The woods here were warmer than those beyond the Wall. Anera's heavy cloak was slung over her arm. Her dark hair waved in the faint breeze, freed from the tight braid she typically kept it in. Beside her walked one of her companions, Osha, whose wild hair stuck out around her head.
Anera kept her bow close at hand. There was a quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder, fletched with dark black feathers. She scanned the trees, blue eyes darting across rock and moss. She heard the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, then, a quiet, faraway sound that seemed to be coming closer.
Anera froze. Her hand flashed out to grab Osha by the shoulder. "Quiet," she hissed, and her four companions did as told.
Through the silence, the sound of excited cheers broke out. A smile played at Anera's lips. The sound faded into nothing, but still, Anera and the others kept quiet. "Behind the trees," she whispered, and everyone did as told.
A young boy rode on a horse, looking around the forest as he did. The horse pawed anxiously at the dirt. Anera watched Osha come out from behind a tree. The rest followed, keeping a safe distance from the boy and his horse. At the sound of footsteps, the horse whinnied, and the boy asked nervously, "Robb?"
They were surrounding him in an instant. Osha took the horse by the reins, grinning as she looked at the boy. "All alone in the deep, dark, woods," she noted.
He looked around before he replied, "I'm not alone. My brother is with me."
"I don't see anyone else," Anera said.
"Got him hidden under your cloak?" one of her companions, Stiv, asked with a laugh.
Anera looked the boy over with a smile, eyes falling on a pin attached to his cloak. "That's a pretty little thing. Looks like silver, I'd say," she said.
"We'll take the pin and the horse," Stiv said. He nodded to the boy. "Get down."
When the boy made no indication of moving, Stiv pressed, "be quick about it."
"I can't," the boy said. "The saddle- - the straps."
Anera's third companion, Wallen, quickly moved the boy's cloak aside to see the straps that kept his legs secured at the horse's sides. "What's wrong with you?" Stiv demanded. "You some kind of cripple?"
"I'm Brandon Stark of Winterfell," the boy said. "If you don't let me be, I'll have you all killed!"
Stiv drew his knife as Wallen began to work at the straps. "Cut his little cock off and stuff it in his mouth," Wallen stated.
"The boy's worth nothing dead," Osha said. "Benjen Stark's own blood? Think what Mance would give us."
Stiv moved one of the straps, his blade slicing Brandon's leg cleanly. Brandon hardly even moved. "Piss on Mance Rayder and piss on the North," Stiv said. "We're going as far South as South goes. There ain't no White Walkers down in Dorne."
Anera saw a figure advancing, and in an instant she nocked an arrow, raising her bow level with him. "Drop the knife!" the new man stated. "And that bow! Let him go and I'll let you live."
Anera couldn't help but to chuckle as he drew his sword. She looked at Brandon. "This your brother?" she asked.
Brandon said nothing. Stiv shoved Wallen forward. Wallen let out a yell, swinging his ax at the man, who dodged swiftly. Each swing of the ax was dodged until the man ducked low, his blade shoving through Wallen's neck. Wallen dropped.
Stiv occupied himself with Brandon, who struggled to free himself from Stiv's grip. Osha charged the man, connecting a hit to his back with her mace. Anera stepped back, trying her best to keep the arrow aimed at the back of the man's head. He spun to face Osha, knocking her to the ground. He twisted his hand through Osha's hair, keeping her firmly in place. Anera's final companion ran at him, only to be stabbed through the chest.
Stiv managed to get Brandon from the horse's back, holding the boy tight to his chest, knife pressed to his throat. "Robb," Brandon said.
"Shut up," Stiv snapped. Then to the man, seemingly Robb, he said, "drop the blade!"
"No, don't," Brandon urged.
"Do it!" Anera said, moving to aim the arrow at Robb's eye.
Robb hesitated, slowly lowering his sword to the ground. Stiv nodded, then, suddenly, he dropped Brandon, crying out as an arrow flew through his chest. Anera spun around to see another man had entered the clearing. His bow was raised to her, and she dropped her weapon in an instant, lowering to her knees and bowing her head. There was no use fighting now. The man advanced on her, arrow aimed carefully. Robb released Osha, moving to Brandon. "Are you all right?" he asked, nodding toward the cut on his leg.
"Yes," Brandon said. "It doesn't hurt."
Robb lifted Brandon from the ground. Anera glanced up at the man. "Get to your friend," he instructed. "Don't try and stand up or this arrow goes through your eye."
She spat at his feet, glaring as she did as told, joining Osha. The man looked back at Robb. "Tough little lad," he said. "In the Iron Islands, you're not a man until you've killed your first enemy. Well done."
"Have you lost your mind?" Robb asked after a moment. "What if you'd missed?"
"He would have killed you and but Bran's throat," the man said.
"You don't have the right- -"
"To what, to save your brother's life? It was the only thing to do, so I did it."
Robb hesitated, looking toward Anera and Osha. "What about them?"
The man kept his arrow trained as Osha looked at Robb. "Give me my life, my lord, and I'm yours," she begged.
Anera made no such promise, not even speaking until the man kicked her hard in the side. She shot him a glare, finally saying, "I can serve you, my lord."
Robb nodded. "We'll keep them alive."
A smile broke out on Osha's face as she sighed with relief. Anera moved to squeeze her shoulder.
She had left Mance Rayder's servitude only to enter another.