Captain Rice said.
"Why do the Starks and Stryders hate each other?"
It grew quiet and all eyes turned to Nathan, "I will tell you brother…Few alive know this…Long ago…in the time of Torrhen Stark…a year before the Targaryens invaded Kullen Stryder fell in love with a young maiden named Nila Kar…"
"Kar?" Novel asked.
"Aye Kar they went by back then…When they married into the Starks they became the Karstarks…Now Nila had another suitor…Prince Rickon Stark…Of course she chose Prince Rickon…What maiden wouldn't chose a Prince…But Nila often played the two against each other as Prince Rickon and Kullen were rivals in all things…At the wedding Kullen got tavern drunk and made an obscene toast…Insulted Rickon ordered Kullen to leave Winterfell and head strait to the wall…Now Kullen was his father's favorite son and heir to Guardstone…Victor Stryder was not about to part with his favorite son…He pleaded with King Torrhen Stark and the Prince…In a fit of rage Rickon banished Torrhen to the wall as well…Infuriated Kullen drew his dagger and flung it across the hall…Killing Prince Rickon…Before father and son could be subdued they slew 59 men in the great hall…Torrhen had son and father beheaded and their heads placed on pikes…Nila married Prince Brandon Stark…
Jorn Stryder the brother of Kullen and the new lord Guardstone came to Winterfell alone and asked for the bodies of his father and brothers…Torrhen refused…So Jorn returned to Guardstone and assembled an army of 25,000 Stryder swordsmen…They road all the way back to Winterfell and took the heads of his father and brother…Jorn and his men killed everyone in Winterfell but Torrhen, his wife, Brandon, and his son's wife Nila before returning to Winterfell. Torrhen summons all his loyal Banners and leads the entire north to the gates of Guardstone…
Some call it the six month siege…Others refer to it as the bloody war…No one really speaks of it…For six months Torrhen's forces pounded the gates of Guardstone…Thousands of northmen died before the gates testing the legendary prowess of House Stryder…In six months Jorn lost 300 men compared to Torrhen who lost over 70,000 men…Guardstone has never been taken and cannot be taken…We are the masters of war…the Lords of the sword…FEAR OUR SWORDS!
"FEAR OUR SWORDS!…" Nathan's men repeated.
"Eventually Torrhen Stark grew weary of war and his daughter in-law was heavy pregnant…So he asked for peace…House Stryder places blood and honor above glory and power…Jorn swore to keep his oath of fealty to House Stark…He and all those that follow in his line would faithfully pay their tribute to House Stark…But never again would we answer the call to war…Quiet defiance and solitude we chose…Torrhen returned home to rebuild his family…A month later thinking the Starks weak the Greyjoys invaded…That was the first rebellion of the Iron Born…They were driven back to the Iron Isles…That was when House Mormount swore fealty to House Stark and switched sides…The later end of the following year Aegon I forced Torrhen Stark to bend the knee…But if the Stryders had been at his side…Aegon I and his Dragons would have died that day…"
No one spoke for a good while then Novel raised his goblet, "To House Stryder!"
"HOUSE STRYDER!" They all repeated. After breakfast they broke camp and road on towards Winterfell. Within six days they had reached the ancient ancestral stronghold of Winterfel by forced ride and pushing the horses.
Winterfell
"Who goes there?" The gate guard asked yelling the question.
"Nathan Stryder of Guardstone…Son of Owen Stryder…I come on my father's behalf to pay homage to the King Robert Baratheon…"
Lord Eddard Stark Warden of the North and Lord of House Stark sat at breakfast with his family and King Robert's family. It was King Robert's second day in Winterfell. Eddard or Ned as he is often called had already agreed to be the King's Hand. A titled granting him great power to act in the King's stead. As Jon had predicted many of the noble Houses in the North got wind of the King's visit and sent gifts. Rodrik Cassel entered the hall and whispered into Ned's ear. He looks at him and Cassel nods.
"What's going on…" Robert asks noticing the exchange.
Ned sighs looking at his wife Catelyn, "Nathan Stryder is here…He wishes to pay homage to the King…"
The Stark children don't react too kindly at the news of a Stryder at their door. Cersei the Queen and Robert's wife watches with interest. "Who are the Stryders?" Tommen asks.
"The Stryders are often referred to as the Lannisters of the North…" Tyrion says answering Tommen's question.
Cersei sneers at Tyrion for the comparison, "Are they rich like us?" Tommen asks looking at his uncle.
"In Valaryen Steel dear nephew…"
"Do you expect trouble Ned?"
"No your grace…I would rather send Nathan Stryder away, but he is here to see you…"
"Show him in offer his men bread…I will see him after breakfast…"
Nathan and his men were allowed into the courtyard. They set up camp and ate outside laughing and talking. Nathan and Daven were offered rooms in the fortress but they declined in favor of staying with their men. By early noon Nathan and Davan were escorted inside the main hall with twelve of their guards. "Hail Robert Baratheon King of the Andels and the first men…Lord of the Seven Kingdoms…Protector of the Realm…May he live forever…" Nathan said as he crossed the floor. As Nathan's eyes dotted back and forth to those assembled he spotted his Uncle Bane Stryder in his armor with his unique broken staff double blade strapped across his back. Then his eyes fell on a beautiful redhead. Nathan's heart stopped in his chest. "Hail to Lord Eddard Stark Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North…" Nathan, Daven, and his men drop to their left knees fifteen paces from the King.
"What is a Stryder doing in my house?" Ned says in an unkind voice.
