Travels of Benjen Stark- 1
Winterfell: 2 days after Eddard's return.
Benjen took a deep breath. Even now, when it was his brother and not his father sitting inside the solar, he would grow nervous when entering the room. He knocked on the door, and proceeded inside at Eddard's distracted "Come in."
"I'm still joining the night's watch." he said quickly, trying to throw out the words before he lost his nerve.
Eddard was not amused. "No."
"Ned please, I know it is what I'm meant to do."
"So you have said. Is this still because of your guilt Ben? I told you no one blames you." Eddard frowned, concern clear on his face. Benjen winced at the reminder of his mistake.
"It's not that Ned. Even before this whole mess I still wanted adventure, and I am a third son. You have Robb, and don't really need me. I want to be free to live by sword and wit Ned. The wall is still the place for that." Eddard sighed, his eyes shifting to the hearth in the solar.
"You all are the same. Brandon with his wild ways, and Lyanna with her free spirit. I don't want to deny you the freedom they never received. Yet I cannot let you join the night's watch. Sorry Ben." Benjen nodded having expected this. He began to exit the room, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast. Eddard looked at his youngest sibling so upset, and closed his eyes, pressing a hand to his forehead.
"Alright Ben. You cannot join the Watch, but that does not mean you cannot have your adventures. The North has a bandit problem, as well as other kinds of chaos due to the war. You can ride around the North, travelling, doing as you see fit. Try and fix some of these problems while you're at it." Instantly Benjen's whole demeanor changed.
"Thank you Ned! I'll start packing." he shouted, already moving out of the room.
"You take guards with you! And don't do anything too…" Eddard did not bother to finish his sentence as Benjen was already gone.
"Why am I the only quiet one?" he said. Shaking his head he returned to work.
_:D_
Soon Benjen was ready to leave. Eddard and Catelyn came to see him off at the gates. Along with them were Robb and Jon, as well as his brother's new knight, Caspian. "I won't let you down brother. I will make sure the name Stark is respected throughout the North and beyond."
"Just don't do anything to foolish and you'll be fine Ben." said Eddard. Smiling, he gestured to Ser Caspian, who held a sheathed sword to him. He handed it to Benjen.
"What's this Ned?" asked Benjen.
"A parting gift, to serve you well in your travels. Go ahead, draw it." Benjen did as instructed and drew the sword. His breath caught as he beheld the exquisite craftsmanship. The steel was of highest quality, with the hilt having fine leather wrapped around it. On the crossguard was a snarling wolf.
"When did you have time to get this?" Benjen asked in awe.
"I knew you would have to go eventually, to your own holdfast or on some adventure. So I had it commissioned specially from Mikken."
"I love it Ned. What's it called?"
"I was hoping you would name it."
"Hmm. A sword like this deserves a great name. I will not rush in naming it. Well then I shall be off. Goodbye everyone."
"Goodbye goodbrother. Make sure you return to visit your nephew." Catelyn said. Benjen smiled and nodded. Everyone said their various goodbyes and Benjen set of with his small guard. As Winterfell faded in the distance behind him, he couldn't help but look longingly at the grand castle. He had always wanted to go on adventures, and now he had the chance. Yet he could only feel how much his home meant to him as he was riding away. Taking one last glance, he nodded to himself and turned to join the rest of his men.
_(:D)_
Benjen crouched behind the boulder, peering at the makeshift camp where the bandits were located. This was the ninth one they had found so far. Eddard wasn't japing when he said there was a bandit problem.
"No please I surrender!" The words came back unbidden, of the man who had lain helpless before him. Benjen had slashed his throat regardless. The red began to fill his vision. "No." He shook his head, clearing away the memory of his first kill, focusing his attention on the task at hand.
He was now used to the chaos of the skirmishes they fought. His skills with a sword had greatly improved, the plentiful experience doing much for his combat abilities. As the bandits began to eat and drink, laughing and trading stories, he motioned with his left hand. Half of his men began loosing arrows at the bandits while the remaining 15 and himself charged. The forest was too dense to effectively charge the bandits while mounted so the horses stayed out of this battle. Conversely, the many trees had also provided them good cover for the ambush. The men in the camp were quickly overwhelmed, caught at their most vulnerable.
