Chapter 6 - Bride Price
1 Year Later
Naruto I
His Lord bade him kneel, so he knelt. His leathers creaked and his cloak fluttered around him. Then all was silent but for the thunder of the secret waterfall before him. He could almost feel the mist of its waters as they created a thin fog in this hidden chamber under the castle.
Naruto was surprised to be summoned by Lord Flint at such short notice, especially given the guests he was hosting. But like many things in his life, it seemed there was a game being played and he was not yet at the table.
Karl stood behind him, his body language spoke of boredom, though he did try to hide it, a small yawn escaped him before he could stifle it. He carried no parchment this time, no quill, this was not a moment to be officiated. There was no fancy ceremony here, no pomp, yet much and more precedence.
What Naruto was undertaking was old, and primal, in that northern way. The air stirred with the old magics, forgotten magics. He wondered if anyone else could feel it. The two sets of eyes looked on sternly, expectantly. He unsheathed Thunder in a quick motion and laid it at the feet of Robin Flint, his lord and master.
The sun blazed outside, yet barely a ray of its sunshine managed to slither through the tumbling, cascading waterfall. The torches around them carried most of the light. Light that lit his blade in a dancing, dazzling orange shimmer. For a moment it glowed pure white and the carvings along it were animated, playing a scene from a mummers play of a great man atop a strident beast with nine tails. It was fox. It played out in an instant and he was sure no one else saw it. They never did.
What unnerved him most was the thing that lay behind Robin. The light cast shadows that danced vividly as across its pasty, sickly, pristine white.
"My grandsire would say" Lord Flint began over the thundering of the waterfall "That the first Flint was descended from the stone itself. Unmoving, unyielding. Only the hard get to call themselves Flint. Only the hard, only the strong" He placed his hands behind his back and stared down at Naruto's bowed head. "We did not yield against the Ironborn tide. Our skins too hard for the butcher, Bolton flays. But our strength does not come from blood alone, we are made strong by those we serve" He looked to the other figure in the room. "And those who serve us"
"You have proven yourself in service, Naruto. Said words of fealty to satisfy the bureaucracy. But there are rites and denotations older and stronger still that will bind us, our names, our words, our hearts, in ways beyond this world."
Karl walked over with a metal tray and sat upon it was a stone blade. Old and sharp.
"What words do you pledge to The Flint?" Robin asked down to Naruto.
"I pledge you bone, I pledge you blood, I pledge all I have in my name and the name of my lineage from now till the end of days." The blond said in a low humming tone.
"I accept you, Naruto Uzumaki. As of today, you are as my own blood. You are forever welcome in the heart and hearth of House Flint. I pledge you salt; I pledge you bread, the food of my table, the heat of my hearth, I pledge you blood, I pledge you bone. " And with that he took the old stone blade and slit his palm before handing the blade to Naruto expectantly. The blond took it and without hesitation slit through the callouses of his own palm.
Robin then turned, exposing the weirwood behind him. An ancient thing in an ancient place. How it managed to grow here, with this cold hard floor, absent of all light, Naruto could not know. But now it was a lifeless, petrified husk, aged into something akin to stone. Its mournful old face staring blankly into the nothingness. Still, it sent a shiver through him with how much it resembled Robin. It unnerved all the more when he thought back to the dreams that haunted him in that bed between life and death. The one of the long night with snow crowns and dragon skulls, Heavy waterfalls and the pure weirwood and of course…the fox.
Robin walked over to the dead tree and placed his bloody palm against its bark, instinctively, Naruto did the same.
In an instant the world froze for him, its colours muted, and its sounds dulled. The raging waterfall became but a distant whimper in the back of his mind. Robin stood still; eyes glazed over in milky white. The observers to this strange ritual had slowed, motionless.
The only thing that held colour was the ghostly white tree in front of him. He pulled his hand away with a jolt when he sensed movement. He turned quickly to look behind him. Nothing. Thunder still lay where he had left it in pledge to House Flint. Its blade glowed a vibrant orange for an instant then he felt its heat in his hand. He did not question how.
He tightened his grip on the sword hilt then scanned the room. There was a heat at his back, and he looked yet again to the weirwood. In its place stood a fox. As tall as a man grown and white all over, But for the red markings on its face. Sharp, angled wings sprouted at its shoulders and ankles. A giant metal disk spat rhythmic orange flames in all directions from above its back.
It stared down at the blond with icy blue eyes bearing an ethereal real quality to them. Its lips were curled in an amused line while it stood proud and still.
Naruto hesitated for a moment. His instinct was to protect himself, let the beast taste hot steel and end these games. But his instincts were to be ignored. This was no beast of the night. He knew it to be a spirit, an Old God. Why else would it be here, in this hallowed place. He could feel its power, dense and oppressive, warm and freeing. It was a meadow on a summer's day, cold stone on a winter's night. It was all things, great and terrifying.
The blond knew what to do. He stood before a higher power. In the world of the physical he paid deference, here he would do the same. In a swift motion he fell to a knee and held up Thunder in offering to the spirit. He did not utter a word; he did not know what to say.
There was a guttural sound that rattled his bones and shook the sword between his hands. It came front the fox in front of him.
The great beast lent over and sniffed his head in a long motion. The heat that radiated from the creature was all consuming. Somewhere deep in his chest he could feel it, an unnamed force, something connecting him to this beast, something old, something raw.
"The old blood is strong in you, ningen" It spoke finally to the blond's horror. Its mouth did not move but its voice resounded in Naruto's head and off the walls in a deep guttural note. "Yes, Asura's lineage has endured. The cycle begins anew."
"Cycle?" Naruto breathed. Awed as the fox slinked away and out of his view as it spoke.
It reappeared behind Karl with an appraising eye at the maester.
"Yes, the cycle. The anti-life cometh and death once again lives in the heart of winter." The beast spoke.
"I don't understand" Naruto puzzled out
"No, you would not. Not yet."
"What are you?"
"A remnant of a dead world. We are an echo in the darkness, a song long forgotten"
"We?"
"We" The beast responded and walked across him to the waterfall "I am part of a whole. Power beyond imagining that forged the world around you. Beaten into the blade in your hand. It too is a part of me. Much as you and your ancestors. The old blood, Uzumaki blood. We are connected, Uzumaki Naruto, much like your mother and her forebearers. There is much and more for you to learn, yet time draws short. You are yet weak, unable to maintain this bridge for too long."
