I own nothing, not even the westerosi dirt on my boots.
Chap 15
The cold winds whipped thought the forest making the branches creak as the snow whirled around the fur clad groups making their way through the trees.
The group of thirty free folk had been traveling eastward for weeks through the heavy snow. The mix of three different clans, lead by Thurmond giantsbane, had been tasked by Mance raider to scout the wall and see what news they might find from rangers or what locations could serve as good climbing spots in the future. So far they had found no rangers to question, but found a few possible ways over the wall. A horn foot and told them that an old fort called something along the lines hornfats or helmfit hill or something. He said it had been neglected for years and the old fort could give them a place to recover from the climb before heading future south.
Thurmond had decided it was definitely worth looking into and so they had approached the wall to get a good look at its condition.
Yegritte was the first to look up at the top and realized something wasn't right.
"I thought you said the fort was abandoned?"
Jorlid looked at her, "Of course I did, why would I suggest going to a fort with crows in it?"
"Well the top of the wall doesn't look abandoned."
They all squinted upwards and saw what she meant, instead of run down wooden structures and uneven ice, the top was clearly cut to form with sturdy platforms and roofs built into it.
"The crows have apparently moved back to the old nest," commented Thurmond, "best we make ourselves scarce. We're no good to Mance dead and we don't want them following us."
Some grumbled at the missed chance for a fight but followed him nonetheless. Making their way back into the trees they missed the single torch that waved from the top of the wall.
They had made their way eastward again but Yegritte had a feeling that they were being watched. She thought it might had been a crow from the wall but after nearly an hour of walking it hadn't dissipated. She was about to tell the others when a crow stepped out from behind a tree in front of them.
The group immediately readied their weapons but felt a level of unease settle on them as more and more crows appeared, surrounding them completely.
A quiet settled over the groups as the two stared at each other till one crow stepped forward and called over to them.
"We both know that I could have had you filled with arrows by now." The number of archers certainly supported his claims. "But I have a few questions I want to ask you. And before you think about trying to fight your way out, just know that the watch had been tracking you since you passed Greyguard even if you escape here the rest will already be looking for you."
The group tightened their grips but held steady as Thurmond called out.
"What questions do you mean you bloody kneeler?"
"Which clans are moving south?"
"What?" Replied Thurmond
"Which." Corrected the crow
Thurmond bristled "Why do you even care who or what moves south?"
"Because we are south of you."
Well it would make sense for it to be a concern for them, thought Yegritte. But how did they know about it? They hadn't seen rangers in months.
The crow spoke again, "We were told that there was a large number of your people moving south. We have been tasked to find out why."
Yegritte nudged Thurmond, "Maybe we should tell them?"
"You think they would actually believe us?"
"They already know we're moving south and Mance said he planned to tell the southern lords why we attacked the wall."
"Aye, but he wanted to tell them after we took the wall, from a position of strength, not before we made it to the wall."
"Doesn't matter," muttered a nearby spearwife. "They know we're moving south, how long it would take before they tell the rest of the kneelers where we're headed. If they haven't told them already."
Thurmond thought hard for a moment before answering the crow.
"We flee the dead."
Most of the crows scoffed or looked confused by the reply, their leader and a few others however looked apprehensive. The leader handed his sword and a knife to one of the crows, then walked halfway between the two groups.
Thurmond waited a moment before handing Yegritte his sword and knives and walked out to meet him. They talked in low voices, with obvious distrust in their eyes, but they managed to talk for quite some time before finally walking away from each other.
When their leader put his sword and knife back onto his belt he signalled his men and they all backed away and began walking south.
"What did he say?"
Thurmond watched them leave before replying.
"He said that they would relay our words to their lord commander." Then he frowned "He also said he would send men here every two weeks if we wanted to meet or if we had proof to show them."
Yegritte looked at him incredulously. "Seriously?"
"It's what he said. Not sure if we can trust them or if they believed us, but he said that the Stark was the one who informed the watch about our moving south."
"How in hell did he know before the crows? Starks are further south then the crows"
"Good question, forget scouting the wall. We need to go back and tell Mance about this."
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Bran and Rickon looked at Corbec with undisguised fascination.
The man was currently sitting with his back against an ancient oak in the godswood, his eyes wide open but they were milky white. His owl was overhead flying loose circles over the castle. Corbec had been telling him and Rickon about wargs and decided to give him a demonstration.