As was the usual procedure, they captured a few to interrogate. Sometimes these men would have some knowledge of other bandits or threats that needed to be taken care of. Benjen sheathed the still unnamed sword and strode to the nearest captured man.
"You fucking kneelers let me go! I'll gut every last one of you arseholes," he said. Benjen moved slightly to avoid the spittle that flew fas the man spoke. The man struggled violently, almost breaking free of the two guards holding him.
"And who are you supposed to be? You're nothing but a boy," he said, sneering, as Benjen approached. Benjen grinned.
"Many thanks for telling us where you're from. Only wildlings call us kneelers. I do wonder how you managed to get around the wall though." The man snarled at Benjen.
"I won't tell you a damn thing, kneeler cunt."
"That's fine. You can curse all you want for now, because though you won't tell us, I'm betting your friends will," replied Benjen, still smiling. He had seen that while this man appeared to be the leader and a hardened fighter, there were those in the group that were not as tough.
"Listen up, all of you. One of you is going to get to live even if you are scum. You will be allowed to go to the watch and join them, if you tell us what we need to know. The others will be executed according to the law of the land," with that he turned to the leader. "Starting with you." The guards forced the man to his knees and Benjen recited the words he had said many times before. After the customary sentencing, he swung his blade and ended the man in a quick, clean stroke. He continued to the next one. After 3 beheadings, one of the wildlings began to talk.
He was younger than the rest of the six they had captured, about 12 years old. He spoke in a trembling voice, eyes wide.
"We were called to fight with this new king beyond the wall, but my brother was having none of that. He broke from our clan with his friends and me. We used a raft to get past the wall, and took to thieving because it was so easy. All them soldiers were gone." Benjen narrowed his eyes.
"Stop. King beyond the wall? Tell me a bit more about that. How has he not been discovered by the watch?"
"He's been real smart about getting ready to go south. They say he even has powers like the horned lord. All the free folk ain't joining him, but he's got a lot. He's coming south to destroy all you kneelers." Seeing the expression on the northerner's faces he blanched. "Don't kill me! I'm just saying what I heard."
Benjen was thinking quickly, trying to glean the best way to use this information. His brother had told him about the isle of faces, a story he was keeping very close to his chest. If the old gods were truly revitalized, than it was also possible that a sorcerer had risen beyond the wall, ready to ravage the south. They needed to be ready. Quickly he executed the rest of the prisoners and then addressed the boy.
"Alright boy you get to live. You'll come with us to the wall, where you will become a watchman." he turned, addressing the guard captain who had finished searching the camp and preparing to move. "We shall go beyond the wall. We need to know what we are dealing with here. Perhaps the rangers will assist us. Prepare to ride to castle black. We'll be taking this one"-he motioned to the wildling boy- "with us."
"And I suppose I can't talk you out of this my lord?" asked the captain of the guards.
"Don't be so worried Harrow. I'm sure it will be a grand adventure. "'The heroes the north' they'll call us." The captain, used to the young lord's brashness, simply rolled his eyes.
_:D_
"A king beyond the wall you say? My rangers have heard nothing of this," Quorgyle frowned. "What do you think Jeor?"
"I have heard of some stirrings among the wildlings, but nothing on such a large scale."
They stood within the solar of the lord commander a few days later, having made good time to the seat of the night's watch. Upon their arrival, they had been granted the hospitality due a northern lord. Still, it seemed to Benjen that the watch's standard was slowly falling. They had met the Lord commander after resting a short while, only to find their fear was true, and that the watch knew nothing.
"Lord commander that boy I brought as a recruit told no lie. I could see in his eyes the fear, of us and that sorcerer king."
"Magic is lost to the world boy, and just because your brother gave you leave to run around the north does not mean you can make up these adventures." Benjen bristled but stayed silent. Qorgyle was a reputedly fair man, and would not be blind to the very real threat. "At least I hope he won't" he added silently. He again focused on what the commander was saying.
"Still, I shall send rangers to investigate this. There may be a new leader rising, but nothing the watch cannot handle."
"Do not be overconfident Lord commander." Jeor siad. "There have been strange happenings lately. The old gods seem to be stirring here, if the light on the wall was anything to go by."
