Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, I do however own the non-canon character(s) of this story. This is purely a work of my personal enjoyment so I ask you to not expect anything worthy of the great GRRM. I fully welcome criticism/suggestions/questions. The story will eventually be finished (I hate leaving things unfinished) but I have no real schedule. Please review as I'd love useful feedback/thoughts about the story.


Notes: An entire chapter for the Whispering Woods. The first real taste of what Willam is capable of in a fight and he's more skilled than he lets on, similar to how Ned Stark doesn't advertise his swordsmanship, but in Willam's case it's more out of self doubt than anything. He's actually very skilled but his brothers have always bested him so he never claims to be anything special. This will likely be the last chapter for awhile until after the holidays. So I bid thee a Happy Holidays. :P


Chapter 9: The Whispering Wood

Ser Jaime Lannister had grown overconfident, taking the bait as he now chased after a small force of horsemen wearing Tully colors, the lions hubris would be it's undoing. "Steady," Willam held his hand up to hold his men, although in truth they were not his men. He rode beside Lord Karstark, his sons, and Edwyn whom had refused to be anywhere but at Willam's side. "we wait for the signal." He sat atop a fine black destrier dressed in attire almost identical to Robb's own, a thick leather surcoat with steel gorget and gauntlet to match. The thing that stood out was the pauldron that covered his right shoulder, a direwolf head carved into it back at White Harbor as a parting gift from Lord Manderly. An early wedding girl, Willam thought.

The Blackfish had picked off the lions scouts, blinding the beast and causing it to lash out foolishly at the first enemy force it laid eyes on. Jaime now entered a forested valley and right into the trap Robb set for him. To the West a horn sounded and Willam smiled to himself. "FOR THE NORTH!" He rared his horse, riding ahead of the others much to Edwyn's annoyance as he cursed under his breath and gave chase, followed by the Karstarks. Willam and Lord Karstark closed in from the north to join up with the Blackfish's men as they turned around to join in the charge. Morments and Umbers appeared from the western treeline. Stark and Frey banners from the east. Jaime Lannister stuck in the center of the valley, surrounded by the horns continued to blast.

"KILL THEM ALL!" Willam screamed so his men could hear him over the sounds of hooves and clashing steel, the others had already clashing into the Lannisters sides and had begun closing in the flank to prevent escape. Willam's force closed the front, crashing into the red and gold like waves upon rocks. "I mised this." Willam smiled, aching his swing from atop his horse and cutting down a Lann- "Fuck!" He cursed as somebody drove a spear into his horse, causing it to rear and fall to the cold floor. "You!" Willam growled as he got to his feet, pointing his sword at a Lannister man with a now broken spear, the head impaled in Willams horse. Two fools stood in his way, moving to protect who Willam assumed was either their lord or friend.

He side-stepped to dodge the first strike, cutting through the shaft of the spear and then cutting the wielders throat with the back swing. The second cried out at the loss of his brother-in-arms, raising his sword high. Willam held up his shield to block the blow, instantly followed by a swift stabbing motion that pierced the fools stomach and caused him to cry out in pain. The fool fell to his knees. Willam slit his throat without hesitation before continuing onward to the bastard that in Willam's mind 'murdered' his horse.

The man, a lord if Willam had ever seen one, seemed ill-prepared for the bloodiness of battle. "Nice pony." Willam taunted the man, he worse a pale grey doublet slashed with cloth-of-silver, with the amethyst unicorn pinned above his heart. "It'll make a fine target, seems only fitting!" The mans retainers were seemingly all dead as his eyes darted back and forth, looking at the scene around him as Lannister men were cut down in droves, a slaughter more than a battle. Willam stood before him blood splattered on his steel shoulder.

"Come on then!" He taunted, hoping to fight on his terms rather than opponents.

The man tossed his broken spear aside, moving forward now with a long sword. *Clash* Willam moved his shield into the arch of the enemies swing, putting all his strength behind the deflect and continuing to drive the lordling further and further backwards after the bash gained him the advantage. It wasn't lost enough the lordling fell backwards, tripping over some fallen Lannister men who's crimson colors could barely be recognized behind all the blood.

"I yield!" The lordling cried, tossing his sword aside and holding a single hand up in some vain attempt to shield himself while all around him Lannister men were either dead or dying. Willam hesitated, sword posed to cut the lordling down, a captive could be of great use assuming he was anyone of importance.

To Willam's right a lone Lannister solider was aiming his bow, only to be tackled to the ground by a direwolf, the archers throat ripped out within a mere second. "It's our lucky day it seems." Willam struck the lordling over the head with his shield before sprinting over to the wolf to thank it for effective saving him from either a wound or death. "Thanks." He said, pausing to catch his breath. "What is it boy?"