Thoughts whirled through Naruto's head, so many questions he wanted to ask.
"If we are indeed connected by this old blood, am I too of the old world?"
"Yes" There was a wistfulness in its voice "You have seen it, in your dream walks, what it became."
"The white tree, the red-eyed moon, the dead world?"
"Our world" it replied "A place of infinite wonder and beauty. Hollowed and drained by the hubris of your ancestors." There was anger in its voice "They thought themselves gods, used the power of my kin to destroy the world we were sworn to protect. That you of the Senju, and Uzumaki were chosen to protect" The words meant nothing to the blond but the world around him shook with the creatures fury. "And once more your failures will drive another world to ruin"
A throbbing sensation began to take hold between Naruto's eyes. He felt weary, distant. He shook his head to regain some sense but that made it all worse.
"I Still don't understand. How can I walk in my dreams, what is a Senju, how did I, we, destroy a world. Are there others like me?"
The fox looked at him for a moment "In due time you will understand. For now, build your strength, ningen. There are labours ahead. Your song is yet unwritten, we will meet again, one day, now, wake up."
Naruto snapped into the waking world in what seemed to be the moment he left it. His hand had just landed on the tree and the roar of the waterfall rumbled into his senses. Thunder was on the floor where he left It and the old dead weirwood was cold and clammy to the touch.
There was a momentary pulse through the tree and Lord Flint retracted his hand as if the old wood was aflame. He held the appendage in his other hand and stared over at Naruto for a moment. Shock and horror marring his stony features.
"My Lord?" Naruto whispered, sweat on his own brow after his strange exchange.
"Its…its nothing" Lord Flint replied. His face smoothed over and he took a breath "These old rituals can harken strange memories" He straightened his leathers and reached for Thunder from its place on the cold stone and gently handed it to the blond with two hands. "It is done then" He turned to the other observers. "Karl, you have everything you need, I will treat with you in my study."
"Yes, my Lord" The maester looked a tad flustered before bowing to the other man in the room and hurrying out of the chamber.
"My Lord" Robin said into the far corner near the door. "My thanks, you have allowed me to honour my ancestors in the old way, the true way."
"The honour is mine, Lord Flint" Ned Stark said as he stepped forward "My father spoke of the old rights of your house once, when I was a boy. Deep and ancient." He paused. Grey eyes raked over the blond with a searching light behind them "It is witnessed then, in the sight of the old gods and I shall bear testament to it, on the honour of house Stark of Winterfell."
Robin nodded in understanding before clearing his throat. "Let us away then. Now that this business is done, Lord Stark, you and your sons can be toured the castle as promised"
"I fear my sons have little interest in your castle, Lord Flint" Ned Stark said and nodded at Naruto who was enraptured by the weirwood. He daren't touch it though, what strange magic had it summoned… or better yet unleashed upon on him.
Lord Flint laughed lightly "Mayhap us old men should retire to my solar, there is indeed much to be discussed"
"Aye" The Lord Stark responded, "Much and more."
"Lord Uzumaki" Lord Flint snapped Naruto from his musings "You have a promise to keep. The young lords Stark are yours to entertain. I trust you will keep out of trouble."
"I will try, My Lord" Naruto responded with a smirk
0-0
Naruto always preferred to train in the cold. There was something about the brisk chill that brought the best out of him. He took a deep breath and released it to see the heavy mist waft away on the morning breeze. It was a Stark day, in more ways than one.
Not a cloud hung in the sky. Not a bird on the breeze and even that was fading. No, all was still in Flints Finger today. That was probably for the best. It had been eventful enough so far.
"Raise your sword arm, Rob" He shouted. "Better it be sore now than you losing your head later."
The red headed boy responded quickly and brought his arm up in time to block a strong swing from Naruto's wooden sword. He yelped slightly at the power behind the blow. His brother, Snow, tried to come in from Naruto's blind side but was not near fast enough with his lunge, the blond easily spun around his blade as he stuck out a leg to trip up the solemn boy.
Jon hit the ground with a thump, his practice sword spilling from his hands in a flurry of mud and snow. He picked himself and dusted down his training leathers and looked over to Rob.
"You're too stiff, Jon, predictable." Naruto admonished "You have to flow into your movements"
Naruto threw a few practice swings of his sword to demonstrate his teachings "You have to let go and let your instincts guide your actions. Remember your first lesson, boys"
"A true warrior is one with nature" Jon said.
"One with nature" Naruto repeated "We must flow like water" he swung his sword in rhythmic, wavy arcs, with lose, wide footwork that carved paths in the snow "The sweeping river" He continued before changing his stance to sharp, downward slashes "and the crashing waves"
"Be like rising, sweeping fire" Now he moved quickly, covering ground in swift, expansive motions "Or swift and agile like the wind" Naruto rotated his stance, his sword going this way and that in wide, rapid, unpredictable slashes and stabs as his feet appeared to glide across the ground.
"Yet sometimes, sometimes we must hold firm" He slowed and held his blade defensively "Be unmoving" He planted his feet and braced into the floor when he swung his blade in deliberate , slow, powerful arcs "When you are ready, you'll be all of these things all at once."
Jon let out a breath he was holding. His grey eyes wide and hungry. Robb on the other hand, grinned from ear to ear hardly able to contain his excitement.
"It looked like you were dancing" Robb said after a beat
"Aye" The blond replied smirking "And a jaunty one at that. Dancing is all about coordination and rhythm. Each move supporting the next one and the one before it. Now practice between yourselves, I want to see how well you dance"
He was happy to see them settle into his own stance, the one he had created for his Wolves. They had been at it for over two hours now and both boys were breathing heavy, exhausted, but now was when he needed them to dig. He did the same with his troops. "Remember boys, your breath is the fuel to the fire, too much fuel and it burns out, too little and it cannot sustain. Find your centre."
Both of the Starks calmed and slowed their breathing, taking deliberate and measured breaths before Robb grew impatient and made for his younger brother. The wood of their blades made dull cracking noises as they rattled against each other.
Robb was the stronger, he took after his father with a broader physique. Jon, however, was lithe and quick. They made for an interesting duel.
"They're very good for their age" Naruto said to Ser Rodrik Cassell.
The old Master-at-Arms nodded his approval. "I've done my duty"
"That you have" Naruto responded. Robb was getting the better of Jon.
"I've seen many things in my time" Rodrik said. His great whisker like moustache trembled as he spoke. "To think, after our first meeting, this is where we'd end up" There was a degree of levity in his tone. He was of an amicable sort. They got along well.
