Chapter Fourteen:
Robb had read Sansa's letter, her begging him to ride for King's Landing and swear loyalty to the crown. Robb bared his teeth in anger. It was Sansa's hand, he would know each one of his siblings writing as he would know if it were Willow, Theon or Mira.
His father was imprisoned and the king who was now Joffrey was demanding HE MARCH TO King's Landing and swear his fidelity to the crown. He read Sansa's letter and he knew that these words were not his sisters and she were being used as nothing more then a pawn.
He slammed his hands on the table, all eyes in the room turning his way.
"Rally the bannermen. Let us see if the Lannister really do shit gold." Robb spoke with venom. He heard the roars of agreement. He would march to King's Landing, rescue his sisters, his father and his friend. His mother had surly left and would be due home in a week or two's time.
Robb caught the smile of Theon; he was surly excited by the possibility of going to war and serving justice. Robb had never understood why his friend was excited by the idea of war. It gave no pleasure to Robb to pick up a sword and swing the blade into another man. Robb had never taken a life, but he had seen a fair few taken over his years.
The men left the room, high in spirits and determined to rescue his father from the hands of the Lannister's.
Robb held his head high, walking the halls and heading to that of his brother's room. Bran turned to Robb; his dark eyes were that of his father's.
"Your leaving." Bran said, he didn't ask, he just knew.
"Yes." Robb spoke, sitting beside Bran, holding his hands in his lap.
"To rescue father and Sansa and Arya?" Bran asked.
"Yes Bran. We will come home. You must stay here; I leave you in charge."
"Can I not come with you?" Bran asked.
"A Stark must always remain in Winterfell." Bran fought the tears. He didn't want his older brother to leave.
Robb smiled, his eyes turning to the bathroom that was attached to Bran's room.
"Come out Rickon." He said.
Rickon small head poked through the space of the door and wall, tears were streaming down his face. He ran into Robbs awaiting arms. Robb picked the youngest Stark up, bringing him up onto the bed.
"Will you help Bran in my absence?" Robb asked.
Rickon light brown locks bobbed up and down as he bit his lip to stop from crying.
"Men cry too." Robb said gently. Rickon made a sound and Robb squeezed his younger brother's leg, smiling.
"We will be home before you know it. I know the two of you will look after each other and look after Winterfell."
Robb looked into both his brother's eyes. Both their heads nodded, tears streaking both. Leaning over, he kissed both his brother's forehead and tucked them both into Bran's bed.
Leaving the room, shutting the door. He placed his hand upon the door, sighing.
He walked down the hall and to his room. He undressed, deciding to sleep in the nude. He climbed into bed and let sleep take him, he was going to war.
Mira stormed the halls upon Theon telling her of what Robb and the bannermen had planned on doing. Too angry for manners, Mira threw open Robb's chambers door and slammed it shut.
Robb woke with a start, his hand reaching for the blade that sat upon his nightstand by his bed.
"YOUR LEAVING!" Mira shouted.
Her eyes were narrowed dangerously that she had not yet realized that he wore nothing.
"Mira?" Robb grumbled, placing the blade back down.
"WHAT IN THE HELL ROBB?!" Mira demanded. She started to pace in front of his bed. Robb amused and waiting for Mira' to realise why he was smiling at her.
"You are leaving, why are you leaving? When will you be home? Do you have to leave? Stay here Robb…..stop smiling at me like that." Mira pointed her finger at him. Her eyes finally wondering down his naked chest. Hair dusted the front, her eyes moving down and her cheeks heated, she spun on her heels quickly, now facing the door.
"Oh gods, you are naked."
"I do sleep naked Mira." Robb laughed. Clearly enjoying the girl's mortification.
"Robb..." She whined.
"Hold on, give me a few." Robb laughed.
Getting from the bed, he found his pants, sliding his legs into them and fastening them as quickly as possible. He found a shirt, throwing it on, he smiled as he waited for Mira to turn back around.
"I am covered." Robb stated.
Mira turned to see that Robb was indeed decent, smiling widely at her, trying to contain his laughs.
"Stop laughing, Robb!" Mira pouted.
"You come barging into my room early in the morn and demand me to answer questions." Robb said through laughs. Mira walked up, punching his arm which caused him to laugh harder.
"Ok…ok. I will stop." Robb cleared his throat, avoiding the angry fists of Mira. He had to smile; Ari had been right that the girl had a mean fist. He felt a few bruises forming on his arm.
"Do you have to leave?" Mira asked suddenly.
"I must. Father has been taken prisoner." Robb said, his face serious and lit with the anger he felt toward the Lannister's. His sisters note still fresh in his mind. He would rescue and bring his family home, or he will die trying.
"What of Willow?" Mira asked. fear on her face. Robb reached out, bringing her closer to him. Kissing her temple, Robb wishes he could soothe her fears.