The wolf darted off, wanting him to follow. It was a mistake warging the creature before, Willam knew, but he hadn't expected to be around long enough for any bond it be made. Regardless what was done was done and couldn't be undone, not that anyone in the North seemed knowledgeable about the old ways. It was clear what the wolf wanted as Willam saw a golden knight cutting his way through Robb's guard. "Ser Jaime!" Willam cried at the top of his voice, seeming to get the knights attention as he closed the distance between them. Jaime's own retinue being cut down around him.

"Prince Willam." Jaime smiled, he'd cut down a number of Robb's guard. Willam noticed Torrhen Karstark in the arms of his brother, missing almost the entirely of his arm and bleeding heavily. He was a dead man from first glance, and from the look on his brothers face he knew it too.

"That one was my friend." Greywind walked by beside Willam, growling menacing.

Jaime shrugged in response. "Nothing personal. I didn't expect you see you here."

Stark and Frey men had surrounded the lion at this point, all seeming to wait for orders. "The Kingslayer is mine," Willam shouted for the men surrounding him to hear. "anyone interferes the wolf will see to your punishment. Is that understood?!"

Silence from those gathered men until Robb stepped forward, as bloodied as Willam and just as angry. "He's more use to us alive, Willam."

"Smart boy." Jaime smiled devilishly.

"I'm not going to kill him," Willam countered as he tossed his shield aside. "just hurt him a lot."

"I'll kill you." Jaime said, an honest warning if there ever was one.

"You'll try." Willam smiled and undid his cloak, the fine black fur falling to the ground as the two men circled for some time in silence. During the first blows Willam concentrated on his defense as he often preferred. He hadn't been completely honest with Jaime when they'd met at Winterfell, he was in truth far more experienced with a sword than he made a habit of claiming. He'd gotten much better over the years, learning different styles from the many places he'd visit, but he didn't think he'd ever surpass his brothers.

After several minutes of attempting to lure the lion into allowing his defensive stance, Willam lost his temper and began to batter at Jaime as if to pound him into the ground. The wandering wolf had expected a quick defeat and easy humiliation, not this, and his simmering anger now boiled. Jaime began to fight harder than he'd expected being necessary. Willam wouldn't be content with wounds and victory; he was out for blood. The crowd, who had chattered and cheered, became completely silent, and the air rang with the tintinnabulation of the singing blades and the hoarse rasp of both fighters' breathes.

Willam began to think desperately for a way out of the mess, this lion could give his brothers a challenge, and that worried him. Willam's sword slipped past Jaime's defenses and slashed toward his throat. Jaime dodged, laughing as if having a marvelous time. He praised loudly, "A wonderful strategy." When Willam slashed backhanded in a return blow, Jaime thrust his blade vertically and caught it before it cut him in half. "Excellent. Your better than you claimed, Stark!"

Willam blinked as if coming out of a daze but continued to go for blood. Jaime laughed and spouted praise for almost a minute before the prince's attack began to ease in its brutality. Their weapons caught each other high in the air, and they stood belly to belly, face to face. "Your good!" Willam growled and Jaime grinned in response.

Jaime danced away, bringing his sword forward. "What say you Stark? Truce?"

Willam panted heavily. "You cant win this." The voice in his head told him. "Aye." Willam lowered his sword, as did Jaime. "Until next time, Ser Jaime."

"I look forward to it." Jaime tossed his sword aside, the Stark men rushing to restrain him.

Edwyn had rushed to his side, checking him for wounds. "You could've gotten yourself killed!" He continued patting him down looking for any wound. "Are you even listing to me? Willam?"

He wasn't. "I need to practice more."

Edwyn huffed. "You need to not lose your temper so easily!"

"You sound like Cregan."

"Well your brother has the right of it." Edwyn sighed. "No damage at least, thought the bloody lion had you there for a moment."

"Miss me would you?" Willam smiled.

"I'd be out of a job."

"I'd miss you too Ed." He clasped his guard on the shoulder before moving to get his shield.

"Your friend..."

"He fought well." Willam paused to look at Torrhen's body being lifted up by Karstark soldiers. "Men die in war Ed, it's always been that way. We'll drink to him later."

"His brother would have fallen too if you hadn't interrupted things."

"Huh," Willam thought on that. "it wont matter in the slightest. Lord Karstark will still call for blood."

Edwyn agreed, no stranger to war. "He's more useful alive."

"Try telling that to a grieving father." Willam sheathed his sword and strapped the shield onto his back, tossing his cloak at Edwyn whom caught it and rolled his eyes. The battle was a great victory, capturing Jaime Lannister along with Willem Lannister, Quenten Banefort, Gawen Westerling and the lordling from before, Tytos Brax.


The air was filled with the thunder of horses, the rattle of swords and spears and armor. They rode across a small stream, Willam on his new horse, riding behind the horse that carried Ser Jaime. The moonlight had silvered his armor and the gold of his hair, and turned his crimson cloak to black. Others rode behind them, long columns of them returning from battle with laughter and sorrow. Willam suspected the sorrow would be drowned in wine, as it often was.

