AN: Thank you all for the reviews and support. Special shout out to KunnegAndris for a suggestion that made this chapter much easier to write and will probably continue to play a very large role in this story in the coming chapters. I ended up splitting this chapter into two parts because it made more sense from a content perspective. Please continue to leave reviews about what you like about the story and what you may like to see in the future. Who knows, you may end up with a special shout out on one of the future chapters. :-) Anyway, here is chapter 3 of Stargaryan Ring.

The traveling performers had set up a camp south of Winterfell's training grounds as near the Kingsroad as possible while remaining inside the walls of Winterfell. With the castle gates open, the performers have put themselves in the best position to entertain visitors from the Winterfell while still allowing easy access to anyone from Winter Town as well as travelers from the Kingsroad that may have the want and the coin to make merry with the newcomers, Jon observed. Surely, a good deal of the folk in Winter Town must have seen the band of travelers approaching. They will be curious as to why the group has not yet left the castle and will come to investigate. If the performers are worth their salt then they stand to rake in the coin by being allowed to make camp in such a busy location.

"You sure you're still up to visiting the commoners, Jon," Robb asked. "You may not bear the name Stark, but it would be a poor showing for House Stark if you were to go into their camp and faint like a woman."

"Didn't you see what Jon did in the training ground," Bran asked, incredulously. "He can do anything!"

"I don't know," Theon countered with mirth in his eyes. "I'd bet that Jon blew all of his energy before he made it to the main event. It's not uncommon for maiden boys, such as him, to exhaust themselves in such a way. Though a man with the breeding of a true lord, such as myself, would never exhaust himself in such an embarrassing manner."

"A man of lordly breeding, is that what you are, Greyjoy?" Jon shot back. "Please milord, I hope that I haven't offended the pile of rocks that you fashion yourself the lord over with my humble ways."

Speech +100

"Play nice, you two," Robb attempted to ease the tension. "There's strength in appearances and I wouldn't have us appearing like a bunch of squabbling women."

"Don't mind us, Robb. I was merely imparting some of my worldly experience upon the maiden faire over there," Theon smirked while lifting his chin at Jon. "Gods know that he needs it, when it comes to matters with the fairer sex."

"Don't trouble yourself on my account, Theon. I learned early on that the drivel that flows from your mouth is usually worth about as much as what flows into my chamber pot."

Speech +100

Theon bristled on indignation and began to reply but chose to hold his tongue when he saw the sharp look in Robb's eye.

"Come on, guys," Bran interjected. "I want to see the performers."

"Just don't get your hopes up too high Bran," Robb cautioned. "They only just arrived last night and it is unlikely that they will be doing anything more than setting up for their stay here."

The group continued their march to the performer's camp. There looked to be 20 or so tents of various colors arranged in a loose ring around a large central fire with a good number of people milling about set to various tasks without any seeming rhyme or reason. As the four boys got closer, it became apparent that the hustle and bustle that they were seeing was very well rehearsed. It was as if each person knew exactly the role that they had to play in order to get their camp up and running as soon as possible.

"You little lordlings are a bit early for the performance," a mostly grey haired man with a sharp face and a smile that caused laughter lines to become visible on his face, stated while turning pegs on his lute. "Is there something that I can help you with?"

"Thank you for your courtesy, good bard. I'm Robb Stark. These are my brothers, Jon and Bran," Robb greeted the man, gesturing to Bran and Robb respectively while taking note of the surprisingly broad chest and shoulders that the bard possessed. "This is Theon Greyjoy."

Jon nodded at the minstrel, surprised that such a seemingly physically capable man would decide to pick up and instrument rather than a sword.

Mance Rayder, Leader of the Free Folk
Level: ?: S. ? P. ? E. ? C. ? I. ? A. ? L.?
Reputation: 0%

The bard smiled at Robb's initiative. "It'd be my pleasure for you to call me Camen. Would you like to hear a tune?"

This hasn't happened before. The SR shows his name to be Mance but he introduced himself as Camen. Maybe he's lying about his name. Obviously he just moved the letters around a bit for the name that he provided.

"Do you know the Bear and the Maiden Fair?" Bran asked, clearly excited at the prospect of hearing the song that the men sometimes sang when coming back from a particularly difficult hunt.

"I believe that I've heard that song once or twice. Let's see how my memory serves me today," the bard began to strum the strings of his lute.

"Don't let him play you for fools, his memory is sharp as they come," a red-haired girl with shimmering blue eyes set on a thin face with pouty lips and a lithe body cautioned. "Camen, you don't want to give away too much about the performance, do you?"

"Ah, right you are. Well boys, if there is anything else that I can help you with do feel free to let me know. Everything should be ready for the performance in the next day or so. I hope that you find yourselves down here again to see the performance, in my incredibly modest and unbiased opinion, this troupe is quite talented."

