Battle in the Wolveswood
One week had passed since the King and his party had arrived. One week of constant worrying and keeping watch while being watched. Alynna and her brothers kept a very close watch over Bran while trying to figure out what the Lannisters were up to. They didn't only watch those two however. They were wary of everyone they didn't know coming close to their little brother since the Lannisters were wealthy enough to pay someone to do their dirty work for them.
Bran might not have known why but Alynna sensed that he knew something was up. She often saw him looking questioningly at his three oldest siblings when they insisted on spending time with him no matter where he was. Alynna even went climbing with him even though she was a little afraid of heights.
They were all standing in the court yard one morning where Bran and Rickon were having their lessons with maester Luwin. Robb and Theon were sparring with a few of Lord Starks guard watching them. Alynna and Jon were also watching but not really paying attention as they were standing much more closely to the table were the lessons were taking place, guarding Bran.
Suddenly a rider stormed into the court yard. He steered his horse towards them, knocking everyone out of his path. He stopped before all those gathered in the practice grounds.
"Wildlings!" He shouted "Wildlings in the Wolfswood!"
Her twin dropped his wooden practice sword and made his way towards the man. "Where? How many?"
"At least forty my lord, all armed near Peter's creek" He said in a slightly calmer voice while dismounting.
Robb immediately turned to the nearest guard "Go find my father!" The guard took of immediately and Robb turned to those assembled "Prepare yourself!" Everyone hurried out of there. Alynna hesitated, knowing that she should go change as well but reluctant to leave Bran on his own. She saw the same emotions crossing her brothers faces. She turned around "Bran! You stay with maester Luwin do you understand! Rickon, you too!" she ran off with her brothers at her heels without waiting for a reply.
She flew to her chamber where she quickly stripped down and then donned her fighting gear. She armed herself with three daggers at her wrist, calf and side and stripped her twin swords across her back. They were the possessions she was most proud of and had been a gift from her father on her fourteenth birthday so she could learn to fight with them. They were shorter and lighter than her normal sword but they were also more flexible to handle if one knew how. She loved them because they were a perfect fit for her fighting style.
When she was done she called Tala to her to find the one person who would be able to keep an eye on Bran while all the capable guards were out fighting. "Go find Arya!" Tala ran off to Arya's chamber, once there Alynna ripped the door open and after having assured her that only Arya was there, turned again to Tala "Guard the door!"
Shutting the door she turned around where Arya was staring at her with her mouth wide open. She opened her mouth to say something but Alynna cut her off.
"No don't ask anything! I have little time and too much to explain. I need you to listen very closely, understand?" Arya nodded quickly, for once understanding that the situation was grave indeed. Alynna continued "There are wildlings in the Wolfswood and Robb, Jon, father and I are going out to fight them along with most of the guards. I need you to watch Bran while we're away. Some people have been trying to harm him for the last week and they will surely try now that he is unguarded."
"Who? Why?" Arya asked with alarm.
"The Lannister twins most likely but they might send someone else. I don't know why but they've been watching him ever since last week." Alynna grew more worried about the whole situation with each passing moment. She didn't want to leave her little brother in the care of her little sister who was almost as defenseless as he was. She was older though and tended to mistrust people until they gave her good reason to think otherwise. Sansa and her mother would never believe her and she didn't want to tell her father until she had found some solid proof.
"Arya this is not a game! You can't confront them or let them know you're in on it too. All I need you to do is stick close to Bran and make sure you two stay with adults you trust at all times, preferably maester Luwin or mother." Alynna gave her instructions but she was running out of time so she decided to stamp it in one last time.
"If you get in a sticky situation you take Bran and you run and hide! Don't, under any circumstances try to fight them, unless you absolutely have to! This is our home, you know it better than they do so you escape! Use the wolves as well, they can detect danger much faster than we can." She crouched down before Arya and took hold of her shoulders "I need you to keep him safe until I return. You protect your little brother, understand?" Arya gave no reaction so Alynna shook her a little "Promise me Arya!"
"Yes! Yes! I swear!" Alynna was relieved but knew she had to say one more thing even if she didn't want to for it would probably scare Arya "If I should fall…"
"No don't!" Arya interrupted her but Alynna had no time so she spoke over her in a louder tone "If I should fall you go straight to father with this, understand? Jon and Robb will back up your story, they know too."