"Stranger things have happened, surely" Naruto chuckled.
"I'm not so sure"
"All the same then" Naruto began and turned to face the man as he spoke. "Thank you"
"For what?" Ser Rodrik quizzed
"For what you did those years ago at the mill" Naruto said sincerely
"I did what was right and true" The old man said with a glint in his eye.
"That you did" Naruto responded as he looked on.
The Starks had been under their roof for almost three days now. Young Robb had delivered on his promise to bring his father to their castle if Naruto would train them. And so, he did.
Not only did he get a chance to gain influence with the Lord Stark and his heir, but this would send a clear message to the north. The Lords of Flints Finger where in the great game now.
-0-
Robin
They looked on at the action below, Robin and Ned Stark watched in full attention as Naruto instructed the young Starks on the ways of the warrior. Robin couldn't help but show his pride as it welled up behind his stoic features.
They had taken upon a position on a balcony to oversee the boys training, maestre Karl had said that occasions such as these usually drew crowds in the dozens at southern courts. Every lord and lady vying for the ear of their liege lord with their sons thrust into the flames of mock combat to showcase the prowess of their own house. Luckily for him things where different in the north.
Robin of Flint was never one to covet station, no, he paid little heed to political favouritism, but Karl had shown him that there were benefits to prominence. The last Stark to visit The Finger was nigh on two hundred years ago, a Rickon, before the Dance of the Dragons so long ago. Now as he stood next to his liege, a man he respected above all others, shoulder to shoulder as they watched their charges. Their legacy. Their sons.
He would be lying if he said he hadn't grown fond of the boy. More than fond in fact.
"That was an old thing we just did" Lord Stark said after a while.
"Your great ancestor was the last Stark to oversee the rite of stone."
"And what a rite it is." The Lord Stark said in return. "The boy, Naruto, he has grown well."
"A tad overconfident but he has proven invaluable in many ways"
"The North speaks to that." Ned replied "How goes it with your daughter? Children can be challenging at the best of times"
"A challenge you seem well suited for, my Lord" Robin said "You've had five"
"Aye, a challenge like no other. My youngest will soon be upon his third name day and my wife is heavy with another. Gods be good it's another boy. I have no clue how to deal with little ladies. Boys are simple." Ned said
"Mine own wife is due in a few moons." Robin replied with a rare smile. "A shame you've yet to meet her but the pregnancy has burdened her."
"I will pray for their health"
"My thanks, my Lord." Robin bowed "As to my daughter, there is a rift between us. I'd hoped time would mend old wounds, but she is…she is not much like me or her mother. I'd like to think my own mother corrupted her but that would be a half-truth at best. Now she swoons over a low born boy, no doubt a juvenile attempt to anger me."
"Mayhap she fears the babe in your wife's belly is a boy that will displace her" Ned said and resisted a wince when Jon went tumbling after an ill-advised lunge at Naruto.
"How is a man supposed to address that issue?" Robin sighed and scraped a hand across his beard. Something he'd done a lot lately.
"I'm sure better men than us have pondered that very question, friend" Lord Stark again chuckled.
'Friend' Robin thought to himself. Was that what were now? They had become very candid over the past year. Neither of them were fond of drink yet spoke openly among themselves. Lord Stark had shared many personal stories and so had he. More than he had with anyone, even his wife. It was good to have Ned here.
"Maybe a match would her calm her spirits some, my lord" Meastre karl added from his position on the balcony.
"That may work" Lord Stark added, his grey eyes became expectant in that moment, as if he'd been here before. Mayhaps he had, he had an heir in Robb that was of an age to be considering a future bride to carry on his house name. No doubt more enterprising lords had already put forth daughters to be considered. Fools. Ned Stark had a brother in all but name on the Iron Throne and King Robert Baratheon had a daughter. The obvious thing would be for them to join their houses. No, one had to see beyond such petty manoeuvring. "Do you have anyone mind?"
Robin looked down at the boys training and Ned followed his gaze. His liege let out a knowing "Ahh"
Could it work though, he thought. They were so different. Naruto was driven by duty, he strived for what was right and good. More than a tad naïve but a good man, a good son. Leyla was not the same.
-0-
Naruto
It had been a long day. The Rite, training the Stark boys and a dozen ravens to respond to had taken most of his time. He loved his charge as the commander of the Winter Wolves but gods, the paperwork.
It was mostly invitations to hold to court with lords and ladies across the north. Truth be told he preferred organising garrison rations for the men. He took true delight in training and ranging with his soldiers. Will and Gar had grown into their roles, each stationed at different garrisons to lead the men posted there. Dom and Roose found themselves called back to their respective lands for a time. They were lords, they still had duties beyond him.
Almost nine months had passed since he last visited his masters castle, yet so much had changed. He had guided a degree of that change from his seat at Saltspear, much of the coin he received from the more grateful lords of the north had been funnelled into his grand projects in this place.
The inn was up and running, The Fox and Robin, they called it, in honour of Lord Robin and the fox of Naruto's own sigil. A white fox with blue eyes emblazoned on a field of fiery orange. It was a portent that the beast visited him again during the rite. Whatever mystery surrounded him and his lineage grew by the day. The spirit bid him wait till he was stronger. So, wait he shall. He had enough on his plate without having to worry about old gods and whatever the heart of winter may be.
Though if he had to admit it, there was an air of adventure about it all and Naruto Uzumaki was never one to turn away from adventure.
A bell rang in the distance drawing his attention. From where he stood atop the old castle walls, he could see leagues out over the misty evening ocean. The fishermen were coming in for sup. He had built them a series of small docks and a store house for their wares. Now there was a small amount of trade between them and Sea Dragon Point to the north. Every now and then a great gally would waddle in from the south, filled to the brink with wine from The Arbor, and spices from Dorne.
They would return home with pelts and furs of rare and soft shadow cat, pearls from the northern coasts, oils from great whales, coarse, heavy northern salt and the many variations of timber that grew up past the neck.
Were it up to him there would be a fleet of such ships, he'd trade wine and spices for all the north had to offer to the lords from Casterly rock to Sunspear and Tyrosh. As it stood, he had only been able to convince one trader to send him a ship and captain. Now that man grew rich, which was important, if one man found wealth here many more would follow, hulls teaming with all sorts that he could sell off to his neighbours.