"I come representing House Stryder to pay homage to the King…Lord Stark…"
"Why didn't Lord Owen Stryder make the trip himself…" Ned asked.
"Because of his oath my Lord…Our House has always paid its tribute and never have we risen a sword against House Stark…Our loyalties are to the King and then House Stark…"
Robert looks at Ned and sits forward on his makeshift throne, "Well said boy…The heir of Guardstone may rise and present his gift…"
As Nathan rises he stares at the beautiful Stark girl and signals his men. "Wait!" Lord Selmy of the King's Guard yells. "We should inspect the chest…" Selmy walks forward and inspects the contents of the chest by dumping it on the floor. When the gold clatters into a pile on the floor the gathered people stare lustfully at the gold swords. "Its clean milord…"
Ned signals a servant to collect the gold and return it to the chest, "We also have this armor your grace…Made of Valaryen steel and etched in gold the crowned stag…"
Robert stands up, "I would very much like to try this on…"
Robert leaves the hall with several servants and guards to help him in the armor. As they wait Nathan steals looks at Sansa as he is finally able to remember her name. Each House issues a book of record when a member of a family is born. Nathan had been trying to recall her name. Also the reason why Tommen had never heard of House Stryder. Because there were so many Houses and families to learn in alphabetical order. He was on the Ms.
"How do I look?" Robert asked when he returned with the armor on.
"You look funny daddy…" Tommen said.
"Like a god of war…" Ned politely said.
"A fat good of war…" Robert said laughing. Everyone joined in but as soon as the King went silent everyone grew quiet. "Thank your father for me…"
"Your grace…I take my leave of you…"
"What is the rush? Stay eat and drink with us…I insist…"
"You are kind your grace…"
Nathan stayed but he slept with his men which earned him points with Ned Stark. "Nathan! Daven!" Bane yelled joining them. He interlocked arms with Nathan then he hugs his son Daven. "How is everyone?"
"Fine…Roen is to marry Maria Forrester in a year…"
He nods, "I wish I could be at the wedding…"
"Aunt Jane sends her love…"
Bane smiles, "She still refuses to take our name?"
Nathan smiles as they walk, "Give her time father…" Daven says.
Nathan stops and pulls his uncle's arm, "Tell me about that redheaded lass…Sansa Stark…"
Bane shakes his head, "Like all Stryders you have bad timing boy…She is already betrothed…To Prince Joffrey…"
"What a waste…I would give up all the Valaryen steel in Guardstone to have her…"
During the feast the seven members of the King's Guard stand watch in the main hall. Nathan and Daven sit at the King's table. Every now and then Nathan would catch Sansa's eye and wink at her. Then he catches an exchange between Jaime Lannister and Eddard Stark. Then he watches as Prince Joffrey gives Sansa a gift and walks toward his father's table.
"Lord Stryder! They say that your family has the best swordsman in all the seven Kingdoms…"
"Yes my prince this is true…"
"How can this be true when your family hid in its castle during the Targaryen invasion…" It grew quiet and the music stopped, "…Your ancestors did nothing in the first and second rebellions of the Iron Born…"
Nathan smiles, "Perhaps your grace my ancestors found no challenge in all those enemies…" Everyone laughs.
"Or perhaps all the legends are nothing but lies…" When Joffrey says this the laughing stops.
"Joffrey!" King Robert says, "That is enough!"
"I would just like a demonstration father…Of the legendary prowess of House Stryder! A duel with one of my father's guards… Perhaps…Sir Barristan!"
"Lord Barristan is twice my age milord…Perhaps someone my own age…"
"No…Sir Barristan Selmy in a duel with the heir of Guardstone…"
Selmy looks at the King and he nods, then they clear a space and are given practice swords. "Begin!" Joffrey yells. Selmy and Nathan stare at each other, no one moves. Then they close their eyes, "I said begin!" Joffrey yells getting inpatient.
Then Nathan opens his eyes and shifts his foot angling his sword off to the side. Selmy angles his sword off to the opposite side. They attack at the same time in blur of movement too fast for the eye to watch. The spectators stand in awe of the speed and accuracy of their blades. Selmy arcs his sword and disarms Nathan. When he thrusts forward Nathan rushes forward and spins to the left sliding on his knees and recovers his sword. He spins around swinging for Selmy's neck, but he leans back and counters. They lock up pushing against each other. Then Nathan grabs Selmy's collar and pulls him down raising his feet. Selmy goes up and over and hits his back. Nathan flips backwards and straddles Selmy.
"I yield!" Selmy says.
Everyone claps as Nathan helps him up, "Very impressive…" Selmy says.
"It was all I could do…" Nathan says breathing heavy.
It is midnight and as Nathan joins his men he spots Jon Snow talking with Tyrion Lannister. He enters his tent and sits down to write a letter.
To the Red Goddess of Winterfell
Lady Sansa…I hope this letter finds you well…I do not expect a reply after all you are a Stark and I of House Stryder…but I find myself thinking of you…And in my insanity I am now writing you…I am sure you noticed my lingering gaze upon…But what chance stand I against Prince Joffrey Baratheon…I am condemned to love someone I cannot have…So dear lady I comfort myself with the hope that we can be friends…I know you have your septa…Your mother…and father…But I hold onto to hope that you would consider me among your friends…Someone to confide in…
With deepest affection
Nathan Stryder…
The next day Nathan gave his goodbyes to the King and Lord Stark, then his uncle and left Winterfell.