Chapter 28: The Little Soldier
At Castle Black, it's snowing again. Jon, wrapped in his cloak, arrives in the Lord Commander's quarters. "When does Maester Aemon think you will be able to use that hand again?" Mormont asks him.
"Soon, he says." The young man looking at his burned and swollen palm covered with a bandage.
"Good." The Lord Commander grabs something from behind his fireplace. "You'll be ready for this then." He shows him a long sword and lays it on the table in front of him. "I thought that a wolf would be more appropriate for you than a bear." He softly goes over the handle with his fingers. "So, I had a new pommel made. It's called 'Longclaw'. Which is well suited for a wolf as a bear, I think." He grabs it again and hands it to Jon that still not fully realizes what is happening here.
The young man finally accepts it and delicately glides a part of it out of its black metal scabbard. "This is Valyrian steel, My Lord." He points out when he recognizes the sound that this particular metal does when it comes in contact with another material.
"It is." Mormont says, holding his arms behind his back. "It was my father's sword, and his father's before him. The Mormonts have carried it for five centuries. It was meant for my son when I decided to take the Black."
"Your son, My Lord?"
"Hum." The old man clears his throat. "Jorah brought dishonor to House Mormont, but he... Hum... At the grace to leave the sword before he fled from Westeros. But, the sight of it always remind me of the shame he brought upon us. So, it's better like this." He turns around.
"My Lord, you honor me, but I can't..." Jon humbly comes.
"Oh, you can... And you will!" Mormont cuts him. "I won't be standing here if it wasn't for you and your beast." He grabs a sandstone jar and pours himself a large glassful of wine. "You fought bravely and thought quickly. I should have remembered about using the fire! That bloody dead man tried to kill me. That sword is a small payment for a life. So, you'll take it and hear no more about it, understood?" Mormont concludes.
"Yes, My Lord."
"Fine. And don't think this means that I approve of this non-sense between you and Alliser Thorne. This is a man's sword you're holding, boy. And it takes a man to wield it." The Lord Commander sits down.
"I'll apologize to Sir Alliser tonight..."
"No you won't. I send him to King's Landing yesterday. The hand that your wolf tore of that thing's wrist, I've... Hum... Ordered Thorne to lay it to the feet of this Boy-King. It should gets young Joffrey's attention, I think. And... It puts a thousand leagues between you and Thorne... Now, put your sword somewhere safe and bring me my supper."
"Yes, My Lord." Jon bows and smiles before leaving the chamber.
.
Ylliria and Belinda are putting the finishing touches on the Name Day surprise supper for Rickon, checking that the table in the Great Hall is properly set. They have request to all the guests to be ready for sundown. Hodor carrying Bran is the first to enter, with his grand-mother Old Nan. Soon followed by Maester Luwin and Ailwin, Belinda's husband. Meachem the head of the Builders, Will the mason, Mikken the blacksmith and Tommy the barber were also invited, as well as Osha. "You are all welcome around this supper." Ylliria says when all are installed around the table. "Hoping we could, all together, make of Rickon's special day a day he could remember with a smile. At least, we hope that this gathering will also let us forget for a moment the trouble times we're living."
"Aye!" They all respond.
"Emma? Will you please fetch the King of this ceremony?" She smiles.
The maid comes back a few minutes later, out of breath. "My Lady, the little Lord is nowhere to be found."
"He must be hiding in the crypt again." Bran says, making the maid run again. Maester Luwin decides to search the stables and around the Castle.
After a long moment, both are coming back without the little Lord. Ylliria really starts to be beside herself with worry. "Call the Captain of the Guards." She orders to Maester Luwin.
"My Lady?" The Captain bows when he enters.
"The little Lord Rickon is missing. We don't know since when. We looked the whole Castle already. So, gathered all the men you can and starts the search at Winter-town, I know he likes it there. Check if there is no horse missing from the stables and go as far deep in the Sacred Woods. He knows his way around there. And he certainly is with his Direwolf. So, be careful, Shaggydog is a wild one sometimes. Please, go now!"