The brothel had grown some also, many men from the north now sailed down to Old Stones to barter. That meant many more customers. Between the Inn, the brothel, the store house, the blacksmiths, the masons, the tailers, seamstress, the cobblers, the alehouses, and the tanners at the main market there was something of a town taking shape beneath the old castle on the cliff. A tidy sum of coin also took shape in their coffers.
Naruto sighed. One could never really have alone time on these walls.
"You have a good head for construction" She said "You've done much in your short time here. The smallfolk hail you as Bran the builder come again."
"You flatter, my Lady." He replied with the courtesy of a short bow "Our people have a way of over exaggerating."
"As they are prone to." Young lady Leyla Flint said "Not much happens in the Finger. For you to have done anything at all is far beyond the norm."
She wore long, grey, woollen dress under a high collared fur that rippled under the northern wind. Her black hair stood in dark contrast to her pale blue eyes and rosy lips. The orange light cast her in a striking image against the cold grey of the sky.
"They love you, you know" she said and walk forward to stand next to him. They hadn't really spoken much since her rescue. The truth if it was, they had little to speak about. He was not very interesting to her, he could tell. There was also something else, something insecure about the lady, something he didn't find particularly interesting either. "Sometimes they leave offerings for you at the gates. The first catch of the new moon, casks of ale" She shook her head wistfully "There's an entire gallery of tailored tunics and armours and swords from every would-be craftsman down there waiting for you at the turn of every month."
"Yes, the maester has been sending them to the Half Tower. I must remember to thank them all before I leave, the lords Stark have taken all my time lately." Naruto replied with a beaming, bright smile.
"There are lords across the seven kingdoms who would kill to have half the devotion you get here from their own people. To think, a few years ago you were nothing, an orphan boy with naught but a name and a sword"
"It's still more than most get in these parts." He said turning to her "Have you visited the orphanage lately?" Her look soured slightly. "Your lord father always stressed its importance to me and I have grown very fond the place."
"No, I must admit I haven't" She said, "My father is determined to re-educate me at the castle, he fears my time with grandmother has spoiled me."
"I've never been one for the formalities of education, could never sit long enough if wasn't about battles and knights and dragons. But if you do get the chance please do visit, Handela is a formidable woman"
"When time permits." She sighed and changed the subject quickly "My father is delighted to have you back, he spoke of you often while you were away, my parents bear you great admiration"
"As I love them" Naruto replied quickly "My time here was the best of my life"
"Love?" She almost tasted the word as she said it "Is that why you do what you do, for their love?"
Naruto looked at her for a second before he spoke again "On the mill, after our parents died, Duntin repaired everything" He spoke softly out into the now night and turned to look over the village below. She turned to face him, allowing silence enough for him to explain further, and he did "He was old Nan's son, she was the lady who raised Will and I. Duntin was not like Fat Jon, or Jaze, or Jorah, the other lads. They were happy with the way things were, revelled in it, they loved the place, I thought." He smiled through his word when he remembered the lads under that window. "But Duntin saw broken things everywhere, it frustrated him. He was always fixing something, a door, a window, a lamp, a countertop. That place gave him no rest, there was ever a broken this or that to be attended to. It seemed he hated the place, never quite satisfied with his lot."
Seagulls cawed overhead and bells rang from the sides of small boats as they navigated into port and through the thick fog.
"But now" he continued "Having come here, now I see things differently. It was Duntin who loved the old mill. While the others were willing to watch it rot and decay, he dedicated himself to reviving it. Or at the least maintain it. When I look around The Finger" he said and pointed a gloved finger towards a crumbled roof then the ruin of an old storehouse in the distance "I see broken things everywhere and I love this place enough to want to fix it."
There was a moment of pause in their conversation. A lone gale rustled against his blonde hair, giving it a silken quality on the breeze, like strands of gold floating in the twilight. She looked on him with a degree of expectation. There was something she wanted to say, he could always tell.
"How is she?" Leyla asked without looking at him
"Shona" he half asked "She's a force, that girl. Whip smart and tenacious to boot" He laughed and so did the young lady
"Yes, Shona gave the men of Widow's watch a torrid time when the mood took her"
"I'm happy to say she has kept up her form. She is as brave as any of my other Wolves, a bit lacking with a sword, but she makes up for it with her bow, Will took great pride in her training" He said and observed slyly Leyla's reaction, she shifted uncomfortably at the mention of his friend.
"Where is she now?"
"She's requested to be part of an initiative we have launched with the Nights Watch"
"I had heard the Lord Commander Mormont had taken offence to you robing him of good men and funding, winter is coming, his message to father said"
"Indeed, it is, my lady. That's why we've created a rotating garrison of a score of Wolves to be stationed under his watch at Castle Black. It gives him trained and disciplined manpower and allows our Wolves to get experience in the field"
"A good compromise" She complimented "Why Shona would volunteer for such a station; I do not know" She shook her head as she spoke and her dark tresses waved about in the cold night air.
"For some, life behind the walls of a castle is akin to a slow death, there is an adventurous spirit about her, it would have suited her ill to be here, I think." Naruto offered up.
She did not reply but he could tell she was not happy with his assertion. Shona was her only friend, maybe she felt alone now. There was little hope of her mending the relationship with her father. Particularly now that was a potential male heir on the way.
"Your lady mother, she is well?" He asked to break the silence.
"As well as can be" Leyla said "hopefully the babe will come soon, I fear for her health should her pregnancy run over"
"Exciting times" Naruto tried to avoid the subject of the pregnancy's complications "Will and Gar are as brothers to me, but I envy you in this. Between you and I, I've always wanted a younger sibling"
"Your envy might be somewhat premature" She replied tersely
"Oh, how so?" He asked
"My mother will give birth and I will soon be shipped off to some far-off castle to warm the bed of an Umber or gods forbid a Bolton." Leyla clenched her jaw and huddled into her cloak as spoke the name Bolton.
"Your father loves you dearly, my lady, any match would be carefully vetted"
"Ever the diplomat" She scoffed, most un-lady like "There is much of the maester in you. But my father is not the one who makes the decisions here, is he, Lord Uzumaki?" She continued before he could interject "Forgive me" She said with a sigh "I... Apologies, you have been a most leal servant to my father's house, I shall retire before I embarrass myself further" She turned to leave
"It's fine, my Lady, I think I understand" He placated her as best he could, she was still his lord's daughter.
"You would like to think so, wouldn't you?" spat and a wicked look took over her pretty features.
