"Captain Tyler Hill." The innkeeper said for almost the tenth time. His fake courtesy will be the very thing that causes his death soon. "Please, it is no difficult task to direct your men to take the violence outside. They broke two of my chairs and a table in that fight."
Tyler sighed. "I care not about your tables and chairs Ralf, I care about keeping Winterfell safe in the name of Lord Robb Stark. When we hear of a crime we ensure justice is served wherever and whenever possible. I will instruct the guards to pay for the rebuilding of your precious furniture, now if you will excuse me I have far more pressing matters to attend to." Tyler stood, prompting the innkeeper Ralf to stand also, Ralf thanked him and said farewell almost a dozen times before leaving.
Jadyn was laughing hysterically when he closed the door behind him. "Not a word Jadyn, or I'm like to take my anger out on you." He said teasingly.
"I'm sorry captain." He said between chuckles. "Jory would have exploded at the man a long time ago, you've got good patience."
He pulled out a small handful of copper coins from his money purse and handed them to Jadyn. "See that the chairs and table are rebuilt." First rule of Captain of Guard: After the Starks your men come first. Tyler would not let his men pay for it and he had enough money to spare. "You are in charge here, it is time for Rickon's lesson." Tyler said feeling his heart flutter in excitement. Over the past few weeks during their lessons he and Rickon had become incredibly close. Rickon always felt ignored among his family and so he acted out. When Tyler related to him Rickon had been overjoyed and now Rickon would only listen to Tyler. He had been fetched many a morning by Maester Luwin to get Rickon motivated for his lessons.
Tyler threw his cloak over his shoulders and fastened it over his armour. "Ghost, with me!" He called, the growing white direwolf sprung from the floor next to Tyler's desk and padded to his side. Tyler patted his back and smiled, the guardsmen had made Ghost their unofficial mascot, he would play with them in the practise yard at the barracks and sometimes help them subdue criminals when they were on duty. In Jon's absence Tyler kept Ghost by his side to keep the men happy. Ghost seemed somewhat uncomfortable around him still and he kept a small distance, although when they were home alone Ghost would lie by the fire as he gnawed a bone and Tyler would pat him as he read reports.
Tyler walked through the town below the castle in his leather armour and heavy grey cloak. He kept one hand resting on the pommel of his sword and walked in a brisk pace. People waved and smiled at him as he passed and a few even stopped to chat with him. He met many of the commoners when he was doing his duties and most of them liked him and tried to keep in contact. Tyler was lucky that Maester Creylen had taught him a good way to remember names when he was young or else the people may not like him so much. He entered the courtyard to the castle quickly and strolled into the practise yard. Tyler had expected to find Rickon waiting there with his mother but he remembered that she was busy seeing to Bran's new saddle this morning, putting the finishing touches to it with the saddle master.
Tyler sighed and strolled into the castle, he twisted and turned through the now familiar maze of hallways and found his way to Rickon's sleeping quarters. He heard the young boy counting slowly and quietly inside and stayed without for a while. Rickon could not manage to count very high and whenever he could not remember a number he groaned. Tyler managed to hold back a laugh and knocked gently on the door. No answer came so he opened the door slowly and saw Rickon pretending to sleep facing away from him.
"It's Captain Tyler m'lord." He said quietly. "I'm afraid it's time for your lesson."
Rickon turned swiftly and smiled. "I thought you might be the Maester. I can't do it Ty! It's just stupid! I'm not going today!" Rickon declared emotionally. "I want to practise fighting though; I want to be as strong as my father."
"Your father is strong not only because of his arm but because his mind is strong also. It is his intelligence as well as his strength that makes men fear and respect him." Tyler said softly. "You must be patient Rick, do not fight with Maester Luwin, listen to him and let him help you, that is what Robb and Jon and Theon had to do and it is what Bran is doing now."
"Okay Ty." He said submissively. "Can we fight now?"
"Not fight. Train." Tyler corrected. "And yes we can, get up and changed quick smart." He said clapping his hands and leaving the room.
