"Buuur, this is so cold Lord Tigre." Titta said as she shivered even under the thick cloak she was wearing. We all were, in fact. The North is a long and big land that is quite cold. As we get close to Winterfell I can only think that this looks like winter from Brune all over again I got too used to the heat of the capital and this place is not pleasant in terms of climate.
"Don't worry Titta, soon we will be on Winterfell and from what I heard the castle is quite warm due to hot springs there." I told her.
Sofya, on her part, put a finger on her chin and smiled slightly.
"A hot spring, huh? I would like to go into one." She said and I could not help but blush a bit at the thoughts of the last experience on a spring I had with her.
Back then her body was explosive, to say the least, and I ended up accidentally seeing it all and feeling her on my back.
Seeing me blush, Sofy smiled slightly and I was about to answer when I felt a pinch on the side.
"Ouch." I said as I pulled back.
"Humph, you deserved at least this much." Elizaveta said as she glares slightly at me. "You forget that you belong to me Urs." She said.
"Sorry, but his name is Tigre, not Urs. Besides, I can borrow him every once in a while, right?" Sofya said with a radiant smile as Liza glares at her.
"No, you can go and walk outside." She said with a pout.
"Ara ara, so cranky. Perhaps some fresh air would do you some good. Don't worry I can keep your seat warm for you for when you come back." Sofy said with a refreshing smile.
Elizaveta, who is sitting on my right side, releases a humph and continues where she is before giving a triumphant smirk.
"You would like that, wouldn't you? Sorry but I am not interested in doing that right now." Elizaveta said while throwing her hair back.
Tita, who is on my left side, clamp my arm on hers and tremble a bit.
"Lord Tigre, I am a bit scared of this situation." She says quietly.
"... I know how you feel." I said to her equally quietly, neither Elizaveta nor Sofy noticed or cared about me and Tita's little talk, both carrying more about glaring at one another.
... If this is getting like that now that the excitement of reuniting with them is vanishing I can't stop but fear a little what it would be like if, for instance, Eleonora and Elizaveta or Eleonora and Ludmila meet. Now that sounds like a scary thought.
3° Person's P.O.V.
As the procession was seen on the near horizon of Winterfell Catelyn was excitedly moving about.
She wanted to make a good impression on her nephew who was coming to visit, it has been too long since she has seen her sister and she never saw her own nephew despite how famous he was becoming.
She had finished preparing everything, she had managed to get Arya and Bran in good clothing and not dirty, which was a more difficult job than most would think, Sansa was dressed in her finest clothes while also having her hair done up perfectly, and Rob was with regal clothes and bearing as he was the Stark in Winterfell right now with Ned gone to war.
Of course, she also sent John to his room with orders to not leave as much as possible, she didn't want her nephew to see the family shame after all.
"My lady, the group is close already. We have also seen flags of the Tully, Arryn, and even a few Lannister flags." Rodrick, the Master of Arms of Winterfell reported to Catelyn and she looked annoyed and a bit disgusted at that.
"Yes, the imp and his bastard daughter, I am well aware that uncle Brynden had failed to send them back. Gods know what those sorts will do while here but they will not be mistreated, if they are here we shall treat them as guests." Catelyn said and Rodrick understood while moving to inform the household servants about it.
Catelyn, on her part, felt a bit dirty from needing to tolerate one more bastard in her halls, but it was necessary of her to be patient as it is part of her duty.
'Family, Duty, Honor.' She thought the words of her house again as she positioned herself with her children to welcome her nephew in this place. This was a happy moment and she'd not allow the Lannister presence to ruin it. It is important for the North and the Vale to continue being allies, making her family and the heir of the Vale see each other as true kin was important.
Not long after she and her kids were in the courtyard waiting for the guests.
"I bet he is burly and already has a beard." Bran said to Arya who snorted.
"Are you stupid? Of course, he looks less grown-up, my bet is that he looks thin but is all muscle with eyes that look piercing." Arya said to Bran in derision as if this was an obvious thing.
