Honor and Fealty chapter 6
A knock on the door caught Dacey and Lyanna's attention.
"Who's there?"
"Lady Catelyn Stark. May I enter?"
Dacey clenched her jaw tight in an attempt to reign in her temper. Lyanna chose to speak for her sister. "Enter, Lady Stark."
Upon entering the room, Catelyn took notice of how well Dacey Mormont wore a dress, even if it was too short to cover her legs completely and considerably tight in the chest. Lyanna Mormont had better success with clothes since she and Arya were closer in size.
"You look lovely, Lady Dacey."
Dacey smiled and nodded in acknowledgment of Lady Stark's complement. "This dress is either attempting to strangle me by my chest or it's telling me I'm more endowed than its owner."
Catelyn almost blushed and laughed at Dacey's jape until she remembered why she was there.
"Lyanna, I need to speak privately with your sister." Catelyn watched as Lyanna Mormont looked up to Dacey. It appeared that Lyanna sooner headed the words of her eldest sister than those of Eddard Stark's wife. In reality, Lyanna was only showing concern for Dacey and what talking with Catelyn could lead up to. "Go get dressed, Lyanna. I'll meet you at the Great Hall for supper. I will be alright."
Lyanna looked at Catelyn for a moment before hugging Dacey and walking out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Is this the talk you wished to have with me, Lady Stark?"
Catelyn maintained eye contact with Dacey as she addressed her. "My mother raised me and my sister in ways that are different than how Lady Maege raised you and your sisters. I want my daughters to become learned and mannered noblewomen. While Sansa has embraced such lessons and tutelage, Arya stubbornly fights against it. Lyanna seems to only encourage her rebellious attitude."
"Arya has a mind of her own, Lady Stark. It's up to her to decide if she wants that kind of life or not. She and Lyanna seem to possess the same unruly spirit and I would not have it any other way." Dacey responded with the resolve inherent to every Mormont woman.
"Arya has asked to be fostered on Bear Island. Bran has asked to go with her."
Dacey sensed the anger in Catelyn's voice. It was as though her ambitions for her children were being undermined and she was silently accusing House Mormont for turning them against her.
In light of Sansa's talk with her just moments ago, Dacey could not lash out as before. At the same time, Dacey saw Catelyn Stark's motives as an attempt to manipulate the fates of her children to her will. That was very bad for all of them.
"I have spoken with Sansa. She has shown herself to be dignified and well spoken. I would venture to say that she is well on her way to becoming the noblewoman you want her to be. Arya is not Sansa. She will never be the noblewoman you want her to be if she does not want that life for herself. It will not matter how many Septas you put in front of her or how many lessons you make her attend. As for being fostered on Bear Island, if Bran and Arya want that, House Mormont will receive them with open arms."
"Arya and Bran are my children."
"They are Starks and of the North or have you forgotten that?" Dacey snapped. "You have Sansa well groomed as a noblewoman because she wants to be like you. Arya possesses a Northern spirit just as Bran does. They would do very well on Bear Island. Since we're talking about your children, Sansa told me about Robb being born in Riverrun. I still see him as a pure Northerner regardless of that fact or that he favors your coloring. He will one day become Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. If I have anything to say about it, I would see him govern the North properly."
Catelyn and Dacey stared down each other as if to see who would back up first. Neither woman took a step back.
Taking a calming breath, Catelyn spoke. "Tonight at supper, Lord Stark and I must speak privately with our children. You and your sister will dine with Jon Snow and Theon Greyjoy outside the Great Hall. It is no reflection on you or your sister."
Dacey walked up to Catelyn, demonstrating the height and size she held over her and that, even in a dress, a Mormont woman would never be made to back down or be put to heel. At a height of 6 feet, Dacey stood tall with her shoulders back and chest out to show that she was formidable as the bear of House Mormont.
The look in her eyes was akin to a bear ready to tear a trout apart with its claws and teeth.
"Of course, Lady Stark. I understand. Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?"
"No."
Dacey gave Catelyn a thin smile. "How is Theon faring after what happened earlier today?"
"Maester Luwin had quite the task of mending his wounds. What did he do to merit such pain?"
Dacey leaned in and spoke with what sounded like a growl. "Theon spoke out of turn. He learned right away that words and actions have consequences."
