Chapter 2-First Steps
My first action was to open my eyes and stand up from my bed. Perceon's chamber was small and modest room with bed of my size,table with toy knights on it,chair and garderobe. I headed to bathtub in neighboring chamber, medieval equivalent of bathroom,and took a quick bath which really refreshing in mornings,can vouch for it when took another glance to my face on mirror. I never cease to amaze at my new body,I have fairer complexion than previous time in the Earth, brown hair and oval shaped face with high cheekbones, almost fox like, a typical Southron,which northerners love to say. Then I returned to my room, opened garderobe, undressed nightclothes and began to wear my plain clothing I wear on casual day, only distinction is pin in my left shoulder,symbolyzing of house Osgrey and took my stride to father's chamber.
I stuck in this world 4 weeks and entered to a year 270 AC. By this time nevertheless how fancy words said,I was scared shitless for first time and feared everything,dread turning solidified form of dead weight inside my belly. Being in a child's body didn't help much either. Every time I envisioned my death in multiple ways,from chopping out my head in wooden block, to the unseen dagger from catspaw, which cold kiss pushes you to the embrace of Stranger and every day tears are pooling around my eyes because of missing Earth,family,everything from previous life. But the days are passing by and I slowly get used to this world. Seriously I needed to get my shit together and forge my own path.I ceased pretend that this was dream and said goodbye to my hopes of returning to Earth and acquainted with Standfast and it's household.
Regarding Standfast,it is a ramshackle single tower and called castle out of courtesy. It has three villages in vicinity and had fields of wheat,barley,oats with many other crops, orchards of apple around. It is similar to the castle in stories of Dunk and Egg,but difference with that story - Standfast,at this time it is really improving and we have made stairway from stone leading to main door where before single file of log stood and expendable rooms are removed to widen great hall. But Standfast didn't have maesters and rookery. My room located on 2nd floor,in west part of castle and my father's solar at opposite part of castle. Below the underground there is a deep complex of vaults and cellars where grains and other goods stored which cut into the hill which castle sat atop on, even a secret passage which takes you to back of the castle,to the graveyard,hidden by surrounding blackberry bushes. I stumbled upon it by accident after tripping from stairs when I'm exploring,resulting in bruised arm and breaking of ancient barrel,but it bore a fruit and satisfacted my curiosity,one more detail added in my mind about my castle's environs. Other chambers except from mine and father's is are steward's chamber in north-west corner of castle on the 1st floor, living with his wife,who is also cook and son,Tate,Cassy and Jerryck. Jerryck and I were around similar age,often playing hide and seek,running around castle and battling with sticks (it is medieval here and boys have wishes to be aspiring,great knights and i also cannot ignore swordplay if I hope to survive here).He is sneaky,elusive lad with slim built and blonde hair with a freckles on nose.
There are many thuds and noises can be heard from outside and from rooftop which is leaking sometimes. Thing is,Ser Coryn hired 4 masons with their apprentices,whose are busy rebuilding castle and constructing new kennels then repairing stables within castle's yard. Masons can be cost yearly revenue of landed knight only for hiring and plus there are more expenses will be throughout process. But when my father fought in Bloodstone when war of Ninepenny kings raged across Stepstones,he with his scouting party caught small pirate crew of 4 men unaware ,which members were heading to hideout,then he killed 3 of them and captured their leader. Coryn interrogated him,threatening him with if he doesn't show their hidden stashes. When pirate didn't crack,he cut poor fellow's cock and thrusted it to his mouth,then when he lifted his sword for final death blow, but pirate surrendered. He told my father place of their hidden vault and begged for mercy. He left this pirate to live his miserable life and found massive amount of jewellery,bags of coins,spices and many other goods. And he didn't tell his find to anyone outside his soldiers,gave them their share.Because if you report your find to your betters,you have to say farewell to all of your loot and gain miserable amount of it. It was enough live comfortable to the end of your days and leave good legacy to the children. Of course I didn't hear that story from himself. I heard it from Tate when I eavesdropped his conversation with his wife. That's why we are able to keep costs and expenses of masons and it's proof of Coryn's luckiness and wits to keep his mouth shut.