And just like that she was gone. Naruto frowned; she had been so pleasant when they first met. Were all highborn women so fickle?
-0-
Deepwood mott was not a handsome castle. It did not aspire for much more than safety. Even that was rudimentary in its approach. Brown wooden palisades formed a long winding stake wall around its generous bailey. The bailey itself was on a raised mound of snow topped earth that crunched underfoot when one walked up through the small village to the heights of the mott that sat the keep.
The whole thing was a ghastly moss-slick brown and reeked of mould in the way only old wood could. The smell of baking bread and roasting meat did little to hide aroma when they were on approach to Lord Galbart Glover's keep. Staked torches lit up the long walkway from the entrance of the outer most walls the main castle gates and all the way to the great hall.
There were banners strewn everywhere, great red rolls of thick cotton with the silver fist of the Glovers centred on them. Beneath them and a degree smaller were the banners of the houses attendant. Somewhere out here was the stone fist of house Flint yet his own standard stood upsettingly prevalent.
He half hoped the brazier that burned next to it would catch a wind and set the damnable thing on fire. While he did feel a sense of pride at seeing his fledgling sigil flying proud among such ancient company it peeved him some when he realised why he had been invited here in the first place.
Today was an auspicious day for houses Forrester and Whitehill. Under the old weirwood in the castles Godswood Lady Talia Forrester and Lord Gryff Whitehill were wed. Binding the young nobles together was a last hope the Glovers had of healing centuries of violence between their two banner houses. Like many family feuds in Westeros, the initial cause of hostilities was long forgotten and everyone asked had a different story to tell of it.
Some said it was about a stolen horse, others claimed it was about borders, one telling was a Whitehill bride of an old lord Forrester had been without her maidenhead when he first took her to bed. Naruto didn't put too much stock in those old tales. Chances are they'd never know what started the conflict, what was important now was that Lord Glover ended it.
Lord Stark had asked him personally to attend the wedding after he'd declined the first and second invitations. The Warden of the North could not be in attendance but wanted a cool head to keep his peace should the Glovers not be able to. So far there was no need for him to intervene. The ceremony had gone well enough and now they chattered among themselves after the feast. Most of the men were in their cups but they mostly kept to their groups.
He spied the Lord Glover with his brother and heir Robett speaking heatedly by the main table. Robett's son and daughter sat awkwardly a few feet away pretending to listen to Dom as he strummed a melody on an old harp.
Around him were the assorted houses that swore their banners to the Glovers, there was houses Bole, Branch, and Wood with their retinues making use of the middling space the hall afforded. The wine flowed and the honeyed birds were quickly gobbled up and soon there was naught to do but talk.
Gar and Will busied themselves in the far corner, Gar in his cups babbled on well within Wills personal space while the ginger lad tried his best to create some space between them. He knew Will was not too pleased to be in attendance. He held a degree of resentment to these lords. They were absent when his parents were killed and again when the rest of their family was butchered. Truth be told Naruto was not without his own animosity, but his duty came first and if he were to be completely honest with himself there was little that could have been done to save them. All the North was stretched thin, maybe Old Nan should have brought them to Deepwood mott to petition for shelter. But maybe they should have never needed it, maybe lords should do a better job of protecting their people, less weddings, less banquets, less flash and more substance. Mayhaps he was angrier than he would care to admit.
There were many and more sheltering in the village in the bailey, had things been different they may have been among their number. Will was adamant not to hear his reasoning. "If they cared they would have been there" his said. Grief was still thick in Will. Naruto had found ways of moving on, or at the very least work through it.
Roose Ryswell had also been invited to represent his own house. It only made sense that the five of them travel together along with some of their household guard. Naruto had opted for a handful of his Wolves to show the Lords and Ladies attendant exactly what they were paying for.
So far, they had received a more than warm welcome. Questions flew in by the hundreds. He had offered every Well met, pleasure to meet you, and god's be good he could muster. Now he stood on the balcony overlooking the bailey and dark forest beyond the palisades. He swivelled a cup of wine in his hand, careful not to let any of it spill out onto his pristine, grey doublet. It had powder blue stitching in the shape of two rampant foxes on either side under the dull glimmer of the iron wolfs head badge of his station. His hair had grown out, now it hung at his shoulders in soft wavy locks that shone in the light.
His hand unconsciously reached for the hilt of his sword when he felt another's approach.
"You draw steel at me!" Galbert Glover boomed "In mine own keep" He laughed through his thick brown beard, yet kept a amicable distance from Naruto. He had done so all night.
"One can never be too careful, my lord" Naruto joked. Hand still firmly on his hilt "There are horrors in these woods" He looked over to the Wolfswood that surrounded the castle. "Not to mention your nephews dancing, worrisome stuff"
Galbert let out a deep howl into the night air. He did not favour his nephew; Naruto knew this just from observing them. "Careful now" He said and chuckled "His is my heir, of a fashion"
"Aye" Naruto said calmly "I'm sure you've educated him well. Your brother also."
"As best I can" Galbert added "As if he were mine own. Same as his lady sister" He tipped the heavy goblet in his hand in her direction.
Erena Glover was a slender thing with big round brown eyes and long braided brown hair to match. Her complexion was full and rosy under the high lights of the braziers. Her features were comely enough, every bit the high-born lady. The slim red and brown dress she wore did little to hide her figure though, her ladies in waiting had done their duty in showcasing her generous bosom and shapely rear.
Her glances had fallen on him many times tonight, that was part of the reason he had sequestered himself to the balcony. He could feel a plot brewing, he blamed Karl for his newfound resistance to the subtle games of the highborn. Truth be told it all bored him now. He had found his place and luckily it was far from politics. Yet, as lord Glover was not so subtly demonstrating, politics refused to be far from him.
"mmhhm" Naruto muttered and bowed his head slightly when the lady mentioned demurely cast an eye at him, it all seemed staged. As if there was some Bravosii mummers play happening all around him. "Yes, she carries herself well and is very fair besides. She will make a fine lady." he steered the conversation to get to the point.
"Yes, she will," Lord Glover mentioned "Though her age puts her at a disadvantage"
"How so?" Naruto was actually curious
"She is a maid of three and ten" Galbert sipped from his drink and then continued "Womanhood is upon her but there's been a shortage of age-appropriate suitors." Too obvious, Glover, Naruto thought.