"I wonder though if you have learned such a lesson, Lady Dacey." Catelyn said bitterly.
"I wonder the same of you, Lady Catelyn." Dacey said before she walked past Catelyn and out of the guest house.
Jon Snow sat at the head of the wood table just outside the Great Hall alongside two Mormonts and one Greyjoy. Dacey and Lyanna sat at his right and Theon sat at his left. Positioned in a circle around them were the six direwolves of House Stark.
Though it was not a grand dining hall, they were more than taken care of with roast boar and flanks of cooked venison with various vegetables and fruits. Because they were the only ones old enough to drink, Theon had wine and Dacey had beer.
"How goes your recovery, Greyjoy?" Dacey asked.
"Well enough, Mormont." Theon grunted only to wince as he felt a surge of pain cross him when he tried to breathe too deeply. The wine helped to dull the pain if only slightly. "The Ironborn have fought your house many times but you are the first and only Mormont I have ever fought. If I don't ever have to fight another any time soon, I'll be all the better for it."
"On any other day, I would have fought you simply because of the simple fact that you are Ironborn by birth. The only reason I have not decorated the walls of Winterfell with your insides is for the fact that you're a guest of House Stark."
"You make it sound like it's a privilege to be the ward of a house that put mine to heel."
"Considering how your house hates the concept of honest labor and revels in taking what belongs to others, it is a privilege for you to say your full name without being killed immediately. Besides, it's your mouth that earned you a beating from my sister." Lyanna spoke firmly at Theon.
"I only called Jon what he is, bear cub. The name Snow is no more a badge of honor for Northern bastards than for Ironborn bastards being called Pyke."
Dacey shot a cold stare at Theon for a moment before she smiled and pointed at his left. Theon turned and found himself staring into the blood red eyes of Ghost, his mouth agape with his teeth bared. He never heard Ghost move up to the bench or growl but he remained as ferocious as his liter mates.
"Ghost, to me." Jon said, calling his direwolf to his side. Ghost lept off the bench and walked over to Jon's side. "Lady Dacey, perhaps it's best if you and Lyanna do not talk with Theon for the remainder of the time you're here." With a glance at Theon, Jon thought otherwise. "Then again, perhaps it's Theon who ought to keep his distance from the two of you."
Eager to change the topic of discussion, Theon asked, "If House Mormont is so close to the Starks, why are the two of you eating out here with us instead of inside the Great Hall?"
"The Starks are dealing with private issues inside. If it involves us, we'll find out soon enough." Dacey replied.
Just then, the doors of the Great Hall opened and out walked Lady Catelyn. She did not give them a glance as she stormed towards the Small Sept and closed the door behind her.
Before they could ask anything, Sansa walked out to them. The look in her eyes was part distress and part anger. "Dacey and Lyanna Mormont, my father wishes to speak with you both in the Great Hall."
Dacey and Lyanna looked at each other with concern before rising from the table and walking into the Great Hall with Sansa leading the way.
Ned Stark sat at the head of the table. Robb sat at his left hand while Arya sat one chair away from him. On the other side, Bran and Rickon sat together.
Sansa motioned for Dacey and Lyanna to stand at the foot of the table before taking her seat between Robb and Arya.
"Dacey Mormont, you will send a messenger raven to Bear Island tonight. It will be addressed to your mother, Lady Maege Mormont." Ned began, his voice fit with the commanding tone befitting for the Warden of the North and Lord Paramount of Winterfell.
"What message shall I send?" Dacey asked.
"In three days, House Glover and several of the mountain clans will provide protection for either your mother or your sisters to arrive at Winterfell. I have decided to allow Arya and Bran to be fostered by House Mormont on Bear Island. Whoever does arrive with the caravan will bring all your personal effects from home."
Dacey had an idea what he was getting at but she needed to hear it straight from him. "Lord Stark?"
"Lady Dacey Mormont, I would have you come to Winterfell to aid in the education and training of my son, Robb. Will you accept this task?"
"Yes, Lord Stark. I shall. If I may ask, would I be able to extend such training and attention to Jon Snow?"
"If it does not deter you from your duties, you may take Jon Snow under your tutelage alongside Robb."