With this thoughts I didn't notice that I am staying on front of door to the father's solar. I knocked and from inside voice said "Come in." When I entered to room,my father lifted his eyes from parchment,put quill on the table and gave me warm smile. He was literate,which is uncommon for many landed knights. "Good morning Percy, how are you, come, take a seat." he greeted me warmly and gestured to the table.I promptly sat and asked my father in my bestly childish voice "Father, when we begin the training with swords?" He flashes me another smile "That's my eager beaver! I approve your optimism,but I want to teach you with letters and you are too young to lift a sword. Besides I intend to make small namesday feast for you tomorrow,where I will invite noble guests from neighboring Houses such as Stackhouse ,Lawton of Dosk,Dilmore of Brandybottom and of course our rivals Webbers of Coldmoat despite how hurts to say their name before our very own castle. It will be first feast you will attend,son.So I will expect your best behaviour and politeness,Perceon.". I'm very surprised to say at least with this change of events that I don't even know my own birthday,my inner introvert shaking his head,saying "No!", because I'm shy and a bit clumsier around people who have high chances to botch discussion. But when you 6 years old,you cannot expect deep conversation from children and I will meet new people such as current lords and future lordlings too,perchance befriend some of them. Also I noticed how father cringed at the name of Webber. Prideful and blunt,Ser Coryn will have hard time to conceal his contempt and not lose his cool when barbed,provoking words said. Osgreys were often punished in history for their bluntness,honesty and proudness . But how you can help when greatest of this house,Perwyn,had the nickname Proud.
I gathered my thoughts together and said "Yes father, I will behave properly and make you proud." I droned. "Good,I expect nothing less from my little lion" he said. Suddenly door opened and grizzly,old man made for solar. He was my father's mentor, Ser Harlan Storm and kinda right-hand man . Ser Harlan was grim and moody man,who have hard temper and when argued he could make blush a Warrior himself. "Oi Coryn,there is a trouble in one of our villages. One of tax collectors of lord Rowan has overreached himself and goes round for second time gathering from people to fill his pouch,methinks. This people had no pennies in their name from last time and they now losing what little things they have. We need to stop this madness,grab this bug,wash him with dung from stables and present him in front of Rowan. That arselicker of Tyrell will vomit himself over,haha! What a sight will be!" he said. "Harlan! There's a boy here," my father groaned "Ohh alright,let's make quick work about this nuisance,but not with your silly ideas." With that he dressed in his half-plate armor and said "Now you will be good boy and play in the yard,won't you?" I nodded. "That's my boy,now go!" Coryn said. From that I left the room and after some time went to balcony,to see my father and Ser Harlan saddling their horses and then making their way to easternmost village of three villages in Standfast's control.
Maybe it was not good idea to saddle my pony and go after my father, with Jerryck at my side. He was giddy,anticipating good fight or brawl all way down here when I told him and took him with. He asked many questions nonstop, making me regret taking him . We rode for thirty minutes on pony and at last reached intended village where were big commotion gathered watching something. We were afraid that we missed the show for we pushed aside,squezzed through and made our way to first row of onlookers.
Fight already begun and father with Ser Harlan fought with two of guardsmen of that puny tax collector, with whirlwind of blows,parries, counterattacks. Steel beat against steel or shield and ringed in our ears. Suddenly my father began to bash his shield hard until his opponent exhausted and couldn't lift up his shield. Then he banged with his shield rightward on opponent shield and opened his guard. Father didn't linger long,with quick thrust to the throat he ended his enemy's life. Blood gushed from guardsman's throat like from butchered lamb and he tried to close the wound but to no avail. Finally he fell to ground,blood trickling on earth's surface. I froze to the ground and stood like that scene for long time when Jerryck began to vomit in mostly inappropriate time. When I lifted my gaze,Ser Coryn's eyes met with mine and trust me I never in my life saw such cold,calculating eyes,that cold fury within those pools.He left tax collector to Harlan and lifted me to horse.We reached our castle by evening and my father who never beat me in my life,gave me good thrashing and locked me in my room with words "Tomorrow I will open door until then you should think about your actions and why I did this to you". Of course,I knew why father beat me,but was still stunned about death of that guardsman.It is very terrifying thing to watch, depictions of first death encounters in the novels and fics don't comprehend that fully.It forever sealed in my mind:that eyes, blood gushing from throat, poor man trying to keep that life which flowing out his body... I remembered it from detail to detail and I guess it will keep popping up eventually in my life
"Curiosity killed the cat" they said in the other world.Let's try not to be that cat.