"No, you both are wrong. He probably looks dashing and handsome like the knights in tale." Sansa said to which her two younger siblings rolled their eyes to. This was a usual discussion for them, Bran and Arya bantering about the smallest of things while Sansa would daydream about knights of story and the two younger kids would roll their eyes at it. Catelyn would have smiled fondly at it if she wasn't worried that they would do something childish when the guests arrive.
"Arya, Bran, Sansa, you should not think too much about how his appearance. Looks are not that important, just if this Tigre is an ally or not." The second daughter, and by far the most mature, said to her siblings who accepted her words. Sansa, however, looks in a bit of anger at her younger twin sister who is showing off in her opinion. Why else would she be wearing so light clothing like the one she is, her dress is much more revealing and light blue as if it were made of thin silk.
Sansa once asked her father why her sister could take the cold of Winterfell so easily and her father explained that for some reason Ludmila was stronger in the Wolf's Blood than her siblings. Wolf's Blood was the description to the bloodline of House Stark, one of the oldest bloodlines of the entire continent, of a family that has a longer history than any other and is known for being strong against the cold and quite connected to dire wolves. Ludmila, since she was born had a weird hair color, a dark that reached the point to look blue sometimes and she was almost completely immune to the cold. She could walk through the snow without needing nearly as many furs as others, if anything she only needed to wear enough to cover her modesty and that was really it. She had also never held all that much interest in any of the songs or stories of the south that spoke of gallant knights or golden princes or anything like that.
It didn't help that her sister was prettier than her and was better at being a lady than her, even if she spent part of her time doing unladylike things such as including herself in training in the yard and talking with father about the management of the land which she helped improve in some points.
But, she still loved her sister all the same and that is what matters the most.
The doors opened and the procession entered the castle. Inside it there were more than 160 knights to guard it, too many guards most would say but there were just about 30 to 40 from the Riverlands and mercenaries from Tyrion, the rest was entirely from the Vale, and even then John Arryn wanted to send more guards. The old man was extremely worried about his son's safety, especially with the Iron Born rebellion going on.
When the carriage with the kids reached the inner parts of the castle the kids stood more in attention as the doors were opened.
However, no one came out.
"I told you, Tigre has to be the one to exit the carriage first." A girlish voice said from inside the carriage.
"But he needs one more minute. I need to try and fix his hair properly." A second girlish voice said in a pleading tone.
"Ma, ma, there is nothing to be that worried about. Elizaveta, she is trying to prepare Tigre so you should be patient. And as for you Titta, while I and Elizaveta get out to greet the others outside you need to finish this quickly." A third girlish voice said.
"... Sorry for causing problems." A male voice said, this one also clearly a kid.
After a moment the boy stepped out. He had the reddish hair of the Tullys, and the Hazel eyes of his father Jon Arryn. At a glance, Catelyn could already tell that the boy would grow to be extremely handsome in a few short years. She smiled as she finally got to meet her nephew, and strode forward to welcome him. Robb also followed along beside her, trying to do his part as the Stark in Winterfell.
She stopped as more people, children from the height of them, exited the carriage. One was about a year older than Tigre, with the golden-blonde hair of the Lannisters. She was no doubt the bastard daughter of the Imp. Another had her grit her teeth in irritation. The reddish-pink hair and two different colored eyes of the girl made her immediately recognizable as her bastard niece, the child of her fool younger brother Edmure.
Harsh feelings regarding the girl welled up in Catelyn, but she blinked in surprise when, far from folding in on herself like how Ned's bastard would, her different colored eyes snapped to her own and glared right back at her with more strength than Catelyn would have anticipated from a girl as young as her. A flare of irritation and hate springed in her heart, already imagining this girl would be treasonous and defiant enough to try and take her future nephews place as heirs to Riverrun in the future, of course Cathely ignored that Elizaveta had noble blood from both her father and mother and she also ignored the thought that Edmure did not want to get married and who knows when or if he will have official heirs in the future. But, never be said that Catelyn can't judge people too harshly based on her own preconceptions and can do stupid decisions, after all, she hated the Lanisters and especially Tyrion without never having actually met them and never seeing or talking to Tyrion before. She simply disliked them based on rumors that she heard from her trustworthy friend, Peter Baelish, and her sister Liza.
