Yes finally managed to post this. This chapter we finally get into the story.
This chapter covers the first half of episode one, with some original content mixed in.
This chapter was longer but I broke it up so it would flow better.
I apologize for this, but it does mean the next chapter is already about a third done.
With out further wait enjoy.
Osric walked through the forest as the snowstorm increased to the point of almost blinding him. He was unsure of how long he had been walking, though it had easily been an hour. After a few more minutes of walking he came upon a clearing, but stop dead in his tracks when he heard a noise from behind. Turning he saw a grey Direwolf staring at him with fascination. Osric fell back but was surprised when the wolf didn't attack him, and infact after sniffing him, licked him across his face.
Osric let out a breath of relief and began to pet the great wolf. 'He knows we are the same breed' he thought. 'We are both of the north, with ice in our veins.' As he took a crouching position and scratched the wolf behind it's ears, a mighty roar caused both beings to turn their heads towards the direction of it.
There at the other end of the clearing was a large Lion baring it's teeth at them. The Direwolf moved in front of Osric to protect him, letting out a howl before charging the Lion. The Lion let out another roar and charged the Wolf, but before they exchanged blows, a Stag with a crown around its neck ran between the two, preventing them from attacking one another. Eventually the Wolf moved closer to the Stag, seeing this as an attack towards the Lion the Stag moved to block the Wolf. Unknown to both animals the Lion extended its claws and swiped the Stag across its hide bring the Stag to its knees. The wolf growled at the at the Lion, glancing briefly at the Stag he charged the Lion and they did battle.
After they fought for sometime the Lion was looking for more worse for wear, than the Wolf. The Lion took a look at Osric before charging him. The Wolf moved to defend Osric, but this proved to be exactly what the Lion wanted. The Lion clamped its jaws around the Wolf's neck, causing it to yelp. Osric could do nothing but watch in anger as the Lion ripped the Wolf's head off, and tossed it to the side. Before the Lion could attack Osric he saw two giant blurs appear in front of him. On his left was a grey Wolf, it looked exactly like a young version of the Wolf that had protected him. On his right however was a large black Wolf. As the Wolves charged his vision began to fade to white. Before it did however he heard a voice speak to him.
"For winter to end, Atlas must gather the eight shards of a god…"
Osric woke in a cold sweat and shot straight up into a sitting position, while taking slow deep breath. He had been having these types of dreams more often than not lately, and the fact that he had one on his first night home when the stag king could arrive any day now did not make him feel at ease. After calming down he looked to his left to see that Dalma had left sometime during the night, and hearing a knock on his door he was glad for it. Putting on a pair of simple breeches, as well as his pirate trench coat he unbolted the door and opened it, to reveal the face of a guardsman.
The guard bowed his head and held his arm against his chest before looking back up and speaking. "Your grace your father sends word that your brother's hunting party has returned, and they're on their way to the Great Hall right now." After the guard spoke Osric felt his lips curl into a smile.
'Finally some good news it's about damn time' he thought. He turned to the guard and said. "good send word to my father that I'm on my, has the rest of my party been informed?"
The guard nodded his head "yes your group has been told and are waiting down the hall, shall there be anything else m'lord?"
Osric shook his head and the guard bid him farewell, before turning down the hallway in the direction of the great hall. After enlisting Qazzo's help in gathering his siblings gifts he and his party moved through Winterfell towards the Great Hall Osric couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia being home again. People greeted him as he passed, welcoming him home, congratulating him on his success. He also heard children whisper as he passed, talking about outrageous feats he had supposedly done. As he enter the hall he heard his father scolding his brothers for taking to long to return back to the keep, as he entered Sansa turned her head towards him. Osric smiled and put his finger to his lips in a shh motion. As his group settled at a table he caught the end of his father's rant.
"...Are to be the ruler of this keep and the head of our house Robb, when you give your word you must keep it." If he wasn't trying to surprise his brother he would have broke out laughing. He had heard his father tell him the same speech time and time again, knowing Robb however this may very well be his first time listening to it.
Osric stood up and started walking towards them. "Father's right Robb, is that any way for Stark to act." Robb's head shot up in surprise as did Theon, and Jon.
Robb took a step forward before responding. "Oz, is that really you?" Osric chuckled.
"Dear brother, is there another man in this world as dashing as me?"
To say that his brothers were happy would be a massive understatement. In fact that ran at him so fast the knocked him to the ground. After greeting his brothers he lined his siblings, and Theon up to give them their gifts. Going from youngest to oldest he started with Rickon.
