Hello again everyone, It's the Bobcat with a new chapter! We are finally at the main plot of Game of Thrones now! I'll do my best to honor the incredible story while trying to add some new twists and turns to it. Anyways hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 9: Erza
The cold wind swept through Erza's red hair and dark cloak as she rode beside Lord Stark. Bran rode beside her as well, Jon and Robb ahead, and a smirking Theon Greyjoy behind with Jory Cassel, the captain of the guard, and the master of horses and his son Hullen and Harwin. The wind whipped by the small riding party again giving Erza goosebumps on her neck. She shook ever so slightly and straightened up once again in her saddle.
"A little cold Lady Scarlet?" laughed Theon from behind.
That boy seemed to think everything was a joke. He was seventeen years old and Erza already had grown a distaste for the boy. His cocky demeanor just rubbed her the wrong way. That and he tried to get her into his bed one night only for him to get pulverized by her armored fists. He learned an important lesson that day, don't piss off the red haired lady. But that didn't mean he didn't try to poke every now and then.
"I'm fine Greyjoy." replied Erza sharpley.
"It is getting a little chilled isn't it." said Lord Stark solemnly, "Winter is coming."
Bran nodded. Erza had learned that this was considered a very long summer. As in nearly two decades of summer. And apparently winter's were especially cruel in this world. The fact that this worried the Starks also worried her. She had felt brutal cold before, especially atop Mount Hakobe on several of her missions, but what they described seemed almost unlivable. Cold that could quell and freeze flames, snow that piled taller than trees, and wind that would rip stone off of the castle walls. It was concerning to think about. The party eventually came to a stop in front of a small iron wood block. A prisoner was ushered forward. He wore the black clothing of the Night's Watch. His ears had been taken by frostbite as well as a finger and his hair came down on his shoulders in greasy strands.
"Don't look away now, father will know if you do." she heard Robb whisper to Bran.
This was the first execution that Erza had ever seen as well. Or as the people of the castle called it, handing down the King's justice. She looked for a headsman but saw no one with an axe present. Instead, Ned Stark jumped down from his horse. His face was a mask of seriousness. Gone was the face of a father and friend and on was the face of the Lord of the North. He walked up to Theon who had also dismounted his brown horse. Theon produced from a cloth a massive dark sword. It's breadth easily the size of a man's hand and it's length the height of Robb or even Jon. She heard Jon mutter one word next to her.
"Ice."
Ned Stark's powerful hands gripped the massive sword's hilt and he strode up to the chopping block. Jory pushed the prisoner onto the ground and place his head on the block.
"In the name of Robert of House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, by the word of Eddard of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I do sentence you to die." He raised the massive great sword over his head and with one swing cleaved the man's head from his body.
Erza winced slightly at the sound of steel cutting through flesh and bone. Her horse jumped back startled and whined but Erza kept a tight grip on the reins. She followed Rob's advice that she heard earlier and she did not look away. Even as the blood pooled into the snow and the head rolled away from the body, she kept her stare. The head eventually rolled up to Theon. He smirked and placed his foot atop it.
"Ass." mumbled Jon below his breath so that Theon wouldn't hear him.
Erza nodded slightly in agreement as Ned cleaned and sheathed Ice. As quickly as they came, the group left the chopping block and the body and rode back towards the castle. Erza rode beside Rob, Jon, and Bran in silence until Rob broke the quiet.
"He died well," he said stunning Erza, "It seems the man had at least some courage in him after all."
"That was not courage." replied Erza. She remembered seeing the dead eyes before the falling of the sword, "That was fear. His eyes were full of it, he was a broken man." She had seen it many times before.
"Damn his eyes! The man died well." exclaimed Rob who then looked over to Jon, "Race you to town."
"You're on!"
The two older boys raced off at full gallop towards the castle and over the hill in front of them. Leaving Bran with Erza and Lord Stark. Ned pulled up beside Bran and looked down at him, the fatherly face returning to his features.
"Bran, do you know why I did what I did today?"
"Because the man was a wildling?" replied Bran innocently, "And he had to be executed for it."
"I see old Nan has been telling you her tall tales again." smiled Ned, "No, this man was something much more dangerous, a deserter from the Night's Watch."
"Why would he be so dangerous my lord?" asked Erza, her curiosity piqued.
"A deserter knows his life is forfeit when he leaves his post and duty. Therefore they won't hesitate to commit any sort of vicious crime in order to escape the law. But you two miss the point, do you know why I was the one who carried out the execution?"
Bran shook his head, Erza sat silently.
"The blood of the first men flows through our veins Bran. We don't have a headsman like the other households. We do things the old way. It is our belief that if you are the man to pass death as judgement onto another man then you should be the one to swing the blade. You should be the one to hear his last words."
Erza smiled, the respect she held for the Lord of Winterfell grew everyday, "A sign of respect then?" she questioned.