Tyler waited outside until the six year old appeared with Lord Robb. "I've come to watch how he's getting on and help where I can." He said simply as they clasped hands and he drew Tyler into a hug.
"I thank you m'lord." Tyler said. "Rickon you know what you need to do, we can't train with the swords until you've gone through the methods three times. Get to it, your brother wants to see you train."
Rickon dashed to the exercise structures and began the strength and fitness workouts that Tyler had taught his. He was not particularly good at the chin ups but his running had improved and he could do push ups for much longer now. Robb chuckled as Rickon went through the routine again with wild ferocity. He flung himself and all his energy into each task and movement. Tyler commended him for his commitment but even Robb made a note about him needing to conserve his energy; as anyone who had seen the boy train would say. When Rickon had been through a third time he dashed back to them panting heavily. Tyler handed him a mug of water and told him to sip it slowly.
"Now I want you to use the heavier sword today, it will make your arms stronger and you will be able to door more chin ups. Run off and fetch it now." Tyler said smiling at him. The boy scurried off.
"We all thank you for paying close attention to him." Robb said beside him suddenly.
"It is no problem m'lord, it's what he needs at this age and you're all far too busy these days." Tyler said simply.
"You are a very good friend to this family Tyler, you have proved yourself time and again. You have been as a brother to Jon and me, and us to you; I know." Robb said, looking in his eyes.
Rickon returned then and handed Tyler his own wooden sword. Tyler wanted to grab Robb and hug him, he wanted to cry and tell him what it meant that he had said that but he just walked to the circle with Rickon and began lightly running him through defence drills without a shield. Rickon was impatient with defence but Tyler would whack him extra hard when he slipped through so the boy would learn. One time Rickon's sword dropped in his hand and Tyler gave him a thump on the ear. The boy ran at Tyler and wrapped his legs up dropping him down. They wrestled playfully and Robb stood back howling with laughter.
"How ling since you've been in the ring m'lord?" Tyler ventured when they were having a break.
Robb tore a chunk of bread off his loaf and ate it. "The royal visit I suppose. Joffrey was not much of an opponent believe me."
Would you prefer to face someone a bit more practised?" He said cheekily.
"You?"
"That is what I was driving at m'lord, yes." He smiled shyly.
"I have seen Jadyn Snow after your practise bouts Tyler, how suicidal do you think I am?" He said humorously. "But I cannot allow a guardsman to look more courageous than me, now can I?"
"I suppose not m'lord."
Robb stood and grabbed one of the blunted metal tourney swords and drew it from the scabbard. He let his cloak drop and stood in the circle in his fighting stance. Tyler grabbed the sword next to it on the rack and drew it. He got into his stance and chuckled "You ready m'lord?"
Robb answered by putting his front foot forward and slashing in an upward diagonal direction. An unusual beginning, he will try and confuse me. Tyler swayed to his left and let the sword cut through air. He whipped a one handed back hand cut at Robb's leg but he spun away behind Tyler and threw down an overhead swing. Tyler spun top his right and went to his knees, gripping his longsword with two hands he blocked the swing and pushed Robb's sword off of his own. He flicked his wrist and his sword went for a side slash at Robb's ribcage. Robb parried it awkwardly and shimmied back as Tyler struggled to his knees and used the momentum to send a strong thrust at Robb's mid section. Robb jumped to the side and swung at Tyler in mid air. The slash was a strong one and Tyler ducked just underneath it. He threw his body forward and he clattered into Lord Robb and the two went sprawling to the floor. They rolled away from each other, grabbed their swords and began circling each other again. He is so powerful, a formidable foe, Tyler thought suddenly, I need to be careful. He switched his stance and Robb looked confused for a second. Then he sprung forward, he spun and sent a downward slash at Tyler, the move was meant to disorientate him but he whipped his sword up at the last second and Robb's sword slid along his own until it reached the end and the blade hit the ground. Tyler flicked his wrist again and his sword was at Robb's neck.
Robb chuckled slowly. "Wow." He said simply. "Your speed is unmatchable. You've taught me more than I knew already. We shall need to make a habit of this."