"Hm. Perhaps you are right Jeor. Even I cannot deny the unnatural light shining along the length of the wall that night." He cleared his throat. "Very well. I have decided that Jeor, my first ranger, shall accompany you into the north, while you investigate these rumors. Here, I will ready the watch for a possible attack."
Benjen nodded, face breaking into a grin. "We will leave as soon as possible then." With that their meeting concluded and Benjen left to ready his men. They left within the hour, Qorgyle watching them go with an ill feeling in his chest. There was something off, but he would have to trust in Jeor and the young lord to see the ranging through.
_:D_
A few days later, the party was deep in the haunted forest, far from any hearth. They had encountered no wildlings, which was quite surprising. The men figured the savages avoided those stronger than them, and continued through the forest. Jeor knew better though. He warned Benjen and the captain to stay alert.
The forest lived up to its name, an atmosphere of dread permeating its every nook and cranny. The dappled shadows created an uneasy twilight under the twisting boughs. The silence was broken only by their heavy footsteps in the fresh snow, with not even the rustling of woodland creatures to disturb it. Benjen narrowed his eyes as he looked around. The forest seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for some misfortune to descend.
Though they had been confident at first, even the guardsmen sensed something was amiss. It was as if a sixth sense had been activated, the sense an animal possesses to recognize danger. The furtive glances they cast towards the foreboding woods only compounded their unease as they imagined what lay in the twilight. The tension coiled in their guts, roiling like an upset snake.
"Something watches Lord Stark." said Jeor. "We should be reaching a small wildling settlement in the woods soon. I suggest we wait there for whatever stalks us. We can also question them on this new king beyond the wall. "
"If that is what you suggest, First Ranger. I doubt there is a man among us that has not sensed the wickedness in the air."
As the sun was started to dip beyond the horizon, the settlement came within sight. As they came close they realized that it had been abandoned. There was a small collection of ramshackle huts in a clearing. Benjen looked to Jeor in askance when it became clear there were no wildlings here.
"Perhaps they have left to join a king after all." Jeor stated. Though the explanation made sense Benjen he was still not sure. He called to his men.
"All right all of us have been feeling weary as we traveled today. We will camp here in these huts. Set a watch, in case the wildlings living here return."
The men hurried to their tasks, a little heartened by the prospect of being within four walls. As the camp was prepared, the sun's rays were replaced by the light of the waxing moon. As darkness fell, a wind howled through the camp. Benjen's ears perked as he listened. He could here something in the wind. It was a faint, almost too faint to hear. He jumped when something touched his shoulder.
"I hear it too." said Jeor as he withdrew his hand from Benjen. "Weapons out!" he shouted. It was far too late. The wind's speed grew unnaturally until the trees were shaking back and forth. The guards struggled to draw their swords. A shadow flew out from the trees and rushed the guard closest to it. All they saw was blood spurting as the man fell, cavernous wound in his chest. The creature moved with the wind, tearing through the guards as if scything through wheat. The shouts began, as those remaining attempted to mount some kind of defense.
Benjen and Jeor had been standing with the captain near one of the huts. Any rational thought was pounded from their minds as the sheer animalistic terror coursed through their bodies. They fled towards the only shelter available. They hurried to get inside and bolt the door. As they got close to the door Benjen glanced back, finally catching a glimpse of the beasts entire body, a sight which froze him in place.
The beast stood tall, larger than any he had seen. It was a cruel mockery of a human in outline, with an extremely thin torso, long sinewy arms, and powerful legs. It''s snow white hair was matted and streaked crimson from where the guards had landed a few hits. Its face was the worst. It was almost completely human but had no lips. It's sharp teeth seemed to be grinning as it stared down its next victim.
It stood in front of the captain of the guards, having slain all the other men. The captain had fallen to his knees, bleeding profusely from the creature's slashes. What happened next would be burned into Benjen's mind forever. The creature leaned down and began to tear apart the captain's body, powerful fangs chewing through any resistance. Chunks began to fly and Bejen almost vomited when he was pulled inside by Jeor. Its feeding had saved them both, giving them crucial seconds to get away.
"What in the hells is that?" whispered Benjen
"Something I have ever seen." replied Jeor. "It's too fast to fight as we are. We must stay inside and hope it leaves."