It was taking every ounce of self control in Robb, Arya, Bran and Rickon to keep their composure but Lyanna could see the smile in Arya's eyes easily as well as the others save for Ned Stark.
"Dacey and Lyanna Mormont, you both are free to return to finish your supper. I will speak privately though with you tonight, Dacey Mormont."
Dacey and Lyanna bowed their heads in acknowledgment of Ned Stark's decree before leaving the Great Hall.
Long after supper was finished, Dacey wrote the message detailing everything that was to happen within the next three days and made sure that the messenger raven was well fed and equipped to fly to Bear Island.
In the late hours of the night, Dacey was summoned to the crypts of Winterfell by Rodrik Cassel. "Lord Stark wishes for you to join him in the crypts beneath Winterfell, Lady Mormont."
She did not have enough time to put all her old clothes and armor on and the dress she had didn't completely cover her body. After putting on her cloak over her dress-clad body, Dacey walked out of the guest house towards the dark crypts where the family and ancestors of House Stark were laid to rest. Rodrick Cassel walked alongside her.
Taking the lit torch offered to her by Winterfell's master-at-arms, Dacey walked down the long hall until she saw Lord Eddard Stark standing at the final resting place of his sister, Lyanna Stark. He had a stoic yet regal aura about himself.
She kept quiet so as to not disturb him. No doubt he was either thinking of his sister or praying to the Old Gods.
"Come closer, Lady Dacey."
Dacey swiftly made her way towards the Lord of Winterfell. She did not run to him but she did not take her time. "I did not wish to disturb you."
"You have never disturbed me. You and my wife seem to disturb each other though. Why is that?" Ned asked. When the issue of fostering Arya and Bran on Bear Island came up, he could see her demeanor darken as it did whenever Jon was brought up in discussion.
"We have different points of view, Lord Stark. I do not hate Lady Stark nor do I mean any offense."
"You have a Northern spirit, Lady Mormont. Arya has it as well." Lord Stark smiled grimly. "Lyanna possessed that same spirit in life. She loved swordplay, hunting and riding on horseback just like Brandon did. Every day, I see it more in Arya." The way he spoke of it was both in silent resignation and in mild worry. "I can only pray that Arya lives longer than Lyanna did."
"Bran seems to have inherited your calm nature. Even then, I doubt even he could convince Arya to be tamed by anyone." Dacey said. "I mean no disrespect to you, Lord Stark, but Arya will fight you and your wife. Considering how she is the second daughter, she might think there is less call to impress for her than it is with Sansa."
"It seems that rebellion has a tendency of running in any house, including mine." Ned said solemnly before looking Dacey in the eye. "You have never committed any crime or any offense that would cast shame upon yourself or your house. Jorah Mormont did that. It grieves me that you, your sisters and Lady Maege Mormont have had to suffer what your cousin left behind in the wake of his exile."
"Thank you, Lord Stark. It means a great deal to us that you hold us in such high regard."
"Get a good night's rest. Tomorrow, you will travel to White Harbor with Robb and Sansa. There will be several trading and merchant ships coming to port from across the Narrow Sea. You and Robb will speak at some point with members of House Manderly. They will see that you get a fair deal with what is being bartered with from Essos. Your clothes and armor will be well cleaned and ready for you in the morning."
"Good night then...Lord Stark." Dacey said as she held the torch tighter than before.
Just when she thought she could not be surprised any further, Ned Stark laid a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Thank you for keeping my words silent for all these years."
Dacey nodded and walked out of the crypts.
When she returned to her room, Dacey shed the dress and her bear fur lined cloak. Like Ned Stark, Dacey enjoyed the cold winds of the North against her skin. Breathing in the fresh air, she looked out the window and thought about what Ned Stark told her. House Manderly was formerly of the Reach before their exile. Though they kept to the Faith of the Seven, the Manderlys had proven many times that their service and loyalty lay with House Stark and the North.
With a prayer for peace of mind to the Old Gods, Dacey climbed into bed and fell asleep.
A/n: What was said in secret between Ned Stark and Dacey Mormont? Will Catelyn and Dacey ever really get along? It will be interesting to see how it plays out and I have a strong direction of what's going to happen. In the next chapter, White Harbor and House Manderly. Who knows? Smalljon Umber might make an appearance there. Stay tuned.