The owl suddenly swooped down and landed in front of Bran, looking at him intently.
"Can you hear me Corbec?"
The owl nodded.
"That's amazing! Can you warg into other animals as well?" asked Rickon
The owl's head bobbed again.
"Can you teach us how to warg?"
The owl tilted it's head slightly then Corbec sat up with his eyes normal again.
"Well that depends if you were born as a warg. If you are then I could show you how to do it."
"How are we supposed to know if we were born a warg?"
Corbec thought a moment before replying
"Have you ever had any dreams that you were seeing the world as your wolves see it?"
"I have, sometimes I see him exploring my room, and once I dreamed of running through the godswood."
As if knowing they were being talked about Summer and Shaggydog came bounding out from behind a tree and jumped onto the unsuspecting boys.
Corbec watched the four wrestle as he pondered the possibility.
"My lords, would you mind if we go to the heart tree for a moment?"
"No, why are we going there?"
"Just for an idea I have."
Corbec picked up Bran and carried him to the heart tree while the wolves chased Rickon all the way.
Once there Corbec had the two lordlings put one hand on the ancient tree, then one on the energetic wolves and close their eyes focusing on their wolves. They sat still for several minutes has they did as he was instructed and just when Corbec was about to tell them to stop the wolves suddenly stilled.
Bran's face relaxed and his eyes opened to reveal milky white eyes, while Rickon's were slightly glossed. The wolves twitched and looked around tentatively before the boys came back to themselves. The two looked at each other in shock then the pair stared at Corbec with wide grins on their faces.
"Well now, that is interesting."
They stayed in the Godswood for another hour practicing before finally heading back to the castle for supper.
When Corbec entered the great hall carrying Bran the rest of the family was already seated at the high table. Robb in the center with his mother on his left and Sansa on his right. They watched with amusement as Rickon tried to keep the wolves under control by holding onto their fur, only to wind up being dragged all the way to the high table.
Corbec set Bran down as Rickon picked himself up off the floor and settled next to Bran, after a few minutes of eating and banter Robb leaned forward to address his youngest brother.
"Rickon, do you remember what we talked about the other day wh-"
"To use my shield?"
"No, not that. I me-"
"To wash behind Shaggydog's ears?"
"No, I wa-"
"To not ride Shaggydog in the corridors?"
"No Rickon, wou-"
"Oh oh to never lick cold steel because my tongue might stick to it!"
Rob looked at his brother a moment before nodding, "I'm glad you remembered what I said." He then looked to Bran "Try to keep an eye on him while you both are at King's Landing."
"Do you still think it's a good idea for me to go with them?"
"I do Bran, you were the Stark in Winterfell while the rest of us were south. You did your duty and now I am trusting you to keep Rickon and Arya tamed during your stay in the capital."
Rickon stuck his tongue out at Robb then asked
"Will it just be Mother, Bran and me going south?"
"No, you'll be traveling with a few members from houses Manderly, Hornwood, and Locke, as well as several guards."
"Will Hodor come with us as well?" Bran looked down at his legs when he asked.
"No he won't, maester Luwin has been working on something for you which ought to make moving on the trip and at the capitol a bit easier for you."
"What is it?"
"You'll have to wait and see." Replied Robb with a grin.
"Can Osha come with us?" The rest of the family looked at Rickon in surprise.
"Osha? Why her?"
"I like her," Rickon replied as he helped himself to a slice of bread. "She tells stories like Old Nan does about the North and the gods. She has also been telling me about the different clans north of the wall."
Robb looked thoughtful at the idea, while his mother looked troubled at the notion of her youngest listening to tales from the barbarian woman.
"You can ask her if she is willing to go with you, but I won't force her to travel south with you. Does that sound fair?"
"Thank you Robb! Can I go ask her now?"
"Not now," Sansa interjected, "you need to finish your supper first Rickon."
Rickon looked put out for a moment before he shoveled the rest of his meal into his mouth before anyone could stop him.
"Rickon!" Admonished Sansa and her mother at the same time.
He just smiled through his stuffed cheeks and tried to leave. Bran placed a hand on his shoulder before he got out of his seat, stopping him in his tracks.
"Do you mind waiting for me to finish so we can ask her together?"
Rickon immediately sat back down and after some strenuous chewing forced down the remains of his meal before replying.