"Yes, My Lady. At once." He bows again and leaves.
.
"The scouts reports Lord Tywin moves North." Rodrik Cassel explains to the Lords around the table. "We need to get him on broken ground, put it's Knights at his disadvantage."
"No!" Lord Umber shouts. "We need to get around him and break Jaime Lannister's siege of Riverrun. Do that and the River Lords will join us."
"To do either we need to cross that river. And the only crossing is at the Twins." Robb looking at the map.
"Lord Frey controls that bridge. He is your father's Bannermen. It shouldn't be a problem." Theon adds.
"Hum, can we really trust him? I remember my father calling him the 'late' Lord Frey. At the trident, he didn't appear with his army till the battle was done. Some men take their oath most seriously than others." Lady Stark explains.
"But, My Lady, Robb is right. We need that bridge." Theon continues.
"So, what it's gonna be? Do we move against Jaime or Lord Tywin?" Lord Umber asks.
Two soldiers are dragging along a struggling man into Lord Stark's tent. "Your pardon, My Lords. We've captured a Lannister's scout." One of the soldier says.
Theon hurries to fold the map on the table.
"Don't worry, lad. He won't be leaving this tent with his head." Greatjon guffaws.
"Where did you find him?" Robb questions the soldier.
"In the brushes above the encampment. He looked to be counting."
The young Lord approaches the spy. "How high did you get?"
"Twenty thousand, maybe more."
"You don't have to do this yourself. Your father would understand." The Master-at-Arms comes.
"My father understands mercy when there is room for it!" Robb cuts Rodrik. "And he understands honor and courage." He stares at the men for a moment. "Let him go!" He suddenly orders.
"Robb?" His mother softly says. He turns around and looks dagger at her, making her lower her gaze.
He approaches the scout. "Tell your Lord Tywin that winter is coming for him and fast. Twenty thousand Northerners are marching South to find out if he really does shit gold." He whispers in his ear.
"Yes, My Lord. Thank you, My Lord." He respectfully bows before being pushed out the tent by the soldiers.
"Are you touched, boy? Letting him go?" Lord Umber is furious.
"Come on, call me boy again." Robb stares defiantly at the Lord. "Go on!" He makes a last step forward to face the huge man. Lord Umber finishes by turning around and leaving the tent, growling.
.
Rickon is now missing for hours. The Guards have widen their search beyond the woods and lager on both ways of the King's Road, north and south.
"They will find him, My Lady." Belinda tries to calm down Ylliria, pacing around the Great Hall.
"If something happens to that boy, I would never forgive myself. Lady Stark and Robb have putting their trust in me to handle Winterfell during their absence. What a disappointment that will be for them when they will find out that I neglected their youngest son and little brother."
"Ylliria, it's not your fault. You know Rickon is like his Direwolf, a wild one." Bran comes, trying to comfort her too.
"I should have been more present for him. We knew he had a hard time since Robb left with his host."
"We all have a hard time, Ylliria." The young Lord sadly adds.
She sits next to Bran and puts a re-comforting arm around his shoulder, when suddenly the door flies open.
"My Lady, we found the little Lord marching on King's Road after the marking point South. And as you said, his Direwolf scampering next to him." One of the two guards, that surrounding the little boy, explains.
"Rickon!" She screams, running to him and taking him in her arms. "You made everyone worried sick. Are you hurt?"
"No, Ylliria, I'm fine." He says, his gaze on the floor.
"And what is that?" She points at a bundle he has in his hands. "Where did you think you were going?"
"Rejoining Robb and his Army. I wanted to help him save father."
"Oh, sweetheart!" She grabs him back in her arms, tears showing up in her eyes.
"We did a surprised supper for you Name Day, you idiot! You ruined everybody's feast!" Bran starts to yell at his little brother.
"Bran. Let us talk about that later and trying to still enjoying this meal, will you?" Ylliria calmly says.
"I'll go heating up the main course. Please everybody, take another cup of wine awaiting. We won't be too long." Belinda says around, making a gesture with her head to Osha and Emma to follow her in the kitchens.
.