"Of course m'lord, I have never fought someone as ferocious as you." Tyler said honestly.
"That was amazing!" Rickon cheered, he was grinning ear to ear. "Will you beat him next time Robb?"
"I highly doubt that Rick. Our Captain Tyler here is one of the best swordsmen I have seen." He said looking at Tyler, he nodded his thanks.
The sound of nearby footsteps drew their attention and Tyler turned to see Maester Luwin and Lady Catelyn Stark approaching. "Robb, the hour to hold court is close." Catelyn warned him.
Robb sighed. "Now I must don my lordly clothes and my lordly face and listen to people complain about each other. Thank you for the lesson Tyler, I will see you soon no doubt." He nodded to the Maester and messed up Rickon's hair, he kissed his mother's cheek before departing back into the castle.
"Lesson?" Catelyn queried.
"Lord Robb was of a mind to clear his head in the practise ring." Tyler said courteously.
"And you beat him no doubt." She said, it was not a question; which flattered Tyler.
"Rickon I fear you must join your brother for your lessons now. Please be patient with the Maester for me. I would join you but your mother and I have important business to attend to. Promise me you'll be good." Tyler said, kneeling in front of the boy and tidying up his hair.
He looked into Tyler's eyes with a frown but then he smiled. "I promise." He said quietly and followed Luwin into the castle.
"Follow me my lady." Tyler said simply after he donned his cloak once more.
They strolled back to the Guardsmen's Barracks and the soldiers fell silent as soon as they saw Lady Stark. They muttered polite greetings to her and she smiled sweetly and bid them all a good day.
When Tyler walked into the captain's office he found Jadyn flirting with one of the serving girls from the feed hall next door. When he saw Tyler he smiled and nodded his greeting, but when Catelyn appeared he told the girl to leave and rose swiftly.
"Lady Catelyn, this is my under-captain Jadyn Snow, a loyal northerner and a fearsome fighter." Tyler said officially, although it sounded somewhat ridiculous now that she had seen the girl.
"Jadyn, I wonder if you could possibly see fit to do my family a tremendous favour." She said politely.
Tyler had already told Jadyn what he was to be doing, but the formalities always had to be observed. "Anything for House Stark m'lady." Jadyn said, falling to one knee.
"You may rise Jadyn, I am no queen." Jadyn rose, red-faced. "I ask if you would escort a prisoner to my husband and your liege lord Eddard Stark in King's Landing. The prisoner is of the highest importance and his safety is paramount to anything else."
"My lady I would be honoured to carry out this task for you." Jadyn said, a smile crossed his face. Aye, he knows the reward. Tyler thought.
"You shall leave immediately; the lady and I will accompany you as far as the White Knife." Tyler said in his command voice. "Get what you need, say farewell to your loved ones and be ready to leave as soon as you can."
The trip was uneventful and when they reached the river Jadyn and his small force of guardsmen bid them farewell and promised the lady a safe journey. Tyler turned his horse as they disappeared from sight and Lady Stark followed suit. As they rode Tyler could see she was away with her thoughts and he was content to ride in silence.
"I find it hard to trust you Tyler." She admitted finally
"I can do nought to sway you but assure you that me and my family are not of one mind. I am my own person Lady Stark, and your family has been nothing but generous to me, I have no reason to betray any of you." He had expected her to say this. Catelyn was a Tully at heart and southerners were not so quick to trust as the northerners are.
"Your words are honourable and so far your actions have been. In time I am sure I will learn to trust you." She said, a smile crossed her face and even Tyler could tell it was not a fake one.
Tyler kept his eyes scanning the sides of the road for trouble but all that was around them was summer snows and swaying trees, the sound of the breeze as light as a whisper. "Robb was so much like Rickon was when he was younger. Robb may look like a Tully but he is Stark inside. Rickon is a Stark inside and out, but he is much more like his Uncle Brandon than his father."
Tyler had almost forgotten that she had been betrothed to Ned's older brother before he died. "I have heard tales of his bravery; we can only hope that Rickon can grow up to be such a man."