Tomorrow father opened door and said : "So,have you thought about things I talked to you yesterday ?" I replied : " Yes I disobeyed you and got curious, father.It won't happen again,I swear" "Being curious isn't a problem,Perceon.But you endangered yourself and your companion.I didn't teach you to be reckless and unaware dolt.Now today untill guests arrive you will begin riding lessons under Sir Harlan.Now I have a lot of work,Sir Harlan is waiting for you near the stables" father said and went to his room.
For a short time I have been here,I have grown fond of my old man.He can be a bit rougher sometimes but he is protective of me and deeply caring parent. He is very skillful tough fighter and proven man of honor and honesty which are rare qualities everywhere,be it Earth or Planetos...
With this thoughts I didn't notice that I came to stables when Sir Harlan said : "Hey,boy don't be grumpy over yesterday.To watch one die in your age isn't very good thing,you know and your father is very concerned about it. I know many older men gone mad after seeing their first death and I say you're tough guy.Hell,your ole man was like you,curious and mischievous so your grandpa had to step in and straighten him out.So man up and sit on a horse,let's start our lessons".
Many hours passed before guests begun arriving to feast.During that time I learned many things about riding.I ride with canter,jog and learned that horses' moods depends greatly on rider's. "Other things we will reach gradually " Sir Harlan said and ended our lesson.
Now I was greeting our guests with my father. Lawtons,Dilmores and Stackhouses came with all members of their family.Webbers as expected politely refused our invitation so one trouble less for us. First guest is William Lawton:blonde,jolly man with big belly and infectious laugh. He has wife Selina and two daughters: Bella,who is a baby and Melissa around my age. Second guest is a Marlon Stackhouse, young man of age eighteen,who sees my father as his mentor and has deep respect for him as my father knighted him when he hunted down highwaymen with Marlon.He ruffled my hair passing beside me.Next guest is a Jon Dilmore,old man around sixties with a grandson Ryam who's peer with me.He lost his son in war and only Ryam can continue Dilmore bloodline,so Jon carry him everywhere all day along.Besides it won't hurt to make more friends,so I definitely will try to befriend him.My father prepared decent feast and put his noble guests at place of honor.He made sure that Jon and I sat together,so thank you dad for understanding.
"Hi,my name Perceon" I said. He replied :" Good to see you and my name is Ryam".So this is how our acquaintance began and it bore fruitful conversation.Ryam turned up to be cheerful boy and like all of boys his age,strived to be a knight.Also my father chatted with all guests in the room,but I noticed that he talked with Jon often than others.Sadly I couldn't hear their conversation.Soon we left great hall to play hide and seek with Melissa and Ryam. My father stood and congratulated me on my birthday and wished me all well things he could think of.All other guests joined his toast.
We didn't notice that with our playing that day was ending and our guests were about to leave.I said goodbye to my new friends and then father sent his guests home.
"Well this day went well.I think you did good,my son and got new friends.You met my expectations.Now go and get yourself in bed" he said. I replied "Alright dad,have a goodnight" and made for my room.Well day was indeed worth it and with this pace I can forget about Earth for a while.Now time to be asleep.
A/N:That's another chapter for you,my readers. You may also noticed how many OC houses and characters I added to the story. Well English isn't my native language so I hope I made them and my story readable at best.
NeedingofLifeGoalDude:Thank you man,your information is greatly appreciated!
Disclaimer:I don't own ASOIAF and Game of thrones.