"The Starks have a boy" Naruto tested
Glover eyed him over his cup and grimaced
Naruto smirked "Aye, maybe too lofty an expectation"
"I'll speak plainly, boy, you are prominent, but you are new blood. New blood in an old land" Galbert pinned him with a solid look as he spoke. Naruto held his gaze, even with the difference in their height. "Glover roots run deep, we were kings of these forests before the Starks in their winter crowns, our name was old when the Flints crawled down from the mountains. We have stood the test of time. We have seen new blood, Greystark, Greenwood, Amber wiped away like drops of ink on the tapestry of the North, naught but smears in history"
"And house Uzumkai, fledging as it is will bear that fate, my lord, is that it?" Naruto clawed back.
"A union between our houses, the old and the new may allow you the time to grow your own roots. Strong and sturdy roots." The man was not very convincing, yet he placed a hand on Narutos shoulder as he spoke. "If things had played differently, it would be my name that you drew steel in"
Naruto eyed him quizzically before speaking "Had things played differently, we would have died in the snow while our liege lord played with his root" It was not proper to speak this way.
"Easy, boy, words carry weight here, be sure you can bear them" Galbert said with a glower.
"I can bear them, my lord" He almost spat "I have been bearing them since the night I lost my parents. I have been bearing them since two green boys had to stand against the night, alone. You were our sworn lord, our protector. I know the weight of my words, Glover, I stand strong under them" He brushed away the man's offending hand. "Yet, you stand crooked, warped, bowed."
The guards walking by must have caught wind of their now tense conversation and turned their attention towards Naruto with hands clasped on their hilts. Two young men, the look behind their eyes told him they knew who he was, there was fear in their features, yet they pressed on regardless. Where was this fearlessness when he needed them?
Naruto was almost tempted to draw steel, he resisted but eyed them readily all the same.
"Calm, calm" Galbert said with a sigh. "I had hoped you'd seen enough to know the reality of it by now, but your age betrays your wisdom. It is easy to forget that you are yet two and ten." He waved away the guards. "Do you think me wicked, Naruto?" He asked.
Naruto did not answer, he did not think him wicked.
"Spiteful? Negligent?" He asked "I have supported you and your wolves at every turn. You have toured my lands, my keep, I am not a wealthy man" Lord Glover looked particularly pained "Yet my lands and my banner lands stretch for leagues beyond the horizon. I do what I can, Naruto, but in your position, you know more than anyone the ugliness of it, we can't save everyone."
There was a moment and then Naruto's anger washed away. Like a balm on an aching wound, a cool sensation took him over. Deep down he knew, but a part of him wanted to dislike this man, a part of him that had just reached catharsis.
"I understand" Naruto said after a while. "I have spoken out of turn"
"Bah!" Galbert said with a shout "We are men! We spoke the truth of it and are better for it"
"A toast then," Naruto said and reached for the goblet of honey ale he'd hid away on the balcony when Galbert came outside. "To being better for it!"
"Yes!" Galbert said and they gulped down their ale with aplomb. "Good man" he said when he was done.
"It seems I've missed a moment" Robett Glover said as he approached, he turned away a goblet of wine from a servant as he did, he was a sterner man than his older brother.
"Nonsense, brother" Galbert replied "merely a toast between men on a common cause" he nodded slightly at Naruto.
"Common cause?" Robett menaced "Do you think me simple, brother?"
"You will hold your tongue, Robett" Galbert turned with steel in his eyes. The brothers Glover were known to love each other well, this was new. Naruto observed.
"I will not, Galbert, my daughter is not some broodmare to be carted off as you see fit"
"I am Lord here and I will do what I must to ensure our legacy"
"Our legacy?" Robett shot back "No, brother, my legacy. Your seed turns to dust in barren soil. I will not have you punish me for the will of the gods, I will not have it"
Galbert rose up as if to strike his brother, and if the rest of the guests could hear them, he may have done just that. "You will not?" He questioned. "is that so, brother? No, let me tell you what you will do," Galbert seethed "You will retire to your room like the child you are or so help me I will strike your name from the great tree and your line will inherit nothing, I will pass you on for heir and your queer son also"
They stared at each other for a long moment, neither giving an inch. In the corner of his eye Naruto could see the two Glover children looking on in tense anticipation.
"My Lords" he broke the deadlock "Let us cool our tongues, sometimes its best surrender to a good night's rest before we say things in anger that we come to regret on the morrow."
"I will not be lectured…" Robett began
"You will!" Galbert barked, fiery fury in his words. Dom had stopped at the harp and looked on in shock
Robett looked to respond but on noticing the eyes of the room on him he quickly turned on his heels and walked out of the main hall. Naruto gave a gesture with his hand for Dom to resume playing. And so he did. Lord Stark had worried about the Forresters and Whitehill's, there was much more to be concerned about in the halls of Deepwood Motte it seemed.
"I'm sure you'll excuse me" Lord Glover said, he was out of earshot before Naruto could reply.
The night continued in a more dulled vein after that. The music played, guests danced, and soldiers drank. There were many more questions, many more lordlings seeking favour, both Forresters and Whitehall's arranging tours and hunting trips. He took them all under advisement to reply with amicable refusals at a later date, by raven of course.
It was near on midnight when Dom walked up to him, as pristine as ever. There was a swagger in his step. He played the lord today. High jawed and regal. His royal red tunic was half covered with a bright pink cloak that rested snug over his shoulder. He had eyes like ghostly ice that gave nothing away as he stared over at Naruto.
"Yes?" The blond asked
"I have been to many weddings" Dom began
"Ah, good for you then" Naruto mocked
"Many name days," Bolton continued "Banquets, feasts, castle tours, and the like"
"Wish could we all be so well invited" Naruto made a mock toast. "I would invite you to get to the point but.."
"Boring, boring affairs all," he eyed Naruto with bemusement "Yet whenever you're in attendance spectacle seems to follow"
"What can I say," Naruto laughed "I bring out the best in people"
"Yes," Dom said, "That must be it."
"Surely you're not blaming me for…whatever that was"
"I am actually." Dom smirked "you're a terrible influence"
"fair" Naruto shrugged
There was an amicable sile.
"Well, go on then" Naruto gestured his friend on
"What?" Dom asked
"There's something you want to tell me" Naruto said with a knowing smirk
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Whenever people approach me on balconies, they always have some revelation to share"
"Oh, really?" Dom quizzed
"Yep, maybe it's all the fresh air" Naruto rushed out "so?"
