Note From Author: I'm not dead and the story is not discontinued. I will have a long note at the end, and yeah.
Chapter IV: Getting Familiar.
Uldren
The bed Uldren slept in was one that would take some time getting accustomed to. He was used to laying on hard, uneven ground, or up against rocks, not soft, cozy beds.
It had been no more than two days since he was officially welcomed to Winterfell, and quite a lot had happened in those forty eight hours.
He witnessed the execution of those that tried to kill him, met Lord Stark's children and wife, was assigned guards for his protection, and learned that he could not read the Old Tongue.
He could read the New Tongue otherwise known as the Common Tongue, but that was it. Ranni did not gift him the knowledge of how to speak or read the Old Tongue. If he wanted to learn it, he would have to either be taught by someone who does know it or acquire it through remembrance.
Those were his only options, besides possibly Ranni, but he did not know when he would next meet her. It could be months, possibly years until he would see her again physically or in his dreams.
The thought of her made him frown deeply. She was more than just his lady and queen. Sheb was, is his eternal wife and the mother of his children. He may not remember his children now, but he knew she was their mother.
"We shall meet again, my eternal consort, this I promise thee." Her words echoed inside his head, and Uldren couldn't help but wonder when?
The questions he had for her were not countless, but neither were they few. He had a lot he wanted to ask her with a good number of his questions being about their children.
He wanted to know what happened to them, were they still alive or did they perish a long time ago? Did they have children of their own or did they have none at all? It was questions like these he truly wanted answers to.
"In time," he thought to himself before getting out of bed. "In time I will have the answers I seek."
Either Ranni would reveal what happened to their children or his memories would. Regardless, he would learn the fate of them one way or another.
With that in his mind, Uldren donned his armor, which took him a few minutes. Once finished doing that, he equipped his sword and scepter to his belt, then proceeded to exit the room.
Upon leaving his room, Uldren was met by Rorhen and Daveth, who were two of the eight guards Lord Stark had assigned to safeguard him while in Winterfell.
"Ser Uldren," Daveth greeted neutrally as he stiffened and Uldren closed the door behind him.
"Daveth," he greeted back in the same tone.
"Sleep well?" The man asked a little curiously.
"I did, what about you?" Responded Uldren.
"I did till I was woken up to take over in guarding your door." Daveth answered with traces of annoyance in his voice.
The glaring look did not go unnoticed by Uldren at all, but rather than apologize for the inconvenience or blame Lord Stark who had given him the task; Uldren merely turned his attention to the younger guardsman and said to him.
"I take it you slept as well as he did?"
"I had a good rest, ser!" Rorhen answered in a pretty enthusiastic way. "I went to bed earlier than I normally would, so I wouldn't be tired when protecting you."
The thought of him needing protection made Uldren smile slightly. He did not need protection at all now that he was conscious. The only time he needed protection was when he was unconscious for five days, but after that? He didn't need any protection from others.
"I'm glad you had a goodnight sleep." Uldren declared before beginning to walk down the hall, causing his guards to follow suit and for his room to be left behind.
The room he had been staying in wasn't a very large one, but neither was it small. It was big, about the same size as Lord Stark's solar, and was apparently meant for high ranking guests such as, princes, princesses, queens, kings, and lord paramounts. There were half a dozen of these rooms, but his specifically was supposedly the same one Queen Alysanne the Good stayed in during her stay at Winterfell two hundred and thirty one years ago.
Keyword in that was supposedly, for how he came about this information was through a few gossiping maids and not one of the many books in the library.
"Beg pardon, Ser Uldren, mind I ask where we be going?" Spoke young Rorhen in a quiet and respectful manner.
"The library." Uldren stated neutrally, seeing no harm at all revealing his destination.
The 'oh' Rorhen made more than a trace of disappointment in it, but he didn't say anything else on the matter and simply continued to follow behind.
A few seconds after that, Uldren rounded the hall's corner, and was met by Lord Stark's steward, Vayon Poole who had jumped at the sight of him.
"Ser Uldren," Vayon began after quickly recovering from his surprised state and clearing his throat. "Lord Stark would like it if you could break your fast with him and his family in the great hall."