And she trusted them as she 'knew' them well. She is that kind of woman, after all.
After Elizaveta Catelyn saw a final girl come off the carriage while wearing a thick cloak. She had brown hair and eyes and her hair was done up on ponytails, her face was filled with red spots and she was really small. She stood behind the three other children but seemed to defer to the boy. A servant perhaps, and if so unimportant on Cathelyn's eyes.
She resumed walking forward, pointedly ignoring the three girls near the young boy. It took only a few moments before she was but five steps from the small group. She smiled down at the young boy and opened her mouth to speak. "Welcome to Winterfell, Tigrevurmud Arryn. My name is Catelyn Stark," She began, placing her hand on Robb's shoulder to urge him forward. "This is my oldest son, Robb Stark, heir to Winterfell." She stated with no small measure of pride.
Robb went forward and spoke. "Greetings, Tigrevurmud, I welcome you into my home and hope your stay here is a warm and comfortable one." He began, trying to emulate his father's calm confidence as best he could. He directed his right hand to each of his siblings, naming them as he went. "This is my oldest sister, Sansa Stark," Sansa curtsied politely here, "her younger sister, Ludmila," Catelyn had been paying close attention and noted how each of the group had stiffened for a blink, and when she looked at the mentioned daughter, she showed no reaction, and by the time she turned back to their guests, they had settled. Robb gave no sign he noticed, continuing to introduce his siblings, "this young man is Brandon Stark," here the youngest Stark son waved cheerfully at the group, happy to meet new people, "and my youngest sister, Arya Stark." The young girl grinned and waved at the group here, curious to speak with the heir of the Vale.
Tigre scratched his right cheek lightly with his right index finger as he walked forward. With a brief moment taken to clear his throat, he spoke. "Uh, hi. My name is Tigrevurmud Arryn, and I suppose I will be staying with you on the request of my father until the Greyjoy Rebellion has been stopped. We are family so no need for much ceremony, let's just be friends. Oh, I almost forgot. I have to present you all with my friends here. These ones here are Elizavetta Rivers," here the girl with different colored eyes bowed forward with an elegance Catelyn usually only saw in her daughter Ludmila, "Sofya Hill," the blonde Lannister bastard gave a friendly wave and smile that Catelyn grudgingly realized was quite an attractive one, "and my newest friend and servant, Titta Frey." The hazel haired girl bowed timidly, and Catelyn found herself hating her like any bastard. She and her family always hated and looked down on the Freys and the thought of one close to her nephew was no less terrible than the thought of the bastard girls around him
"Well met Tigrevurmud, Winterfell' hospitality is yours." Robb gave the customary greeting of House Stark, officially opening the halls to the boy and his group.
As the group walked forward and into the castle it was, unsurprisingly, Arya who spoke up first.
"Lord Tigre, is it true that you are blessed by the Warrior? And, if so, can you teach me what you know?"
"Yeah, me too. I would like to learn how to fight as I want to be a knight." Bran said by the side as well.
Tigre smiled and nodded at them.
"It is fine by me, but we should go inside as I need to see to my room and accommodations, especially since I don't know a thing about this castle and I would like to know the path to my room when it is still light." Tigre said.
"That would be acceptable." Ludmila said, moving to Tigre's side. "I would be glad to show you around the castle as you need to know your way around if you are to be here."
"Oh, can we go as well?" Arya and Bran said almost in sync.