"My father's found me a match, a Hornwood" Dom admitted
"Congratulations!" Naruto said happily "If I remember correctly the Lord Hornwood has an heir, Daryn, but only a daughter and a bastard besides to carry his name" Naruto eyed Dom as he spoke " A shrewd play by your Lord father. Your children would have a claim to his titles should Daryn not bear a son"
"And here I was thinking my father just wanted to be a grandsire" Dom laughed
"Yes, Roose Bolton telling stories by the hearth to a bouncing babe on his lap" Naruto mocked "Makes me feel all warm cosy inside"
"Makes me feel ill" Dom said "But there's something else"
"Is there?" Naruto quizzed
"There is, I have a younger brother" Dom beamed " a bastard fathered onto a farmer's daughter. I intend to bring him to court, his name is Ramsey, poor lad deserves to be among his kin, he is a Bolton by blood and that's what matters "
"You've had an eventual few week's friend" Naruto reached out and shook the Bolton heirs hand "I am happy for you, I know how much this all means to you"
Dom sighed with a smile "Yes, I wish I had more time though, there's so much more yet to be done with the Wolves."
Naruto waved away his concerns "Go home, Bolton, have your heir and your spare, and when you're ready, you come back where you belong, there'll always be a seat at my table and you will always be a Winter Wolf"
"That was almost sentimental" Dom said
"Yeah, almost" Naruto replied. "Does your uncle know?"
"Yes, he's been in one of his moods since he found out"
"Well, he doesn't show it but he will miss you"
"I doubt it, he's probably upset I'm to marry before him. " he feels there should be an order to such things an order where he is always first"
Naruto laughed and looked over into the room to see Roose Ryswell entertaining one of the minor lords with some grand story while the young man looked on in wonder, hanging on Roose's every word.
"I wish you would have told me earlier, Dom. We've wasted the whole night, we could've celebrated some, made an actual party of it"
"No need, I've made arrangements for tomorrow, you'll be pleasantly surprised."
"But for tonight?" The blond asked knowingly
"I have tastes of a different sort" Dom said and cast his eye to the form of a young man standing awkwardly by one of the tables
"Is that who I think it is?" Naruto asked incredulously
"Yes" Dom replied through a rare grin
"You scoundrel"
"Well, I bid you good night, Lord Uzumaki" Dom said and mocked a bow before exiting the main hall, the young man was quick to follow.
Naruto shook his head in bemusement, that young man was Larence Snow, the bastard of the Hornwood. Dom was to marry his half-sister. Naruto almost laughed aloud at the mess in front of him. Dom was obviously playing his own game. Or maybe it was one last romp before he took his vows. He was good man and true, he would not sully his marriage, regardless of his erstwhile urges.
-0-
Things were coming to a head, the castle stewards had begun to clear away the tables chairs and what was left over of the food and drink. The other guests had retired to their suites. The wedding was a success, not so much in that the betrothed had married but in that there had been minimal infighting. In truth, but for the brothers Glovers outburst everything had gone according to plan. Hopefully there would now be a lasting peace between these families.
Lord Stark had grown weary of war breaking out so close to Winterfell, and with them finally getting a grip on the bandit situation now would be the worst time for any instability.
His wolves had done a fair job of quelling banditry across the Rills, and most of the Barrowlands. It was a vast swathe of territory but with good support from the lords that had pledged it they had made a lot of head way. It would probably take most of summer, however long that may be, but sooner or late, they would win this fight.
The main concern for him now was actually the Wolfswood, its vast dark forest had a way of hiding the worst of the bandits. There had been repeated attacks across their northern most frontier. Waystations had reported more and more activity over the last few weeks. Probing attacks had become the norm, so much so that he had more than half his men in this territory alone.
He placed his cup on the tray of a passing servant and thanked the man before he began to help clearing away the chairs. He was a creature of the night, he found himself filled with energy. Something about the night sparked his hunting instinct, for now he was happy to spend that extra energy in aiding the unfortunate sods who had to clear the sick that gar had left in the far corner of the hall.
His attention was drawn by a distant flicker of orange. He almost thought dawn was breaking, but that was not the case. It was a moment later when bells began to ring out in a fury in the lower baily. What was a small orange light on the horizon roared into a blaze that consumed the thatched roofs of three houses as it bathed the small village in an angry orange.
"Fetch your liege" Naruto yelled at a servant before making a line towards the fire. He sped past Gar and Will out of the main gates of the castle proper and was in the village in a matter of moments. Villagers screamed and ran from the blaze in all directions, there was a terrible crash as the roof of one of the buildings caved in and shook the ground underfoot. He could feel the blistering heat from where stood.
It was one thing for a house to catch fire, it was another entirely for three. No, there was something amiss here. He peered down the road leading to the main gates of the village and spied a handful of men hurriedly making their way through the gathering crowd and towards the centre of the village.
His instinct told him to follow them, so he did. When they arrived, they gathered around a stake hastily put up in the Village square where the market would be set up come the morn.
"Surrender now and you may just survive the night" He said Boldy to get their attention. There were six in total. Scrawny men in haggard black cloaks. They grinned maniacally at him, cracked teeth and sunken eyes.
"Yes!" One of them said "He is here, so bright, so lovely." He drooled and his erection became apparent.
"Okay" Naruto said "now I have to kill you on principal"
They made a line for him, and Naruto drew his Thunder in a flourish. He sidestepped the slow, weak lunge of an emaciated man and took his head in a smooth motion. He darted forward and came between two others, he whirled quickly and dispatched them also. The remaining three looked at him with something akin to fear tinged with delight. They were obviously mad.
An arrow screamed over his shoulder and into the chest of one of them, he fell quickly, and Naruto used the distraction to step forward and with two quick strikes took an arm and a leg from each. The floor pooled red with blood.
The Lords Glover arrived together, out of breath with swords drawn. Robett was about to strike the stricken men dead when Naruto stopped him. "No!" The blond barked. His gaze was fixated on what the men were seemingly guarding.
He was rendered speechless. A Great stake sprang from the ground. Oily, wet and wooden, blood ran down it like rain onto the floor beneath. Nailed to the beam was a man, through his feet and arms were driven rusted old nails. The man was battered, someone had taken a whip to him. He was missing a nipple and a number of fingers. There was something carved clumsily into his chest, words, thought Naruto could not read them with the dried blood warping the letters. He was more meat than man now, the shallow raising of his chest was the only sign that he was yet living. They had covered his head with a dirty old cloth sack with a face smeared in blood across it. A cruel joke.