"Of course! Then we can ask her for more stories about the Frostbacks!"
Rickon proceeded to regale Sansa with everything he had learned about the far north while Bran finished his meal.
Catelyn leaned over to harshly whisper to Robb, "You can't be serious, she was part of the group that threatened Bran!"
"They did, but she didn't personally threaten him. Measter Luwin also told me that while we were gone she was one of the people that really helped the boys stay happy during that time. Not to mention she is also capable of defending both of them should the need arise. I've seen her training with a spear several times since we've returned, she can hold her own."
"What about the fact that you are sending a wildling to the royal court?"
"In all honesty I doubt the King or Lord Argilac would be upset at the idea. If anything Argilac would be curious to meet someone from beyond the wall."
Catelyn sighed to herself as she turned back to her meal. She supposed Robb wouldn't have entertained the thought if he didn't trust the woman. Not to mention the worst she could do is run away from them, even a Wildling would think twice before harming a member of a house Stark while she was alone on the southern side of the wall.
Rickon continued to ramble on about a wildling group called Blackfoots, or was it blackfeet, to Sansa as he waited for Bran to finish eating. Sansa for her part listened intently to her little brother, smiling slightly as he became more and more animated.
After they had finished eating they all dispersed, with Rickon enthusiastically leading Bran and Hodor out the hall with three of the wolves on his heels.
Robb left to talk with Maester Luwin and Corbec as Greywind silently padded after him.
Sansa took her mother's arm and led her down the corridors to a balcony overlooking the courtyard in front of the first keep.
Catelyn was about to ask her why they were there when a loud voice called out.
"Osha!"
Catelyn looked down and saw Rickon running across the yard with the wolves at his side and skidded in front of the Wildling he had been looking for.
"Hello little lord," greeted Osha with a smile as she set her empty plate of food to the side, "What are you and your pack doing out at this hour? Shouldn't you all be heading to your beds?"
"We will soon, mother doesn't like to repeat herself and Greywind makes it easy for Robb to find us, but they said we can ask you to come with us before bed!"
"Come with you where?"
"To King's Landing, Sansa said it's a dangerous place to be, but I think it would be safer with you."
"King's Landing? Where's that?"
"Its further south," answered Bran after thanking Hodor once he was set down next to Osha. "It's the capital of the seven kingdoms. Its past the Riverlands and the Vale but North of the Stormlands."
Osha looked shocked at the idea of going so far south. "And you want me to come with you?"
"Absolutely! Then you can meet Arya, I think she'll like you, maybe you can teach her how to use a spear? She is always talking about swords, but I think a spear is also a good choice. Oh you can also tell her about the far north! She'll really enjoy your stories, she would always sit with us to listen to Old Nan's stories."
"Well, I suppose you nobles wouldn't make it far without plenty of servants to help you on your journey."
"That's true, I can't cook at all. I think I might starve without the cook's help. They make really good meals, I really like their stews. But that's not what you would be doing while we're south. You'll be one of my guards!"
"You want me to be one of your guards while in the south?" She asked Rickon, "sounds like something you're supposed to have a knight do or at least a bannerman do."
"Maybe in the south, but this is the North. We don't really have any knights like they do, except the Manderlys of course but they're from the south, and northern women fight more than southern ones. Robb said Lady Mormont is one of the scariest warriors he ever met."
Osha smiled at the young Stark, "Well, I suppose it would be fun to go further South than any free folk has for a thousand years. Do I at least get some proper armor?"
Rickon was positively bouncing with excitement at her response. "We can get some fitted for you tomorrow and get you a spear too!"
Catelyn smiled at Rickon as he continued to ramble to the woman.
"I know you don't trust her mother," Sansa said quietly, "but I think she will be one of the best choices to keep the boys safe in the capitol. She wouldn't let anyone harm them even if they offered her gold, castles, nobility or any position."
"When did you become such a good source of reason and comfort?"
"I learned from you and father," Sansa replied with a sad smile.
Lady Stark sighed at the mention of her late husband and the two ladies left the balcony for the warmer interior of the ancient castle.
Thank you for reading and thanks to everyone who has left a review, I do appreciate you taking the time to do so. I will try my best to address issues that you point out to me with the new chapters and I am sorry for the long delays between posts. Life has been going 2020 on me lately.