"I hope nothing of the sort. Brandon was strong and brave to be sure, but there is a point where bravery crosses into stupidity. He crossed that point far too many times and it cost him his life." She said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Rickon needs to focus on his lessons with the maester over his sword training right now. I must lessen the amount of times that you teach him each week." She said apologetically.
"Of course m'lady, I would do the same in your position. As long as Rickon can find time to do the exercise as much as he does already his sword training will not be affected." He said strongly.
"That is fair enough. I do not know if anyone has thanked you but know that we all appreciate your efforts with him. He looks up to you." She was about to speak but she fell silent.
Tyler softly said. "Consider me like a Kingsguard m'lady, I will protect your secrets."
She giggled and relaxed. "I was only going to say that it is most likely because of Rickon's love for you that I do not trust you." She admitted. "A mother is ever wary of her son's friends. And I fear that I cannot give Rickon the attention he requires. My husband makes ruling the North seem so easy, I assure you it is not."
"I understand m'lady, if you command it I will stay clear of the boy for a while; I give you my word." He said straight away although he hoped that she would not.
"That is not necessary Tyler, he needs you now. You are a good man." She added after a long pause.
They sighted the city not long after that and Lady Catelyn left him with a farewell and a kiss on the cheek when they reached his quarters. Tyler walked inside and Ghost lifted his head when the door opened. Tyler saw that the serving girl had already been by. His lunch was sitting on the table and Ghost was biting away at a large bone by the fire. Tyler downed his meal as quickly as he could and went to his chair by the fire. There were numerous letters sitting on the chair awaiting him but he grabbed at one that stood out and tore it open.
The lion has begun gathering his pride.
The letter was unsigned but Tyler could guess it was the cup bearer that he had lost his virginity to. The girl had loved him and she was all too happy to do some spying for him. Tyler chuckled and left his room, making for the castle once again. When he came to court he saw that they had taken a small intermission, hundreds of people were waiting patiently in the hall as Tyler strolled through and went out the back door into the small room where Robb was chugging back a horn of ale.
He looked somewhat guilty when he saw Tyler standing there patiently. "It helps whenever I get the thought to kill them." He said, referring to the petitioners.
Tyler laughed and grabbed the mug off him, finishing the rest. "The Warden of the West is gathering his armies. He knows something is amiss and he knows it must be dealt with swiftly."
Robb smiled. "Finally! I wondered when he would take action; I had heard he was quicker to it than this."
"That must mean something then. He must know something that we don't." Tyler said carefully.
"What do you suggest captain?" Robb asked genuinely.
"I would suggest that you send a private word to your lords, inform them of the situation and warn them that the banners may soon be called." Tyler said. "It is important that all our next actions do not leave the North. If you have any lords whose loyalties you doubt now would be the time to say so."
"They would all cut off their own hands for my father. I just need to mention his name and every sword in the North is mine." Robb said proudly. "I must return to this flock of cunts." He said sourly. "We will talk more of this tonight."
The fire was slowly dying when Tyler came back home, Ghost was sitting on the table licking Tyler's plate clean but he jumped down and pressed his head into Tyler's armpit as he stoked up the fire. Tyler took off his cloak and draped it over the back of the chair by the fire and unbuckled his sword belt. He returned to his letters and flicked through them, a small raven message at the bottom caught his eye, it had the seal of Lord Tywin and his heart sank. Fear instantly crept into his heart and he carefully carried the letter as if it were made of glass to the table. He lit a candle in the fire and sat down at the table. He stared at the message, his heart fluttering and his thoughts racing from one to another. The words inside could say anything, but one thing was for sure, whatever it said would effect Tyler greatly. For a while he contemplated not opening it and throwing it in the fire. But curiousity, as it always does, got the better of him, he gently broke the wax seal and unravelled the message, it was addressed to him directly so Tyler knew that his father was aware of his new job. The words contained were short and to the point, but they made Tyler nearly choke on his tongue. He had never known fear like this.
You have betrayed your kin and for that you will die screaming.