Uldren frowned slightly at the idea, and had wanted to tell the steward that he wasn't hungry and was busy, but in the end said in an agreeable voice. "Very well."
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Artos
Watching Lady Stark try to feed fussy baby Arya had been more than amusing. It had been hilarious, at least that was what Artos thought until he noticed the stern look he was getting from his father. Then it quickly became not funny, and the look on Artos' face turned into one that rivaled Jon's solemn looks.
"You're lucky Father was the one that caught you doing that," Jon murmured from his seat right next to him. "If it was Lady Stark she might have-"
"Called me a bastard and ask what it was I find to be funny?" Artos finished quietly while casting his brother a side glance and a small smirk.
Jon simply nodded in agreement as he took a sip of his drink.
"Aye, I guess I was lucky." Artos quipped before taking a bite of his bread and eventually turning his attention to his father who was no longer looking at him but at Robb.
He watched and chewed on his bread quietly as his father said to his brother. "Missing one day with Ser Rodric will not be the end of the world, Robb. You have other responsibilities as my heir besides learning how to use a sword and that is learning how to rule."
Robb's expression changed to a serious one at that as Artos' lips lowered. He didn't catch all of their conversation, but he got enough from that to understand that Robb wouldn't be in the training yard with him and Jon later today. Robb would be with their father, learning how to be the Lord of Winterfell.
The thought of his brother sitting in their father's chair, governing the lands, and wielding their family's ancestral blade was enough to make him smile albeit briefly.
He was happy for Robb and honestly believed he would be one of the greatest lords the North, nay Westeros has ever seen. However, at the same time of thinking that, he also thought about what was to come and be expected of Robb.
"Robb is going to have to marry one day since he is father's heir, and when he does, what will happen to Jon and I?"
Artos had no idea what would happen to them when that time comes, but he wanted to believe that they would remain in Winterfell and be his hands.
"We could help him run Winterfell! He could create two new positions for us, or I could be the Captain of his Guard, and Jon could be Winterfell's next Master at Arms after Ser Rodrik!"
They were ideas, good ideas in his mind that made him want to smile only for that feeling to quickly vanish into thin air. The cause of that to happen was Lady Stark, who had exclaimed in frustration. "Arya!"
He glanced at her, and almost frowned, for that was what he worried about. He feared that the next Lady of Winterfell, the next Lady Stark would be like Robb's mother and want the two of them gone because of them being bastards.
"Robb would never force us to leave Winterfell, not even for his wife." Artos whispered to himself as he turned his gaze to his plate. He believed what he said, but at the same time, he could not help but wonder in the back of his head. "What if Robb did?"
The thought unsettled him greatly and made him pick up his fork and begin to stab at his eggs and then shove them in his mouth.
"Robb would never do that, we're brothers." He thought as he tightened his grip on his fork. The picture of Robb coming up to him and Jon with a beautiful woman in his arms and telling them that they were banished from Winterfell forever was enough to make him scowl and exhale heavily through his nose.
"Artos? Everything alright?" Jon inquired quietly in a concerning tone.
He nodded but said nothing on the matter. Instead, he said, "Just not hungry, Jon."
He then began to get up and as he did his father looked at him and the doors to the great hall opened.
Artos looked at his father briefly before tearing his gaze to the entrance only to have it widen at the sight he saw.
"Ser Uldren…"
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Uldren
After being announced to Lord Stark, by his steward, and welcomed by the man, Uldren took a seat at the table he had been sitting at. He had planned on sitting across from the Warden of the North, but to his surprise, Lord Stark's heir had offered him his seat instead.
"You can have my seat, Ser Uldren!" The blue eyed, auburn haired boy exclaimed as he quickly got up from his seat. "I can finish eating next to my brothers."
It was a generous thing to do, something that Robb's mother appeared to have disapproved of, but said nothing about.
Uldren looked at the boy and saw nothing but earnestness on his face. He was being completely serious about what he said.
"If you insist, young Robb, then who am I to refuse?" Uldren inquired in a slightly amused voice and a small grin.
