HARRY

The winds brought the darkness, caressing the light out of existence, ushering the night in. Harry had stayed to his shelter, his roots dug deep beneath the tree he had claimed as his guardian. He was thankful for the long faced man traveling north… south? He didn't know which way; his kind nature had saved him starvation by the food he had offered. No thanks could be given and yet he tried to show his gratefulness by helping yet the man still travelled on his companions following at a trot.

It had been weeks since he had been to the village scared the man may have tipped the villagers off to his presence. Risking another trek to the village was difficult for the muscular thirteen year old. He needed supplies, supplies the village had and could offer him. He couldn't pay but he saw fit to leave something of equal of greater value in their place, his payment of sorts. He had tried his hand at netted fishing with a net he pinched the day the man left. His attempts were futile and left him frustrated with his meagre efforts and a broken net, seemingly to be cut on a jagged rock within the lake.

Travelling the walk was little more than a chore to him now, where at first he was scared of the animals and dark trees looming over him, he now sought comfort in their embraces. This was his forest. This was his sanctuary away from the bloodshead battlefield or the bandits it was his and he had come to love it. The birds chirping followed him on his path, pushing through the underbrush and picking wild berries as he passed he was soon close to the village.

Smoke from the fires nearby hurt his eyes as he stalked forward. Men sat around a camp fire set off the road tents surrounded the small contingency. He once more caught sight of that long face hidden beneath a freshly grown beard. In his arms he saw a wiggling bundle, the man seemed clumsy with his overly large hands trying to feed what seemed to be a babe that should be at the mothers' teat.

He crept forwards not but a shadow in the bushes yet the man's gaze found him, a small smile hidden beneath his beard pulled at his eyes. Waving the boy over again trying to communicate in his calm foreign words to sit before him and once more share his bread. The boy attempted to grab a roll but the man stopped him, pointing to the blackened roll he said a word then pointed to it and repeated. Understanding Harry attempted the word an attempt by the man to teach him some of his language.

The man corrected him many times before allowing him to eat, whilst the boys mouth was full he tapped one hand to his chest and said some words again repeating till the boy could say his name properly. The man gestured for the boy to follow his example, Harry but his food aside and tapped his hands to his chest saying his name the man easily copied his words. They continued their meal no more words made between them.

Harry had grown sleepy around the fire as men got into the surrounding tents, sleep hit the men fast their night watch held by the man with the small bundle still held in his fingers. Crying woke the men at sunrise. The babe had awoke hungry and allowed the world to know his displeasure at having an empty stomach. Grumbling the men readied for the day, going about their morning rituals. The boy continued sleeping where he fell the night before, the man keeping vigil over him.

Being awoke to the whiny of horses and the stamping of feet he could once more see the men gearing up to travel on. He watched sadly as horses and carriages were loaded up, he spun searching the crowd for the man only to find his kind eyes and hard face stood behind him, the babe held to his chest contently. He attempted to communicate once more the man like before just stared at him bemusedly. He then also attempted to speak and it was the boys turn to look on.

The man in a bolt of inspiration pointed to himself, a horse and then in a direction he though was south but he didn't know which way was which so he just nodded his understanding. The man then pointed at the boy looked around shrugging then pointed again to the same direction as before. The boy understood his meaning 'why stay here there is nothing for you, come with us.' The boy looked at him hopelessly pointing to himself then the woods then he pointed at the mas possessions trying to make him understand he could not give up his things. The man understood in a round about ways what the boy was trying to communicate and waved the boy into the woods, then pointing to the spot he stood calling out still knowing the boy couldn't understand he repeated the motions.

The boy scampered off to collect his things the man passing the babe to a grisly looking man with side whiskers, then set off following the boy at an easier pace with his long strides. The boy passed through bush and tree as if they weren't there the man struggling to keep up with the agile youth. Further into the woodland the boy took him an hour, two they came upon a large heart tree a face engraved high up near its branches almost impossible to see unless you knew what you was looking for. The boy patted the bark before sliding down a ravine and crawling into a moss hidden hole.