"Rickon I'll admit I don't know too much about, not yet anyway but I have a gift for you that I've given to all our siblings." Osric retrieved a grey wolf skin coat and threw it over Rickon's shoulders. "When I was seven I made one for Robb, and Jon when the others were born I made one for them as well. And now I have one for you." Rickon smiled up at him causing Osric to chuckle, and ruffle his hair before moving on to Bran.
"Bran mother tells me you like to climb the old towers is that right?" Bran nodded. "Well then maybe this make it a bit more fun." Osric took two boots out of the chest Qazzo carried in.
The boots had several small spikes sticking out of various points on them. "These are type of boots the Mountain Clans wear to travel the mountains, they should help you travel a little bit higher."
Osric felt his mother glare at him behind his back and without turning responded. "Oh come on mother would you rather him climb in flimsy boots."
Catelyn scoffed at him. "If he would listen to his mother he wouldn't be in danger at all." Osric just smiled and rolled his eyes before moving on to Arya.
"For you Arya, I think I might have done the impossible, and found a dress you will like. Arya had a look of disbelief until she saw what Osric had meant. The dress in question was made of tanned leather, multilayered like armor, with chainmail sleeves and leggings.
After seeing her give the dress a look over Osric smiled at her. "See I told ya so. Layered leather with steel plates sewn in, a dress for any true warrior." Although his sister was smiling Osric was sure his mother was glaring at the back head, for encouraging his sisters wild side.
Moving on to Sansa Osric gave a gift that made her jump up like a little girl. He had given her a white dress made from the finest silk he could find, with a grey Direwolf sewn in. After she thanked him with a hug, he moved on to Robb and gave him a one armed embrace.
"Robb how is my little shit brother doin eh." Robb chuckled before returning the embrace.
"Learning to rule, and you?"
Osric smiled and said. "Much of the same, it's hard to keep a bunch of cutthroats and liars in line."
Robb's face grew serious. "You ever regret it?"
Osric gave him a small smile. "No, no I don't"
Robb returned the smile. "Then I hope you rule well Oz."
Osric smiled back. "Same to you brother, now enough of this serious shit eh, I got a gift for ya."
Osric nodded to Qazzo who pulled out a silver wolf helmet, with matching gauntlets and greaves, in the shape of wolf claws.
"Starks have wolf blood in our veins, only we can do them justice, wear it with pride little brother." Robb spoke his thanks and tried on the helmet as Osric called Theon and Jon over from the corner they sat in.
"Jon, Theon get your asses over here on the double." Jon and Theon walked over to him, as Osric grabbed a bow from the chest.
"This bow is made from a Goldenheart tree from the Summer Islands. Legends say they're the best bows in the known world. Think it'll help you beat me in archery now Theon?" Theon gave a whistle and looked the bow over.
"I think it'll help me beat any other poor bastard that challenges me, thanks Oz." Osric patted his shoulder before turning to Jon.
"Jon brother, why don't you take a seat." Jon had a confused face but sat anyway, as Osric sat at the table across from him.
"Jon what I bring you isn't just a gift, it's an opportunity. Jon contrary to what I told Robb I do regret some things about leaving. The possibility of never seeing my family again, the pain that i've caused all of you, but above those is the fact that I couldn't come through on the promise I've made you."
Eddard looked at his son curiously. "And promise would that be son." Osric instead of answering, said these instead.
"When Jon was young one day I found him crying in the Godswood, he told me some stableboys were making fun of him. Do you remember what I did father?" Eddard looked at him sternly but his voice was filled with amusement.
"Of course you tracked them down and broke their teeth. And when I asked you about it, you said you wouldn't tolerate anyone picking on your brothers." Osric laughed.
"Yup broke their teeth with my bare hands. Split my knuckles open doing it. But before I did that I made Jon a promise.I said that I when I was Lord Paramount, when I was Warden Of The North, I would legitimise Jon as a Stark." After this the room grew silent.
Most of his siblings looked happy at that, Sansa looked conflicted, Theon looked indifferent, his father looked relieved and happy but his mother however, she looked as if he had stabbed her in the heart.
Osric looked back to Jon and handed him a wrapped up roll of parchment. "Jon in my power as Salt King of the StepStones and Narrow Sea, legitimise you as Jon RedStark a member of the Stepstones royal family, and a Prince of Bloodstone."
Jon unrolled the letter and read with disbelief. "Oz I-." Before Jon continued Osric held up his hand.