"What madness has visited my doorstep?" Galbert said in a hushed whisper. He was clearly shaken.
A host of his town guard came racing behind him, they paused quickly as the scene unfolded around them.
"Tend to them!" Naruto yelled over the growing shouts that were beginning to rise from the gathering crowd. He pointed to the downed bandits with his sword but did not turn away from the man on the stake. For Naruto knew when he removed that sack things would change. His breath quickened and he almost flinched when Galbert roared behind him.
"Tend to them?" The old Glover said. "We do not treat with mad dogs here, boy"
"Nor would I recommend you do, my Lord" Naruto began as Roose, Dom, Gar and Will joined them "But these men have made a statement" He gestured to the poor man on the stake "I intend to know the hand behind it."
Galbert nodded at his own men, and they began to scoop the bleeding men off the floor.
"Roose, Gar if you will" Naruto said as he sheathed Thunder and began towards the stake.
Careful as they could they brough the man down. Still the hood remained on his head. Even as his breathing slowed and death began to claim him, the trepidation of recognising the figure beneath the sack stilled any ambition. It was Roose in the end that grew tired of the game. With a quick tug the hood was off and the mangled face of a young man stared back. He may have been handsome once, before they took to beating him. He was missing an eye and most of his teeth. He sucked and coughed when the sack was removed.
Blood and spittle ran down Rooses face as recognition dawned on him. The young man looked up with fear and pain etched in his features, he cried silently and quivered under the cold. His fingers and toes black with frostbite.
"Brandon Tallhart" Roose said after a moment "I've feasted with his family on occasion, Lord Tallhart's nephew, his brother's son" He shook his head "He was to foster with my father in the new moon."
"Is there no saving him?" Gar asked. He had a mournful look on his face.
"He is too far gone, Gar" Will said and rested a hand on Gar's shoulder.
"Who could such a thing?" Gar held his head low as he spoke.
"Men who need to face justice, in the old way" Roose took Brandon's hand into his and spoke to him "You will be avenged, brother. Rest now."
There was solemn silence for an eternity in a moment as the young man gasped and fitted in the dirt. Then just like that, he was gone. His lone eye rolled back, and he let out a long sigh.
"His father is a friend" Galbert said "He will not receive this well."
"What father would?" Roose asked as he stood up to allow Dom access to the cooling body
"We commissioned you to put an end to this madness!" Robett roared as his men scurried away the townspeople who had gathered to gawk. The orange blaze in the background was reducing slowly as men began to douse the flame.
"It is an ugly thing indeed, Lord Glover" Naruto said and glared cold daggers at the man "But do not lay this at my feet. We have put hundreds to the sword, but a generation of rot cannot be undone in a year."
"You have emboldened them, boy" Robett retorted his shaggy brown hair waved frantically as he screamed down at the blond who was kneeling next to Dom. "Before you and your band of beggars they were content to steal bread and milk from passing caravans. Now look at this" He gestured down to the body "They have organised into an army. Don't you see, this a message to you, a reply to your actions. You think you offer a solution; I say your very presence invites challenge! "
"A dowry for a black goat's Nightmare" Dom quizzed out, drawing everyone's attention. He repeated it again as he read the words carved into the dead man's chest.
"That makes no sense" Gar added.
"It must mean something" Will said "Why go through the trouble if it doesn't"
"These aren't exactly normal people, Will" Roose said reservedly "Yet.." He paused "The Black Goat, did that madman from the camp not mention a black goat?"
"Yes" Naruto replied "'The black goat that will mount the bright fox'"."
Gar saw the connection "And here you are under your shiny white fox banner. Safe to assume this, Black Goat, has his own banner"
"So, they've united under a leader" Will said. "The mad leading the mad.I don't like this"
"Now do you see?" Robett rushed out
"Easy, brother" Galbert said
"No, Galbert!" Robett retorted "you turned a nuisance into an invasion by siding with these children. You made them desperate and that desperation drove these bandits into the arms something far more dangerous, and we will all pay for it."
"Craven!" Will snapped
"Who would dare?!" Robett yelled and placed hand on his swords pommel
"I would dare!" Will rose and stepped toward him "I, Will Garner, name you for a craven, Robett Glover."
In a flash Robett drew his sword "Show me steel, boy. I'd give you fair chance to die with honour"
Will replied with gleaming cold steel. Before Naruto could put an end to it all Galbert Glover menaced into life.
"Enough!" He yelled and shook the air around him "You would dishonour me with this idiocy?! In mine own keep! Let the man willing to lose a hand brandish steel before me!" He drew his own sword and so did his guards.
"Will" Naruto said calmly and steered down his redheaded friend. Will sighed in defeat and sheathed his blade. A moment later Robett did the same. Silence took over the town square as Galbert heaved with heavy breaths glaring hot enmity at his younger brother.
"A black mare!" Dom gasped
"What is it?" Roose asked.
"Your sigil, uncle" Dom said "The black horse of house Ryswell, as black as night and with my mother's passing there is only one female left of Ryswell blood, one black mare."
"Barbrey, my sister!" Roose sprang up "He intends to take her to wife?"
"Gar, Will, fetch our horses and the men, meet us at the gates as soon as possible!" Naruto ordered quickly as they ran off "Lord Galbert, I leave those two to you" He pointed to the bandits being treated by lord Glover's men "They know the secrets of this, I trust you to show them how painful secrets can be"
"Aye" Galbert said "I'll lighten their togues and have a raven at your castle waiting for you. I'll also send word to the Ryswells, Tallharts and Lady Barbrey at Barrowton, hopefully they haven't made their move yet"
"She is not at Barrowton" Roose whispered to Dom "She was with father at the Rills. She would have left last night, if they don't already have her, they'd intercept her before she reaches her seat at Barrowton." He was scared, Naruto could tell, but he did well in hiding it.
Gar and Will galloped into them with their horses. Naruto mounted his Ember. In a flash he and his wolves were horsed and ready. They raced through the main gates on onto the muddy road that led out into the south. There was an ill feeling about all of this. It was most certainly a trap. Why else would they bait him. But trap or no, he would do his duty.
A/N
Wasn't sure where to end this one but figured this was a decent enough point. A lot of talking and arguing but honestly that's my favourite part of GOT, hopefully I'm doing it some justice.
Thank God for HOTD, it's really brought me back to Westeros.
Please R & R