"Sometimes. But I also believe that if a man hides behind a headsman than he loses the gravity of death. Remember this Bran," he looked down at his young son who stared up at him from his pony, "One day, you will be one of Rob's bannermen. You will have your own castle and your own household to look after. Take no pleasure in the duty that you must perform when the judgement of death is passed on a man. But do not shy away from it either."
Bran nodded and Erza couldn't help but smile. This boy was gonna grow up to be a good man. He listened to his father's every word and always seemed to take his lessons to heart.
"Father, come see what Jon and I found!" shouted Rob from atop the hill. He quickly galloped away.
"Trouble my lord?" asked Jory.
"No doubt," replied Ned as he sighed, "Let's see what mischief my sons have dug up now."
The group trotted up the hill and over to see a sight that made Erza's spine tingle. A massive wolf lay dead in the snow. It's size was larger than the pony that Bran was riding. Hell, it was almost as big as Panther Lily was when he used his magic to grow to full size.
"By the gods!" exclaimed Theon.
Erza had her sword drawn in a instant, "Rob back away from it!" she barked her body tensed, ready for anything.
"Relax Erza," replied Rob, "It's dead."
Bran cried out with joy as he and Erza saw the small bundle of fur in the Rob's arms. A pup.
"A direwolf," muttered Ned, "One hasn't been seen south of the wall in over two hundred years…"
"It's a bad omen in my opinion." said the Horse Master Hullen.
"It's just a dead wolf Hullen," replied Ned quietly, "Just a dead wolf." He repeated like he was attempting to reassure himself as well as the others.
"Might as well kill the pups, be merciful for them anyways." stated Jory.
"NO!" Cried Bran as he clutched a second gray pup in his arms.
"Better to do it quickly I guess." Theon drew his sword and approached the pups only for Erza to step in his way.
"Maybe Lord Stark should decide on that, Greyjoy." she said firmly. No one was going to approach the Stark children with a blade drawn while she drew breath.
"What killed the thing?" wondered Hullen as he saw Ned dismount and walk over to the direwolf's carcass. Maggots filled it's eyes and the stink of decay coated it like perfume.
"No neck wound…" he whispered then he felt it, a stag's horn, nearly a foot of it, buried deep in the creature's throat. The party became quiet, Erza took a look at the scene. A chill bit into her skin once again.
This doesn't feel right.
"My lord," started Jon as he approached his father, "There are five pups. Three male, two female. One for each of your children." Ned looked Jon in the eyes. "They were meant to have these."
Erza was taken aback. Five pups, one for each child including Ricken, but Jon discounted himself even though he was the eldest of the children. A sympathetic smile appeared on Lord Stark's face.
"Please father," begged Rob, "We will take care of them. I'll give mine milk and train him and-"
Ned held up his hand. Rob looked at him pleadingly. "Very well." Rob and Bran's eyes lit up, "But you will take care of them. I'm certain the dog keeper will not. You will train them. I don't want you bothering the servants with this. And I will not hear of any abuse against these animals in any way. These are dire wolves not dogs. They can take a man's arm off if they so wanted. Understand?"
The boys nodded quickly. "Good, gather up the others Jory."
The other pups were wrapped in blankets and set on horses. Just as they were about to ride off Rob called out. "Wait! Did you hear that?"
Rob dismounted a made his way back to the wolf. He bent over and picked up two bundles of fur. One with fur as white as the snow on the ground and the other with hair the color of fire. Both of their eyes were open whereas the others were closed. "Two more boys" Rob stated. Erza looked closely at the red haired wolf, an eye was missing. It's right eye. Erza reached up and felt the one that Porlyusica created for her all of those years ago. Was this wolf meant for her?
"An albino and a half blind one." stated Theon, "Those are sure to die."
"No they won't." said Erza as she rode up to Jon, she grabbed the red bundle of fur from his arms and gently cradled it in her armored hands. "These are mine and Jon's."
Ned nodded and the party rode away to the castle. Outside of the stone walls of the keep stood Catelyn awaiting their return. Her face became concerned when she saw the pups in their arms and she put her hands up like a barrier in front of the door.
"Not in the house." she said firmly.
The other children ran out of the keep and to their father who enveloped them in his arms. When they broke away they all gathered around the gray furballs that they had brought back with them. Little Arya picked one up. "This one is mine!" she exclaimed.
"What are you naming her?" asked Erza.
Arya cocked her head to the side, she then looked at her pup and patted its head gently. "I don't know?" she said through a toothy smile.
"Well mine is going to be named Lady." stated Sansa as she gently pet her wolf.
"Boring…" mumbled Arya.
"Shaggy dog!" screamed Ricken with joy.
"Bran what are you naming yours?" asked Ned.
Bran looked at his wolf. He smiled, "Summer."
Erza nodded, "Nice name."
"Mine will be named Grey Wind!" exclaimed Rob proudly as he held his pup in the air above him.