Robb and Theon laughed at how quickly Camen changed his tune at the cautioning of the girl.

Theon's face expression morphed into what he must have thought to be the epitome of masculine appeal. "And who might you be, my lady?"

"I'm no lady. You can have my name once you earned it. The Free Folk aren't like you castle dwellers."

The grey haired man chuckled. "She's a fiery one, that girl. I think Old Maude mentioned that she wanted to see you before she started the lunch preparations. You best see what she wants."

The girl looked as if she wished to reply but chose to make her way to the large woman tending a very large cauldron near the fire in the center of the camp.

"Who was that," Jon asked as his eyes focused on the girl's retreating figure.

"No, no, no!" Camen laughed. "You heard the terms to get her name. I won't be betraying her confidence in the matter."

"Surely it wouldn't be the worst of things if you were to let us in on her name," Theon insisted. "A girl like that needs to be… addressed frequently, as many times as possible."

Camen's eyes grew hard as he heard the true meaning of Theon's words. "Take care, young lord. That girl knows better than most how to take care of herself. Dare I say it, there aren't many who can match her skill with a bow currently. Give her a few years and there won't be many who can call themselves her equal."

"I love a challenge," Theon countered, while walking away from the group to approach the girl. "Let's see if I can't convince you to tell me your name."

"This should be good to watch," Robb said with a smirk. "I give him a minute before he says or does something that puts him on her bad side."

"You really think it will take that long, Stark?"

"You two may have your differences, Snow, but even you must admit. Theon does have a certain way with the ladies, and it sometimes serves him very well."

"Uh oh, she doesn't seem to like that," Bran observed Theon wrapping his arms around the redheaded girl. The girl lifted her foot and slammed it down on Theon's before elbowing him in the ribs sharply and causing him to release her as she stormed off into the Wolfswood. "Ouch, that was rough."

Theon hobbled back to Robb's side. "It turns out that she isn't ready to handle this much man."

Robb was struggling to hold back a laugh. "It looked like she handled you pretty well from my perspective."

"Well, I've seen enough of this lot for now. I'm going to head into Winter Town to spend some time with my lovely Ros," Theon declared. "Robb, are you going to waste your day here or do you want to come with me and visit some truly talented performers?"

"As tempting as that is, I'm going to stick around here for a bit. I'm sure that I know where to find you, if I decide to make my way to Winter Town later."

"Right. Well, enjoy yourselves. I'm off," Theon tried to be casual as he left the camp with a slight limp due to the pain in his foot.

"I'm going to go after her. There are some dangerous creatures in the Wolfswood and a person can find themselves in very real danger if they are not wary," Jon stated trying to be casual.

"Has a certain redheaded beauty caught our Jon's eye," Robb joked. "If the way she handled Theon is anything to judge her by then I would think you in just as much danger being in her presence as any of the other creatures in the wood."

"Robb, you won't leave me too, will you?" Bran asked, clearly worried that he would be left alone in the performer's camp. "We just got here and have only met two people."

"Nay, if Theon and Jon want to chase after girls then the two of us will stick together as ambassadors of House Stark."

Bran beamed at Robb's words and started walking toward the large pot that the woman identified as Maude was stirring.

"Good luck, Snow," Robb wished as he moved to follow his younger brother."

Jon set off after the redheaded girl that seemed so full of spirit, entering the Wolfswood. This place really is remarkable. No matter how large a person may be, the largest man is merely a child compared to these massive trees.

Warning: You are about to enter the spawn zone, Wolfswood. In the Wolfswood, you will encounter various creatures capable of causing physical damage. The unwary traveler will find himself falling prey to the numerous predators large and small that claim the Wolfswood as their home. It is recommended that characters below level 10 travel in parties to better combat the various enemies that will be encountered.

Oh man, I did not expect this. Jon thought while opening his inventory and equipping the bow and quiver of arrows that he had taken from Winterfell's armory after archery practice with Arya. Hopefully the girl is ok. She didn't seem to have any weapons on her and it seems likely that there will be creatures lurking in the Wolfswood today.

Jon preceded through the Wolfswood, weaving his way through the chestnut, oak and hawthorn trees that were common this close to Winterfell. He walked for several minutes before he heard a roar followed by a high-pitched scream and started to run.

He saw through the trees that he was approaching a clearing with a large rock formation near a cave that the redheaded girl had climbed to escape a large black bear that was standing on its hind legs and snapping at her.

Quest Activated!
The Bear and the Maiden Fair: Save the fair maiden from the attacking bear and make sure that she is safe and uninjured
Reward for completion: 1000 Experience, bearskin, (?) beer teeth, (?) bear claws and increased Reputation with ?, the performing troupe and the Free Folk.
Penalty for failure: Probable serious injury to ?, Decreased Reputation with with ?, the performing troupe and the Free Folk, probable negative long term consequences.