"My men…" Benjen trailed off. He had been traveling with them for so long and they had been ripped apart in only a few minutes. He closed his eyes and prayed to the old gods, asking them to send some sort of aid. The sounds outside subsided, and for a moment he thought it worked. He was proven wrong when, with a loud slam, the door bulged inwards almost breaking. The creature would break through any moment. They pointed their weapons at the door, waiting for the inevitable.
And yet before the creature could complete its work, a howl sounded through the woods. It was the howl of a direwolf, strong and fierce. The creature did not renew it's assault on the door, and they heard sounds of struggle outside the door. It went on for a while with the yips and growls of the direwolf mixed with yowls from the monstrosity that had attacked them.
Eventually it subsided and the two men inside hesitantly lowered their weapons. "Alright Lord Stark, you open the door. I will stand ready here for whatever awaits us."
"Are you sure?"
"It can break down the door anyway. We must attack if we can and surprise it, if the damn thing is still there. Otherwise we can figure out our next step."
Benjen took a deep breath and nodded. Slowly cautiously he approached the door. He threw it open, backing away quickly while Jeor stepper forward, blade ready. They saw the creature in front of them. It lay face down in the earth, unmoving. They saw the cause of the creature's demise standing next to it.
It was bigger than a horse, with rippling muscles under a tough grey hide. The direwolf slowly approached the two men. It's eyes focused intently upon Benjen, as if it new him. Benjen felt its firecing stare, and put his hand on Jeor's arm and pushed it down.
"It saved us Mormont. We should follow it, we're no good against a creature like that."
"Are you sure my lord?" asked Jeor, hesitancy in his voice.
"Yes, though I am not sure why."
There was nothing else to say. They managed find some fire making supplies and set the bodies of their fallen comrades aflame, not having time to bury them properly. It pained Benjen to do this to his men but there was no choice. As soon as they were finished the wolf began leading them to the northwest, towards a hill in the distance.
_:D_
They followed it through the night, and rested only a few hours with the wolf standing guard. Finally after a near day's travel they reached the top of the hill where the wolf was taking them. It was evening again and they had an unobstructed view of their surroundings.
The wolf motioned with its head, towards a valley in the distance. They followed its gaze and saw what it was just as the sky had turned dark. Fires. Thousands upon thousands of fires. Looking more closely they saw the outlines of a huge camp of wildlings, easily in the tens of thousands.
"Seven hells! We must warn the watch. They may not be able to hold against that many." said Jeor. Benjen said nothing. He stood stock still, gazing at the valley. The wolf growled, looking to the sky. They again followed its gaze and saw a bird circling closer and closer to them.
"Get down!" said Benjen. They clambered under a large rock where the raven would not be able to see them. The wolf hid with them. Jeor waited awhile and then made to get out from the hiding place. The wolf did nothing, and so they believed the sky was clear.
That may have been a warg. If that wolf had not seen it, we would have been caught." Benjen nodded.
"You are correct Jeor. The watch must be warned. You go and warn them and my brother."
"Lord Stark what about you?" replied Jeor.
"I must continue this journey. I do not know why yet, but my blood calls me to uncover the secrets of the north. All this is not happening by chance." Benjen said, his voice distant.
"Lord St- Benjen! This is madness. You are only a boy, and you cannot hope to survive here by yourself. Come back with me we will prepare the watch."
"No Jeor. There is more happening here than you know. The old things stir once more, and with them darkness. Horrors lurk in the shadows. We must be ready to confront them." There was a deep certainty in resonating in Benjen's voice. Jeor was still concerned, but nodded all the same.
"In that case I will start making my way back. It is a long journey to the wall."
With that Jeor turned and headed south. Benjen looked to the wolf, which knelt before him. He instinctively knew what it wanted. He swung his leg over its side, and held on to the long fur on its neck. It got up and began to lope down the hill towards the forest surrounding the hill. Benjen hung on, the strange feeling in the back of his head getting stronger and stronger.
_:D_
Far away, the old man entangled in weirwoods opened his eyes, frowning. The first play was being made. It remained to be seen whether that would be enough.
AN: I know been a while. Well the story is back and I will try my best to make the next one quicker. Now that I have kind of decided where to go with this you will see a lot of fun things in the future. Forgive errors please, wanted to get this out, will edit later.