They reached the top of the western most hill, where Lady Stark had remained to await the outcome of the battle. "Your hurt." She eyed Robb, the mailed sleeve of his surcoat black with blood. Robb lifted his hand, opened and closed his fingers.

"No," he said. "This is... Torrhen's blood, perhaps, or..." He shook his head. "I do not know."

A mob of men followed them up the slope, dirty and dented and grinning, with Greyjoy and the Greatjon at their head. Between them they dragged Jaime Lannister. They threw him down in front of Lady Catelyn's horse. "Ser Jaime Lannister." Willan announced. "Otherwise known as the Kingslayer."

Jaime rasied his head. "Lady Stark," he said from his knees. Blood ran down his cheek from a gash across his scalp, not a wound Willam recalled him having during their duel. "I would offer you my sword, but I seem to have mislaid it." He looked to Willam for a moment, who showed that he in fact had the lions golden sword stabbed to his belt.

Willam said nothing. "It is not your sword I want, ser," Catelyn told him. "Give me my father and my brother Edmure. Give me my daughters. Give me my lord husband."

"I have mislaid them as well, I fear."

"A pity," Catelyn said coldly.

"Kill him, Robb," Theon Greyjoy urged. "Take his head off."

"No," he answered, peeling off his bloody glove. "He's more use alive than dead. And my lord father never condoned the murder of prisoners after a battle."

"A wise man," Jaime said, "and honorable."

"Take him away and put him in irons," Catelyn said.

"Do as my lady mother says," Robb commanded, "and make certain there's a strong guard around him. Lord Karstark will want his head on a pike."

"That he will," the Greatjon agreed, gesturing. Lannister was led away to be bandaged and chained.

"Why should Lord Karstark want him dead?" Catelyn asked.

Robb looked away into the woods. "He... he killed..."

"Lord Karstarks son." Willam explained with no small hint of disgust.

"Torrhen, and Daryn Hornwood as well." Robb said.

"No one can fault Lannister on his courage," Galbart Glover said. "When he saw that he was lost, he rallied his retainers and fought his way up the valley, hoping to reach Lord Robb and cut him down. And almost did." Willam recalled it well, the lion had carved his way practically to Robb's doorstep before being surrounded and lured by the challenge of single combat. He'd saved Eddard Karstark in the doing, the lion would've cut him down without the interruption.

"He took Torrhen's hand off and split Daryn Hornwood's skull open," Robb said. "All the time he was shouting for me. If they hadn't tired to stop him-"

"- I would then be morning in place of Lord Karstark." Catelyn said. "Your men did what they were sworn to do, Robb. They died protecting their liege lord. Grieve for them. Honor them for their valor. But not now. You have no time to for grief. You may have lopped the head of the snake, but three quarters of the body is still coiled around my father's castle. We have won a battle, not a war."

"But such a battle!" said Theon Greyjoy eagerly. "My lady, the realm has not seen such a victory since the Field of Fire. I vow, the Lannisters lost ten men for every one of ours that fell. We've taken close to a hundred knights captive, and a dozen lords bannermen. Not to mention the look on the Kingslayers face when Willam challenged him to a duel in the middle of a battlefield!"

Catelyn looked at Willam, but said to him. "And Lord Tywin?" Catelyn interrupted Theon before he could continue his gloating. "Have you perchance taken Lord Tywin, Theon?"

"No." Theon answered.

"Until you do, this war is far from done."

Robb raised his head and pushed his hair back out of his eyes. "My mother is right. We still have Riverrun."

"One thing at a time Robb." Willam said with a smile. "You've won a great victory here, regardless of there being more to come. It's not something to take lightly."

A furious Eddard Karstark stormed up the hillside, no doubt looking for Jaime as he eyed the golden sword on Willam's belt. "You took his sword."

"Aye."

"Why?" Eddard demanded, anger boiling up at the memory of holding his dying brother in his arms. Torrhen had not died quickly, bleeding out and grasping where his hand had once been, he bled out some time during the duel. Eddard had watched from the cold ground, Torrhen in his arms, praying that the lion would fall and his brother be avenged.

"Torrhen was a friend." Willam stated bluntly. "More importantly he was a Stark, cadet branch or no, as much my blood as Robb or my own brothers. There will come a time when I have a chance to avenge him, and I'll use this sword to do the deed." Willam shrugged. "Call it poetic justice if you wish."

Eddard hugged him briefly after a moment of silence, much to Willams surprise. "I'd be dead too if not for you, don't think I'll forget it. House Karstark remembers it's debts."

"I've done nothing yet." Willam said as he looked out with a sigh at the woods where they'd been fighting moments ago. "The next time I fight Lannister I'll not make the same mistakes, and only one of us will walk away. You can thank me then assuming I'm the one to do so."

Eddard scoffed at that and called after him as Willam began walking away. "I was there, you almost had the bastard!"

"No," He muttered to himself as he walked. "I didn't."