"I will bring her home. I will bring them all home."
Mira nodded against him, clinging tight. She believed Robb. Robb would keep everyone safe; Robb will bring everyone home.
Mira watched, Bran hoisted on her hip and Rickon clinging to her dress. They watched as Robb, Theon and a fair few armed men marched from the castle's wall. Mira watched as Robb glanced back at them, one last time. He smiled at them and gave them a small nod. Mira felt Bran's head lean into her. She kissed the top of his head.
"So, Master Bran, what shall we do?" Mira asked once the gates had closed and Robb was nothing more than a small dot, disappearing through the forest.
"Come on, Mira. I am just Bran." The boy laughed.
"Ok, Just Bran." Mira teased.
"Mira, when will Robb be home?" Rickon asked, craning his neck to see the girl's smiling face.
"Before you know it." Mira tapped his nose. The boy crunched his face but smiled.
"Lord Bran, Lord Rickon, you are required to meet with the villagers. Miss Mira, you may also be present."
Maester Lewin bowed, stepping to the side and escorting the three to the grand hall where their duties await.
Ari watched as Jon and another one of the recruits, sparred. Both grunting and swinging their blades with intent to harm. The man made one overconfident move and ended on the ground with Jon pointing a blade at his throat. Ari grinned, it had been the fifth guy Jon had defeated in single combat. A lot of the other guys, watching him with regards.
"The bastard knows how to wield a blade."
Ari looked down at the imp, grin creasing his face.
"Aye, that he can."
"I hear you are better." Tyrion looked up, a small questioning look.
"Neigh, that is more then a story." Ari lied.
Ari and Jon had fought many times, Ari always victorious. Jon had improved over the years. He had always needed an outlet for his built-up anger. Jon had trained Jon in secret before Eddard Stark had stumbled upon the two and thrown them into lessons.
Ari smiled with the memory of their first lesson. Mira had sat on the steps, closing her eyes at every clang of a sword. Willow soon joined, cheering the boys on. Yelling at them, instructing them on how to swing. It was then that Ari had gotten his first scar across his stomach. Willow had strutted over, taking Ari's sword and swung it with force. It had sliced Ari's stomach but not deep enough to hit anything vital. Mira had screamed and cried, Jon and Willow had caught Ari's falling body, laying him gently on the ground. the man who had been teaching had walked back and raced off to find a nurse.
Ari turned to see Jon facing yet another opponent.
"Are you not to train too?" Tyrion asked, favouring to stay and watch the guards train.
"I am training." Ari answered.
Tyrion looked up; his eyes confused by the words spoken. Ari nodded with his head after a few clangs could ne heard.
"He leave's his left side vulnerable after each swing. It lasts for a few seconds before he counters to a new stance."
Tyrion watched and saw the assessment was correct. His eyes widened. Jon was very good with a blade, but he had not seen what Ari saw during a fight. It gave Ari an advantage in every battle. His mind worked in a way that no others did. Tyrion would do well to remember that. Ari may be a pretty face but a mind as sharp as someone twice his age and with more real battle experience. Even his brother would struggle against the boy who saw all in a battle. His father would have recruited the boy to be a commander.
"Why do you join the Night's Watch?" Tyrion asked.
"Because I must." Ari answered. Tapping the rail in which he leant on, he descended the stairs, walking up to Jon, patting the boy on the shoulder.
"You used to much weight in your arms rather then you body in each swing. You will tire to quickly if you keep going." Ari whispered to him. Jon nodded. Thanking the older boy, Jon sheathed his blade, turning to the other men who watched both with intentness.
"Others stare."
"I would too if I were them." Ari remarked. Glancing behind to the ones that had not participated. He made eye contact with each one, only shifting to the next when they cast their eye's away. He had to thank Willow for this. The girl was one to never back down from a challenge and had always issued starring competitions.
"If one backs down from such a challenge, it shows their spirit. Never let anyone see your spirit, for they always try and squash it."
Ari had remembered those words and stuck by them. Willow had never lost a starring contest; Mira had always lost. In fact, Ari never heard of Mira winning one of their stare offs.
Ari and Jon walked to their quarters, they were side by side, which would have been thanks to lady luck.
"Where is that head of yours, Snow?" Ari asked.
Ari knew where his mind was. It was one his family. He was worried, he had yet to receive word from any one of them. They had been at the wall for two weeks in counting.
"My family. Home. Mira." Jon answered.
"Ah, yes. Well remember we fight to protect them. We are here because we love them." Ari squeezed Jon's shoulder before parting ways.
Ari jumped onto his bed, kicking his boots off and looking to the ceiling.
He had never told anyone, but he had seen a White Walker. It was something he did fear, their eyes were like living blue flames. Their skin, well whatever skin they did have, was greyish and sickly.
Ari had vowed from that day he would join the Wall and he would protect his family and the city he loved.