The boy's grin widened and as the two moved by one another Uldren asked if he and his brothers would like to hold and look at his helmet.
Meanwhile Lord Stark had said nothing on the matter and simply watched all of it transpire in silence. It wasn't until two minutes had passed, Lord Stark spoke to Uldren in a stern tone. "I heard you went to the library yesterday."
"I did, I was actually on my way there before your steward told me you wanted to dine with me." Uldren stated after tearing his gaze away from the three boys who were inspecting his helmet with nothing but awe.
"May I ask why or is there no particular reason?" Said Lord Stark.
Uldren shrugged and took one of the remaining rolls of bread before speaking. "No particular reason besides curiosity. The books I have carry history in them, but not recent history. They are old, older than myself."
He did not say that last part, but the temptation was there.
The lord of Winterfell glowered at his words as his wife took this as her opportunity to ask what was on her mind.
"How long do you plan on staying at Winterfell if you don't mind me asking, Ser Uldren?"
Uldren noticed Lord Stark furrow his brows at the question as he shifted his attention to the Lady of Winterfell.
"Not long," he answered her nonchalantly, ignoring the pointed look Lord Stark was giving her. "I have yet to decide exactly how long, but it will not be long."
"Where do you plan on going?" Lord Stark asked next.
"South, to Dorne." Uldren stated.
"Dorne?" Lord Stark said in a surprised tone.
"Yes." He affirmed with a nod.
"My mother is from there."
The statement came swiftly, causing not just Uldren, but practically everyone besides Lord Stark youngest child to shift their attention to the one that had spoken.
It was Jon Snow that had made the claim, and judging by the look on his face, he did not mean to say it that loudly.
Ignoring the glare Lady Stark was giving to Lord Stark's youngest son, Uldren said to the young boy. "Is she?"
Young Jon didn't say anything in response to the question, and simply nodded his head, albeit very reluctantly. This caused Uldren to frown slightly and glance quickly at Lady Stark who was staring hard at the boy down the table from them.
His gaze then shifted to Lord Stark for a second who was frowning at the sight in front of him. It was clear the man did not approve of the look his wife was giving his youngest son, but did not want to start an argument in front of his kids.
Looking back at Jon, Uldren saw his twin brother, Artos glowering, which was enough to draw out a memory of his, one of when he was a young boy and had two eyes instead of one. He winced a little and looked away from the two of them before saying in a low voice.
"Perhaps when I go to Dorne I can inform your mother of how you two are fairing here in the North?" He gazed at the two of them with a serious glint in his eye. "I'm sure she'd be more than happy to hear about you two."
"A kind gesture, Ser Uldren, but their mother is not of this world anymore." Lord Stark declared.
At this Uldren felt nothing but sympathy for the two young bastards, and said to the two of them. "I am sorry to hear that, you have my sympathies."
"Thank you." Artos answered while Jon merely nodded his head. It wasn't very long after that, Artos requested if they could be excused.
"Of course," Lord Stark affirmed his two bastards with a small, gentle smile.
The two returned the smile but wasted no time in leaving the table and the hall.
Uldren watched them leave before turning his attention to Lady Stark who was staring at him.
"Indeed my time here will not be long." Is what he thought as he met her disapproving gaze with nothing but coldness.
Note From Author: You guys do not deserve a short chapter after waiting so long, you honestly don't. Sadly, I felt I just needed to get something out, not for your guys sake, but for my own. I felt if I did not get something out soon I would just be unable to write this story. I wrote four different versions of this chapter and only two of them were good, this was the best out of them all. It's not perfect, but it's better than the others.
Now before people go like, "Oh this is a Catelyn bashing fic, why am I not surprised!? I'm unfollowing!" Let me say that it isn't. I won't try to force you to believe that, just know that it isn't one of those fics.
I'm still trying to work things out, you'd think I'd have it done by now, but I don't. I do have a rough sketch of things, and a decent idea of how this all will end, but things can change quickly. Chapters will probably start increasing in length soon because things will start to pick up. We'll have two new character POVs next chapter and uh yeah.
I won't make any promises, but hopefully it will turn out good. Until next time and thank you for the support.