Only Jon and Erza's pups remained. The family looked at the both of them awaiting their naming. Jon spoke up first, "Ghost." was all he said as he pet his wolf. Erza thought hard about the name. She wanted it to be a good one after all, and then it came to her, she would take one from an old friend of hers. It fit the wolf with fire red hair perfectly, and the one who inspired her to name it so would be thrilled to hear about it.
"Igneel." she stated as she cradled her wolf in her arms. The pup yawned and nuzzled against her arms the fell silently asleep.
….
Erza now sat with Catelyn Stark in the Godswood. It was a 3 acre patch of land inside of the castle walls. It was a quiet place, so Erza enjoyed coming in here to sit and think. Although the tree with the face on it, or weirwood, as the family called it gave her the creeps from time to time. The garden was ancient, if the stories were to be believed, it had been this way for over ten thousand years. It was a greenish gray place and was very primal in nature and feeling.
"The Godswood in Riverrun is much more pleasant." said Catelyn.
"It is? This is place seems nice enough."
Catelyn smiled, "Not until you have seen that beautiful city on the river. The godswood there is full of red pine trees and is always full of light and beauty. Birds are always nesting and chirping in the branches. This is… dark and grim."
"Like the north itself." finished Erza.
"Yes, you are starting to catch onto the mood around here aren't you." Joked Catelyn as she nudged Erza's shoulder.
"I guess I am. Though to be fair, sometimes you need a dark quiet place to just think and be to yourself in."
"Indeed. I'm not one to worship the old gods as Ned does. I follow the seven. In fact, Ned made sure a small sept was built here for me. It was so thoughtful of him. But every now and then I do come in here. After all I am a Stark and no longer a Tully. It would be foolish to ignore the gods have protected this family for generations."
Erza nodded, "I can understand that."
Erza looked at the weirwood or heart tree as Lord Stark called it. It stood in the center of the small wood. She admired the peculiar white bark and red leaves. She thought it was a beautiful tree, until she saw the strange face in it. Then she would look away. A rustling of leaves broke her concentration and Ned entered the clearing in the Godswood. Catelyn earlier stated that she knew he would come here. He always sought the solace of the Godswood whenever he executed a man. Erza rose from her seat on the bench, bowed to Lord and Lady Stark and began to exit the clearing when Lord Stark stopped her.
"You may stay Lady Scarlet. In this place all are equal and welcome." He stated as he kneeled down in front of a dark brook and began cleaning Ice with a patch of oiled leather.
Erza stared at the blade. She had never seen anything like it. The steel rippled showing how it was folded hundreds of times on itself in order to make it as large as it was. The black coloring to it was especially capturing to Erza who could only imagine herself with a blade as beautiful as the one she was seeing now. Even Catelyn, who did not like blades, admitted that Ice had a beauty to it that no other sword really had. It had been forged in a place called Valyria. A land across the sea, and ancient spells were used when it was forged. Erza did not sense any magic coming from the weapon now, but when it separated the deserter's head from his body she did feel a slight uptick her own drained magic reserves.
"Where are the children, Catelyn?"
"In the house arguing about the names of their pups. And the pups are with them too." She sighed and Erza sweat dropped, the children were seemingly unafraid to ignore their mother. She would talk to them about that. "Arya is in love with hers and Sansa is doting over hers as well. Ricken is…"
"Afraid." finished Ned.
"A little. He is only three."
"He won't be three forever. He needs to get over his fears or he won't make it, and winter is coming."
The words sent chills down Erza's spine. Winter is coming. The words of House Stark. It wasn't one of bravado or display. It was a frank reality, words that never lied. Winter was indeed coming. A messenger entered the grove bearing a letter. He handed it to Erza then hurried off. She carefully opened the letter.
"To Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell," she read, "It brings me great pain to say this but the hand to the king, Lord Jon Arryn, Lord of the Vale, has passed away…" she stopped reading as Ned's head snapped up from his sword.
"Jon is dead!?" he exclaimed. "How?"
Erza silently read on, "It doesn't say… the signature is from a man name Lord Petyr Baelish?"
"Littlefinger." muttered Catelyn under her breath.
"This is a dark day indeed if the hand to the king has passed." Ned rose from his kneeling position and put Ice back in it's sheath. "Last I saw him he was healthy as an ox. This news is quite sudden indeed." He looked at Catelyn. "Your sister will need you in the Vale. She shouldn't be alone with her grief."
"If I could go I would Ned, but King Robert will be arriving in a week's time now."
"Already a week's time?" exclaimed Ned as a smile broke out on his face. "Damn that Robert he moves to swiftly. How are we going to feed all of those people?"
Erza and Catelyn shrugged.
Ned chuckled, "Damn him and his royal hide." He left the Godswood with Erza and Catelyn. The Hearttree's eyes following their every move.
The Story has begun! And Erza now has a Direwolf too! Is this a good thing, or is the fallen wolf a bad omen. This is one of the longer chapters I have written and I really enjoyed writing it too. It's a little easier to do not having to create everything from scratch like the previous chapters. I'm rereading the GOT series so I don't screw this up. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed. As always, Rate, review, and have a nice day!