"I have one more thing Jon, well it's more of a request. Out of all of our siblings you are the most like father. Just, honorable, stubborn as a mule." Jon laugh and brought his hand up to wipe his eyes. "Look I'll stop beatin round the bush. Jon I want you to come back with me to the Steps, and be my Master Of Laws, command my guard, enforce my will, weed out corruption and deceit."
Jon was silent for a long time before he spoke. "Oz I-I need some time to think, I can't just rush something like this, if I mess up-."
"It's ok Jon take your time, think it over tell me later ok." After that Eddard asked to be left alone with his wife. As the other left the room he called out.
"Not you Osric." Osric sighed and gestured for the others to carry on, all but Beshka left.
"You're angry." Osric said.
"I'm not angry, in a way i'm proud of you Osric." Eddard spoke as he put his hand on Osric's shoulder.
"I appreciate it father, but I wasn't speaking to you." Eddard turned around to see his wife glaring the back of their son's head.
"So speak your piece mother."
For a moment the only sound was Catelyn's angry deep breathing before she spoke. "You have no right to do this Osric."
Osric looked at her with a small smirk. "Actually I do mother. You see one of the thing I negotiated with the crown for was recognized sovereignty. Do you know what that means?"
His mother nodded. "Yes it means the Iron Throne recognizes you as a kingdom."
He nodded. "Yes mother it also means my laws have legitimacy in Westeros. For his brother's men back, your Stag King gave my word power in Westeros. My word is just under the King's Hand in power."
As his wife and son argued what Osric just said worried Eddard. He knew Robert wasn't the best man for a king, but to give so much power to the ruler of a kingdom, that has done nothing to the Throne but fight and steal from it. Osric was his son and he loved him, but his kingdom was made of pirates. Nothing but raiders, and thieves. How could Robert do something so dense.
Eddard turned back to his wife and son when he heard Osric's voice raise.
"But you have no right to decide for him mother, you gave that up long ago!" Osric choked out his voice, full of pent up anger, and pain.
"Son what are you-" Osric cut her off.
"When Jon got the Pox" Osric started. "I watched over him that long night, but after the fever broke early in the morning I went to the Godswood to give a prayer of thanks. I saw you there mother, you prayed if he recovered you would be a mother to him, you would have him legitimised, you would stop treating him like he was nothing more than a stain to you!"
Catelyn was taken back by the venom in her son's voice. "Osric-"
He shook his hand dismissively. "I don't need this. Your king comes anyday now. I'm going to spend what time until his arrival with my siblings."
After Osric left Catelyn burst into tears. Eddard then rushed to hold her.
"What's happen to him Ned. What happen to turn our sweet little boy's river eyes, and heart to ice?"
Eddard said nothing and held her tighter. But in truth he wanted to know the answer to that question as well.
Osric walked outside and stood next to his Redguard. He looked down from the balcony and saw Bran practicing archery with Jon, and Robb advising him, while Lyanna, and Rickon sat on the sidelines.
Bran let loose an arrow, only for it to miss the target, and impale a barrel next to it. Jon leaned towards Bran and whispered. "Go on Oz just showed up." Bran looked up, and Osric gave him a nod of encouragement.
Bran tried again only to have the arrow fly over the wall, into the forest, much to the amusement of his brothers. Osric snorted. "And which one of you two was a marksman by ten eh. Cause I seem to Jon breaking the string, and Robb almost shooting himself in the toe." As both brothers glared at him in embarrassment Bran and Rickon laughed.
Osric looked towards Bran. "Bran I want you to crouch on one knee, take a deep breath, and fire on your exhale." Bran nodded did as he was told, and struck the outermost ring, causing his siblings to clap.
"There you go Bran, much better than those two shits in archery already. Now then who's next."
No sooner had the words left his mouth did an arrow whiz by striking the target dead center. Turning their heads the brothers saw Arya standing there, bow in hand smirking. Arya gave a mock bow, before running away as Bran chased after her.
Osric laughed before turning to his daughter. "Lyanna, show off a bit would ya. Show your uncles how good we taught you."
Lyanna grinned before standing up and walking to where Bran stood a moment before. "Of course father." She replied.
Lyanna shook her head at the bow Jon held to her, before pulling a throwing knife out of her coat pocket. Jon and Robb gave looks of amusement, which quickly turned to looks of disbelief, as Lyanna's knife flew through the air, splitting Arya's arrow down the middle.
Osric gave a roar of laughter at his brothers face's. "That's my girl, give a bow Pup." Lyanna giggled before bowing and going to retrieve her knife. Osric heard footsteps behind him, and turned to see his father and Theon approaching.
"Oy father you just missed it, my girl just split an arrow down the middle." Eddard was surprised Osric wasn't still angry from the conversation he just had with his mother.
