A few weeks later I arrived at Winterfell. It was a lovely place, despite how cold it was. The guard was welcoming; unlike every other hold I had visited on my journey. I arrived early in the morning when the sun was just starting to peek over the mountains. The chill in the air was something foreign to me but something I was going to have to get used to. I dismounted from Valkyrie's saddle and brought her up to the gate.
"Welcome to Winterfell, traveller." A guard said as I approached the gates. They had symbol of the Stark house direwolf emblazoned on their armor and several flags hung over the walls bearing the same sigil as well. "What is your business at the keep?"
"I have endured a long journey that has not yet come to an end. I have encountered Robb Stark and his forces a few weeks ago. I was welcomed into their camp as a guest and Robb informed me that if I was ever in Winterfell that I should stop at the castle and I would be welcomed." I recited what I had been practicing I was going to say to the guard.
The guard went over to another and they talked for a minute. "Stay here for a minute. We shall inform the court of your arrival." I nodded and waited patiently for their return. In a few minutes they returned with a man who was bald and wore grey robes. He must be the Maester of Winterfell.
"Welcome to Winterfell, Kyra Farrin of Harrenhal." The man said kindly.
"How do you know who I am?" I asked, scrunching my brow together.
"Robb sent a raven a few weeks ago informing us that if you should ever visit Winterfell to invite you in as a guest of House Stark." He informed me. I smiled to myself.
"Well…. that's me." I said not knowing what else to say.
"Bring your horse. We will keep her in the stables along with the rest of the horses belonging to the Starks." He said gesturing for me to follow him inside the gates. I pulled on Valkyrie's reins and felt her move, following my lead. Once we were inside the wall I handed Valkyrie's reins to a stable boy who took her and promised to take good care of her.
I followed the man, who I discovered to be Maester Luwin, into the castle where he presented me to the Starks who were still present in Winterfell. "My name is Kyra Farrin of Harrenhal." I said once it was my time to introduce myself to them, them being Bran and Rickon.
"It is a pleasure to host you at our castle, my lady." Bran said seriously, sounding way too mature for his age. He seems to have really taken on a role of leadership since Robb left Winterfell to fight in the War of the Five Kings.
"Thank you, my lord." I curtsied slightly. It seemed like the appropriate thing to do.
"All of the castle's resources will be at your disposal for the duration of your stay." Maester Luwin added.
"Thank you. I think my stay at this castle will be a short one for I am not through with my journey yet. However, I appreciate your kindness and hospitality greatly." I said with all the sincerity I could lace into my tone.
"Of course, any friend of Robb's is a friend of the entire Stark house." Bran smiled politely. I returned the smile and curtsied again.
"Let us know if you require anything." Luwin said before turning on his heel and walking toward the entrance of the castle.
"Actually, there is one thing." I said quickly before he could leave.
"What is it?" He asked turning around and listening intently.
"You are the Maester so you're the healer in Winterfell, correct?" I asked trying to sound educated on the subject.
"Yes. It there something you are worried about?"
"There's a wound on my arm that has gone untreated for a while. I was wondering if you could take a look at it."
"Of course. Follow me." He said gesturing for me to walk after him. We walked up a set of stairs and into a sort of study. There were wall-length and ceiling-tall bookcases against four walls. Each shelve was full to capacity with books. There was a desk sitting in the middle of the room with some lit candles in the corner. Luwin opened the lid of a box sitting on the desk, revealing some medical supplies. I pulled off my cloak and pulled my arm out of the sleeve. He started examining the cut, making hmph noises every now and then.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, suddenly very concerned. My heart started racing faster and faster.
"It's a good thing you got here when you did. The wound has not been properly treated and requires some stitching. It's on the verge of infection but luckily we can counteract that. It is going to leave a scar, however." He informed me taking some gauze and turpentine and cleaning the cut.
"Thank you, Maester Luwin." I said no knowing what else to say. What do you say to someone who just possibly saved one of your limbs?
"It's no problem. If you require anything else just let us know." He said kindly, putting everything away after he had properly tended to the wound and wrapped it in wool.
"I will." I said as I exited the room. I went and found the room that they had appointed me to. From the looks of it, this room used to belong to someone. It had some personal things strewn about that wouldn't typically be found in a guest room. It seemed to belong to a man. Surely it wasn't Robb's room. Who else lived, or once lived, at this castle that could have inhabited the room?
I pondered for a while longer. The room had an excellent view of outside the walls of the castle and the countryside of Winterfell. Flocks of sheep grazed on the green grass. It was beautiful, unlike the scenery that I had grown up becoming accustomed to. Everything in Harrenhal was black or shades of grey and there was no color. Everything seemed to be covered in ash and dirt. I hated it there. Winterfell was a welcome relief from that. I was drawn from my thoughts when there came a knock on the door.
"Come in." I called. The door swung open to reveal Bran being carried by Hodor walking slowly into the room.
"Hello, my lady." He addressed me. Hodor set him on the bed and exited the room.
"Hello, Lord Stark. What can I help you with?" I asked turning on the windowsill so I could face him.
"I was just thinking about something you said earlier." He said. "You said you have travelled from Harrenhal. That's a far journey north. You also said that you weren't through with your journey. I assume you mean to be travelling north again but the only thing north of here is the Wall. Is that where you intend to travel?" He inquired.
"Yes. I wish to join the Night's Watch. With winter coming I'm guessing they may be open to accept any applicants no matter what gender." I said addressing the fact that I'm a woman trying to join the Night's Watch, which has never been done before, before he brought it up.
"My half-brother Jon is a part of the Night's Watch." Bran said looking around the room. "This was his room." Things started to fall into place. That's what must've caused Theon, Robb, and Catelyn's mixed reactions when I mentioned the Watch.
"How long has he been at the Wall?" I inquired trying to further the conversation. Maybe having a connection on the inside will increase my chances of being accepted.
"About a year." He said simply.
"Have you heard anything from him?" Bran shook his head in response.
"Some, but not much. What we have heard is brief and vague. He doesn't say much about what it's like. I think he kind of feels like he doesn't belong here. He's the 'bastard' child of my father and another woman so my mother has never taken kindly to him. I think he belongs here just as much as anyone."
I remained silent. That was sad, everyone deserves to feel like they belong somewhere. I guess the Wall is where he feels he belongs. "When do you expect you will leave?" Bran asked.
"I was thinking in the morning. I would like to arrive before the beginning of the month so I can start training with the new wave of recruits." I explained.
"That's smart. I wish you luck in your endeavors. If things don't go the way you play you are always welcome back in Winterfell." Bran said kindly. He called for Hodor again who came and took him out of the room. It dawned on me then that people here had been calling me 'lady' as if I was highborn. I was the definite opposite of highborn. I was raised in the dirt, ash, and rubble of what was once a great fortress.
Later that night I joined the Starks and Maester Luwin for dinner. I felt more well-fed than I had in ages. There was venison and pork and steak with a wide assortment of vegetables and other crops that were harvested locally. I bid them goodnight after dinner and thanked them for their hospitality.
I went back up to the room and changed into a light blue night dress and braided my hair down my back to my waist. I laid on top of the bed, feeling awkward in my current position. I had been relying on this family for so much these past few weeks. It was time I started to be independent and chart my own course.
A/N: Hello everyone, I'm back with another update. Thank you for reading and for the reviews that y'all have left. It really means a lot to me. The next chapter should be up soon so stay tuned for that. Please follow/favorite/review and all that stuff and I'll see you all in the next chapter.
-xlovelylunax