Arya nodded and for once in her life didn't seem not so excited at the thought of a battle. "Alright then" Alynna kissed her forehead "Go! Bran is in the court yard, I'll be right behind you." Arya rushed out, running as fast as she could. Alynna motioned for Tala to follow Arya and then took off after her.
As she reached the court yard it was quickly filling with her father's guards and even some southerners who apparently wanted to see a real wildling. Alynna thought them all fools since she knew their opponents wouldn't be fighting fairly if they could help it and most of their guests wouldn't be able to cope with that.
She pushed her way through the crowd to reach their father who was bent over the same table Bran and Rickon had had their lessons one not mere minutes ago. To Alynna's relief they were still standing there however and Arya had now joined them. She focused her attention on her father who was discussing strategies with the King while gleaning further information from the man who had warned them. Her brothers and Ser Baristan Selmy, captain of the Kings guard, were also present but silent. She joined them and stood shoulder to shoulder with her twin on one side and her half brother on the other. No one noticed her arrival but her family members so no one commented on her intention to join them, yet.
After a few more tense moments the strategy was decided. Alynna could see that the King was very excited but had refrained from taking the lead as her father knew the grounds much better. Their father went on to divide responsibilities.
"Robb, you take ten men, go to Thorren's bridge and ride north. Jon you do the same but you come down south from here." He explained pointing to the road leading to the Wall "Alynna, I want you to…"
"Alynna?" The King interrupted him loudly "Fighting is not for girls Ned! It's too dangerous." As he said this everyone turned to look at her. Well every southerner did as for the northerners seeing Alynna fighting was a part of everyday life.
"It wouldn't be the first time." Her father defended her "Alynna can handle herself very well in a fight, I assure you, your Grace." The last part was said with an edge of steel in his voice. Alynna wasn't surprised to see her father defend her abilities, it certainly wasn't the first time. She was surprised however to see him lose his temper over it. Perhaps he was offended that his friend would think him so callous that he would send his own daughter into battle if he didn't think her able. The two stared at each other for a long time.
"If you say so Ned." The King broke the silence, still obviously doubtful. Alynna wasn't offended in the slightest. She knew that in a few hours no one present would be doubting her abilities, nor those of her brothers.
"So, as I was saying…" Her father was still annoyed at being interrupted the first time but tried to hide it. He proceeded to explain his plan. She would take five of their fastest riders, ride north with her brother Jon's group and then turn back south to situate themselves on the west of the group of wildlings. Her father would take the largest group which consisted mostly of King's guard members and other southern lords and attack from the east. The plan was for Robb's, Jon's and her group to drive any stragglers towards her father's group effectively surrounding the wildlings. They had to ensure that survivors didn't continue to terrorize travelers after the majority was defeated.
They broke up and went to the stables to get their horses. Alynna shot one last look at Arya who was now trying to convince maester Luwin to go join her sister Sansa and her friends and wait for their return. Arya nodded at her and Alynna smiled back before turning around and shoving that matter from her mind. She really didn't need anything to distract her while fighting.
The group gathered again outside of the Hunters gate and divided themselves before setting of. Alynna drove Midnight to ride at a normal horses top speed knowing she couldn't let her group brake of before they had dropped Jon and his riders of at the road to the Wall. Once they had however she drove her much faster. The five men she had with her were also riding horses who, like hers, were known for their exceptional speed.
Once Alynna thought they had reached their starting point, she stopped and waited for the men. When they were close enough she motioned for them to spread out on either side of her to make sure they would catch as many wildlings as they could. Once they were in place she took off, presuming that the men would follow. She gave Midnight her head, letting her run as fast as she wanted which was extremely fast. The speed gave Alynna the adrenaline she needed to fully dive into a fighting mindset.
The more she did, the more she could feel both her brother's presence in her mind grow from the background noise they usually were. The three of them merged until they were one. They could feel their father as well but to a much lesser extent due to the fact that he was not of the same generation of Starks as they were.
Their father called this Tawaci Inatake or mind-link and said the ability to become one in battle and feel one another on a regular basis was as old as the Stark family itself. If Alynna hadn't known that her sister Sansa, who was much more Tully than she was Stark, was less versed in it, she would have thought it perfectly normal. Instead she knew it was a valuable asset to the Stark family of which they had many more though not all of them still known. She didn't know where exactly it had come from but she suspected that the Children of the forest had something to do with it when they lived together with the First Men in the Age of Heroes.