'Then again he wasn't angry with me, just Cat.' Eddard thought. Shaking his head Eddard's look's grew serious. "Our outriders just found a deserter from the Night's Watch. You remember what happens now right?"
Osric's smile faded, and he set his lips into a firm line. "Aye I remember. Who's coming."
"You, Robb, Jon, and Bran." Eddard replied. Osric nodded.
"All right I'll grab them and meet you by the gate." Eddard nodded and walked away with Theon.
Osric looked down to the yard and spoke. "Jon, Robb, Bran saddle up. Lyanna you come too."
Osric stood by his father's side at the weirwood stump, as the deserter was walked up, Lyanna stood next to him. As the deserter was walked forth, Osric remembered the conversation he had just had with his father, on the ride over.
'She's just a little girl Osric'
'She's more than that. She's my heir, a future pirate queen, and besides. She's already seen more bloodshed then Jon and Robb put together.'
The deserter now stood before Eddard and spoke.
"I know I'm a deserter. I should have gone back to the Wall and warned them. But I-I saw what I saw. I saw them White Walkers. Someone needs to know. If you could get word to my family, tell em I'm not a coward. Tell em I'm sorry." Eddard nodded and the former Night's Watch brother was brought to his knees.
Osric held his hand up towards Eddard and kneeled to the deserter's height.
"You said White Walkers. The Others. The Cold Children, those White Walkers?"
The man nodded frantically. "What's your name boy."
"Will ser, I'm from White Harbor."
Osric nodded. "Well, Will I believe you. And I don't think you a coward. No one man can beat the Others. I'll make sure your family get some money, and tell em you died fighting the good fight."
Will had tears in his eyes."Thank you, thank you so much. You have to tell others the Walkers are back. They've already slaughtered countless Wildlings, who knows how long until they come south."
Osric nodded and patted the man on the shoulder before standing up and nodding to his father. "Go on, do your duty."
Eddard and the rest of the party, save Lyanna, and the Redguard were shocked out Osric's display. Eddard shook himself out of his thoughts and spoke.
"In the name of Robert of House Baratheon. First of his of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. I Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of The North. Sentence you to die."
Eddard then raised Ice over his head, and decapitated the man. Jon then told Bran he had done good. Bran nodded but felt uneasy in the pit of his stomach. Not just from watching a man die, or the complete shift in Osric's demeanor. But from the fact his niece had watched the man die, as if it was the most common thing in the world.
On the way back Osric was bombarded with questions. He had managed to deflect them with. "A man deserves a little comfort during his last few moments in this world." Although that was a lie, and he had a certain High Priestess he needed to have a chat with.
As the party stopped at a bridge Osric dismounted his horse walked forward to see what the holdup was. What he saw, was His father, Jon, and Theon standing around a gutted stag. Based upon the smell, and the maggots it had been dead for a while. He and the others followed his father down to see the corpse of a direwolf, stag antler lodged in it's throat. And wolf pups at her belly.
Osric heard the others talking but drowned them out, to focus on the small direwolf pup patting it's paws on his boot. The direwolf in question had dark grey/black fur, and was larger than the rest of the litter, whether he was older than the rest or just bigger Osric did not know.
Osric snapped back to reality when he heard a blade being unsheathed. Looking up he saw Bran holding one of the pups, and Theon coming towards him with a knife. Osric scowled and pulled Bran behind him.
"Fuck that!"
Eddard sighed."Osric-."
"No, no don't 'Osric' me, these are direwolves. The fucking symbol of the North, the sigil of House Stark and you're really gonna butcher the poor things."
As Osric argued with Eddard, and Robb argued with Theon, Jon spoke up.
"Lord Stark, there are six pups. One for each of your trueborn children. They were meant to have them." After Eddard caved in, and the party walked back up the hill Osric walked over to Jon. Who had told Bran, he wasn't getting a wolf because he legitimate or not, he wasn't trueborn
"Stop talking like that Jon, you're not a bastard anymore." Jon smiled sadly.
"Sorry Oz it'll just take some getting used to now."
As they started to walk away they heard a small yelp. Walking over to the sound of the noise, Jon found an albino direwolf.
Osric spoke up. "See a wolf for every Stark child. True or not, it must be fate." Jon smiled up at him as they headed home.
Yes so a ton of shit just happened.
Things like Osric's sudden flashes of anger, and his Green Dreams will be explained later.
Speaking of later, next chapter we have Robert's arrival, and the long awaited meeting of the kings.
I hope you enjoyed, and see you next time.
