Ten years past, and the stalemate with the Children of the Forest remained. Brandon was making a fortress in order to keep the entire village safe, but there was always work that needed to be done so the progress was slow. At fifteen Alora was juggling helping Laoren take care of little Brandon and Fellar, and helping make the fortress defensible on top of the usual duties of the village.
Codin was married and had made his own little house with his wife, and so his duties had amplified enough he couldn't help with the fortress much. And Efan still wasn't back from the trip he took over a year ago to help unify the villages in order to fight the Children of the Forest. The family didn't know if he ever would come back, but they could hope and pray for it.
One winter day after the harvest was brought in and the work they could do had slowed down because everyone was prepared for winter, the work on the fortress was going alright. And the women were determinedly not noticing the slender form going amongst the brawny forms of the men but too small to be one of them. It was Alora dressed in some of Codin's old clothes and throwing herself into the work to help her brothers.
Ridding into the village to report, Efan followed the sounds of shouting to the work area and smiled while watching her. She was ordering men, pulling the stones with them, and supporting areas where there was another set of hands needed. Covered in mud she would have been unrecognizable as the graceful young woman that Laoren had ensured she would be. But Alora was still a Stark, and always would be.
"Efan!" Brandon strode up to him from his spot where he was giving instructions. He was also covered in mud, brawny arms showing where he had rolled up his sleeves in order to help the others. Giving his friend a short hug, "When did you get back?"
"I was just riding into town when I heard the commotion." An easy smile, "Who would have thought that we would end up here?"
A laugh, "No one." Motioning his friend forward he started relating how the work was going, and the fact that the outer wall should be done that day.
Efan listened to Brandon as his friend went on about the formation and how there would be more defenses when it was finished. Laughing he broke in when Brandon paused for a few moments, "And the fact that every village I talked to was interested in helping us is should be good news as well."
The old brilliant smile broke over Brandon's bearded face despite the exhaustion and muck, "That's great!" Turning back to the group pulling ropes to put stones at the top of the wall, "We'll tell them tonight over dinner."
Efan answered, "Alright." Then watched his friend leave, Brandon's mind clearly back on the project he was working on. Unconsciously his eyes strayed back to Alora as she wove between the large figures of the men until she reached one of the ropes and pulled with the team. Efan smiled again, she had grown in confidence since he had left. Then she slowly turned his horse towards the house, he had to greet Laoren and the boys after all.