When Alynna spotted the first wildlings in her path she quickly wound her reins around the pommel of her saddle and unsheathed her twin swords. As she stormed by she hacked off the head of the first one and used the backlash of her motion to stab the one on the other side in the chest. Midnight didn't stop and just plowed through sometimes purposely deviating to run them over. Alynna didn't correct her and simply injured or killed anyone within her reach driving those that ran back towards Winterfell, and her father's men.
Alynna and her riders reached the battle soon enough but they dismounted before they reached the edge of the battle ground. She knew Midnight would seek her way back to Winterfell and most likely lead the other horses there as well.
Once they reached the fighters Alynna plowed her way through them to reach her brothers, who were already fighting side by side, taking down any enemy in her path.
As she took her place on Robb's right side she lost all thought, she only moved. A wildling came at her screaming . She hit him with the pommel of her sword in her left hand and brought her sword down on his neck as he stumbled back from the force of it.
Another one came right after and she dodged him by bending her knees and slicing open his stomach while he swung his sword at air above her. As he went down she saw another one storming at Jon's back. She intercepted him but couldn't dodge as she was standing back to back with Jon so she let his hit slide along her sword and as she continued her swing, brought her sword back in and slid it in his stomach. She noticed Jon ducking as she kicked the body away from her with her foot so she took the opportunity to roll over his back. She stuck her left sword in the side of Jon's attacker and brought her right down on his companions neck as her feet hit the ground. They both went down and she turned to the next.
Jon was no longer standing to close to her back so she dodged his attack by twirling around. As she turned her back to him she hit him sharply with her elbow in his stomach, her opponent doubled over so she turned around again and nearly hit his head off with her left sword.
A woman came at her this time. Alynna dodged her sword by sliding back and throwing her arms and swords up in the air. As the woman triumphantly hurried forward, she brought them back down on either side of the woman's head. The woman fell back and yet another wildling took her place with another one close behind him. She stuck her right sword in the first one's chest and kept it there while the other one swung at her. She evaded him by stepping sideways and struck him down with her other sword as he stormed past. Only then did she retrieve her right sword hand and let the first attacker drop.
She was now standing very close to her twin and deflected a wildling who came at his right side by kicking him away from him with her right foot. He stumbled back a little but came at her again. She dodged his swing by ducking down. He was struck down by Robb who continued the movement he had been making while killing his own opponent. She rolled to Robb's other side and took another wilding by surprise with seemingly coming out of nowhere and stuck her sword in his chest. She dodged the next by sidestepping to his back. She hit him so he would fall forwards and struck him down.
The whole while the trio had been moving towards their father who was fighting side by side with the King who, despite his considerable size, was able to bring down opponent after opponent with his hammer. A broad smile stretching across his face. When they approached, two wildlings who had been fighting members of the Kings guard suddenly turned around. Alynna quickly stepped between them and pierced their sides with her swords. She and her brothers joined the group and though they could see that the fight was over, they did not yet let down their guard. Wildlings could still come at them from the woods. She could see Ser Baristan dispatching the last one and watched with awe at the grace with which he moved, even at his considerable age.
Alynna noticed Theon among their group and the fact that he was wearing a bow across his back. "Scan the trees" She ordered him. "I don't take or…" He shot back but was interrupted by her father "Do it!"
Fortunately there didn't seem to be any other wildlings left, either in the trees or on the ground and so the group relaxed. Alynna was disgusted at the glee with which some of the southern fighters killed the wounded and defenseless wildlings.
Her father seemed disturbed as well. He ordered some of the guards to gather the bodies, burn them and stay there until the fire died down. Luckily no one had fallen on their side as they had taken the wildings completely by surprise. Her father then motioned for the rest of them to follow him back to Winterfell. They did some more reluctantly than others. The King especially couldn't seem to stop talking about the battle. Alynna could feel the minds of their trio slowly detach and by the time she retrieved Midnight from the edge of the Wolveswood, her mind was more or less her own again. She had to stop herself from rushing inside, anxious a she was about the wellbeing of Arya and Bran.
Author's note: I know this chapter wasn't really necessary for the storyline but I wanted the southeners to get accustomed to Alynna fighting and get Arya on Bran's protection detail. I hope you liked it since I'm still not sure about whether or not you liked the last chapter... If you want to get a better view of Alynna's fighting style I suggest you watch some of the youtube video's about assassin's creed Ezio and Connor when they're fighting. Please review and tell me what you think!