"That would be far too many people, I believe I alone should be enough. Rob needs to go and help on whatever is necessary as the Stark at Winterfell" Ludmila said, making Rob groan a bit before Catelyn put a comforting hand on his shoulders, he did NOT want to do that. His plan was to walk Tigre around and 'accidentally' end up on the training ground where he could spare with the boy who was getting so famous, instead he had to go and hear his mother and Maester Luwin discussing boring stuff. "You two would only take him to either the training grounds or through some weird path that I would not find it strange if the path to his room involved climbing, Bram" At that one Bram sheepishly laughed before hearing Arya snort and the two starting to bicker before running away from there to play, both proving they are happy kids. "And Sansa has her music lessons."
"Much like you, sister." Sansa said to Ludmila who smiled in return.
"Very true, but unlike you who wants to be queen one day and wants that I have other ambitions so I can sacrifice a class or two if it is to do something that is necessary like showing the castle to our cousin Tigre." Ludmila answers and while Sansa failed to notice Ludmila didn't fail to see Tigre wincing at the words queen.
Sansa then talked for a bit more before also moving away and only the people who were originally from another world being here.
Without hesitation, Ludmila changed to talking with the Zchteid language when she noticed it was only them.
"So, you ARE here, Tigre."
"Yeah, I am. It is good to see you well, Mila."
"I see, we can't talk much right now as the others would find it suspicious if I don't take you around, in exchange, you must come to my room tomorrow morning after training in the training grounds, I want to talk to you about some matters." Ludmila said before moving along, Sofya and the other girls not saying much as they knew they were not welcome as of right now and they needed the others to acclimate themselves to them.
And so, the first meeting with the Starks went successful enough.
On a village near the coast of Kayce in the Westerland, a raid of Iron Born was happening. Women's screams as rape resounded could be heard while the Iron Born celebrated another success with the food from the stores of the village.
The man were all being rounded up in chains to be turned into thralls while the women would be turned into salt wives, the Iron Born were ecstatic at the prospects of returning to their old ways.
BBBUUUUUOOOOOOHHHHHHH
Suddenly, a horn sounded and the Iron Born and the villagers looked at the direction from which the sound came from. There they saw two dozen knights dashing at them.
The Iron born did not fear, however. They were in 60 people while the enemy was less than half.
"What is dead may never die!" They shouted as the Iron Born too prepared for combat, archers shot their arrows while the knights advanced.
Before the arrows hit the mark the knights moved aside in two columns of 12 each, moving in different directions but with perfect synchrony as they started rounding up and reaching the Iron born. They moved in perfect formation, passing through the iron born like waves coming from all sides, a column would pass by the iron born's flank, killing some of them, and before they could reorganize anther column would do the same after the first one passes. Thie process would repeat about 4 times before there was only one Iron Born trying to run away. He was about to reach the ship that was already ready to sail from before the knights appear but
SHINNN
A great sword that looked too big for anyone to realistically carry was thrown at him, piercing through the Iron Born's back and jolting out of his chest.
"Impressive as always, Sir Roland." One of the knights said to the one who threw the sword, the one then removed his helmet and showed a young face of no more than 13 name days with black hair, blue eyes, and a scar on his nose.
"I am not yet a Ser, Lord Johnathan Errol. I am still a squire." Roland said.
"Humph, it doesn't change much if you ask me. You are more a knight than half the knights I ever met, I think your lord father must be proud of you even if he is not around to see you right now." Johnathan said.
Roland, for his part, said nothing and ignored this comment. He and Stanis had a complicated relationship, his father was bitter about many things and actually envied this son from his first wife who died during the siege of Storm's End, he envied that Roland was more loved than him and his current wife's poison on his ears was not making things any easier on the situation.
Roland, not wanting to think on his situation back on his home, moved to continue on the command of these knights under him.
"Move to the villagers, secure the perimeter and help those who need help. We will depart as soon as the situation is settled, we must verify other villages in the region before moving to join the main army for the battle." Roland ordered as his knights moved to obey.
No one cared that technically, due to him being still a squire while the other were knights he should have no rights to order them around. These knights of the Storm Lands were completely loyal to Roland after spending time with him, they would be the foundation of his power on the Storm Lands in the future.
And so the war continued.