The man could hear a clattering of metal against stone as various weapons, armour and odd looking trinkets flew out of the hole. The next twenty minutes were filled with the boy deciding on what to keep and what to leave in his hiding place beneath the tree. He eventually allowed himself to part with the scrap metal and armour that would not fit him for many years, a few daggers, his homemade bow and a large black block of stone.

Between the two they made it back to the make shift encampment with all the boys gear in little more than five hours. The men had got everything packed and were eating their luncheon when the odd couple; man and boy arrived.

Men attempted to relive the man of his burdens but he said some words and the men continued on giving odd looks to the boy every now and then as the long faced man helped him load up his things onto a carriage with other assortments of boxes labelled in strange script.

Eating a small bite with the men, the train of horses and carriages set off on their journey to whence they came. Not as many men return as left but this time they returned with two new to their group a young babe still of an age that should be stuck to his mother's teats the other a well-muscled boy with strange emerald eyes and a head of black similar in look to that of a birds nest.

CATELYN

The cold winter winds blew through Winterfell as she waited in the courtyard for her lord husband and his entourage. She had been wedded and bedded, a baby put in her and her husband left for war before she really came to terms with the fact she was not a Tully anymore, nay she was a Stark of the great castle of Winterfell heart of the north and seat of power for millennia of the King of the North, before the conquest of Aegon the conqueror that is, and the subsequence yield of the northern lands to his family and their dragons.

Maester Luwin was the only one with her at the birth of their son; Robb. He had soothed her pains, pulled the baby from her loins in all but a day. He had little help from the servants not allowing them to interfere in the birth that would continue the depleted Stark line.

Life within Winterfell was difficult at first, raising a child without her lord husband was difficult, she had to stay strong the backbone that held the north together while he was warring in the south. The war had lasted three long years, and finally she would cast her gaze upon her husband presenting him for the first time with his son and heir. She did not love him; she had little time to get to know hm. She knew of his honourable deeds and those of his family before him but it was his brother she was intended for yet he died with his father at the hands of the mad king.

Having no time to truly meet the man she married, she had taken to sending ravens with messages to holdfast word had come through that her husband had been to. It was an long and arduous routine they kept having to send riders to find the men marching south to meet the Baratheon and Arryn troops so they could embark on kings landing, but they kept contact most months allowing her a glimpse of what was happening in the was whilst also finding out who this man was and if she could love him.

The servants and workers within the castle had helped her to understand what kind of man Lord Eddard Stark was. He was a compassionate, vigilant man with a seemingly cold exterior but the warmest of hearts. He was the light to the people enacting true justice on the people and allowing for a fair judgment for any crimes or disagreements before deciding the fate of those involved.

He seemed to be all that his brother was and so much more to her. She had seen her knight in shining armour in his brother, he had duelled her dear friend Petyr when he challenge him to a duel for her hand. She had not spoken to Petyr since. Eddard however was not one to fight so willingly, he would take up arms against injustices, he would talk his mind no matter the consequence he was a man that even from afar had started to take her breath away and he was finally coming home.

The clank of the portcullis opening was the first sign of movement that morning, Catelyn had awoke to her servant waking her and asking her to ready herself, Lord Eddard was on the horizon riding for Winterfell in a great line of men. Allowing the servant to help her dress she was waiting in the courtyard when the main party trotted through the gates Lord Eddard at the helm, a bundle at his shoulder and a youth on the flanks of his horse.

Walking forwards she hid a small smile as she curtsied her lord husband home his greeting a small hello before kissing her check and looking around, a small boy clung to her skirts and she bent to his height and told him what to say.

"welcome home father" stumbling forwards to hug him Eddard dropped to his knees and cradled the boy "hello son, hello Cat" stepping back Eddard held his arms out as Roderick Cassel handed him a small bundle. Pushing away the fur he presented his wife another son, she understood the meaning instantly. A great inferno of loathing erupted in her chest but she looked to her husband's eyes and nodded in acceptance. They would be having words this night of that she could guarantee.