Accept?

Jon accepted without hesitation. I thought the Free Folk was the name of the performing troupe. I can't worry about that now.

Jon crouched down as he nocked an arrow on the bowstring and took a deep breath before focusing on the bear.

Cavebear
Level: 12
HP: 400/400
SP: 190/200

Jon kept the arrow at the ready as he moved closer to the break in the trees to get the best shot lined up while maintaining some coverage between him and the bear should it decide to charge at him after being shot with the arrow.

Jon aimed the arrow at the snapping head of the bear and observed the pattern of movement that the bear repeated as it bit at the redheaded girl. Its claws had found purchase on the rock formation and it was slowly pulling its body off the ground, closer to its frightened prey.

With a sure pull, Jon drew the bowstring and loosed the arrow. His shot was true and it lodged into the neck of the bear causing it to lose its balance and fall backward onto the ground, driving the arrow deeper.

Critical Attack! Damage multiplied by 10!

Focusing on the bear again, Jon checked its stats.

Cavebear
Level: 12
HP: 200/400
SP: 110/200

Status: Arterial puncture wound: minus 2 HP per second, minus 2 SP per second.

The bear rolled itself to its feet, causing the arrow to lodge deeper still.

Cavebear
Level: 12
HP: 198/400
SP: 108/200

Status: Serious arterial puncture wound: minus 5 HP per second, minus 5 SP per second. Enraged: Boost to strength and acceleration.

Boost to strength and acceleration, seven hells. Jon thought as he nocked the second arrow and loosed at the disoriented bear that had stood on its hind legs and faced his direction before letting out a savage roar. The arrow found its target, lodging into the bear's chest near its left foreleg.

Cavebear
Level: 12
HP: 163/400
SP: 93/200

Status: Serious arterial puncture wound: minus 5 HP per second, minus 5 SP per second. Enraged: Boost to strength and acceleration. Obstructed movement: Arrow lodged into joint seriously hinders mobility and acceleration.

The bear seemed to locate Jon and began to lumber toward him. Four seconds passed before Jon could loose another arrow, hitting the bear in the shoulder opposite his previous shot.

Cavebear
Level: 12
HP: 123/400
SP: 53/200

Status: Serious arterial puncture wound: minus 5 HP per second, minus 5 SP per second. Enraged: Boost to strength and acceleration. Obstructed movement x2: Arrow lodged into joint seriously hinders mobility and acceleration.

With labored steps, the bear closed in on Jon and was only about 20 feet away from his location as another arrow found its target, causing it to roar in pain as the arrow struck very nearly the same place as Jon's previous shot.

Cavebear
Level: 12
HP: 93/400
SP: 13/200

Status: Serious arterial puncture wound: minus 4 HP per second, minus 4 SP per second. Obstructed movement x2: Arrow lodged into joint seriously hinders mobility and acceleration.

The bear was still attempting to move towards Jon but lacked the fury that it had after the first shot. Two shots and eleven seconds later, the bear collapsed to the ground, completely still and unmoving.

Sneak +200
Archery +600

Quest Completed!
The Bear and the Maiden Fair: Save the fair maiden from the attacking bear and make sure that she is safe and uninjured Reward for completion: 1000 Experience, bearskin, (30) beer teeth, (20) bear claws and increased Reputation with ?, the performing troupe and the Free Folk.

Quest Activated!
Meeting the Maiden Fair: Introduce yourself to the maiden fair and make a good impression
Reward for completion: ?, increased Reputation with ?.
Penalty for failure: Decreased Reputation with with ?.

Accept?

Jon accepted the new quest as he moved the loot from the previous quest into his inventory. "Hello, I'm Jon Snow. Are you alright?"

"Aye, but if you hadn't come when you did then…" the girl trailed off while looking at the bear. "I'm glad that you did. My name is Ygritte. Don't expect me to run into your arms just because you managed to take out that mangy old bear."

"I wouldn't dream of it. I'm simply relieved that you're alright," Jon admitted while reclaiming his arrows from the fallen bear. "This brute had his eye on you and probably fancied making you his dinner."

"It's not the first time that a guy had untoward thoughts about me. Your friend, for one."

"He's not really my friend, it's kind of complicated. Wait a minute, you told me your name."

"Aye, I told you that you would have to earn it. I may not be running into your arms like one of those castle ladies but you've definitely earned that."

"Ygritte, that's a nice name. I've never heard it before."

"I expect that you wouldn't have. I'm not from around here."

"Where are you from, maybe I can place it."

"I doubt it. My family was really small before my parents were killed."

"I'm sorry to hear about your family"

"I don't need pity."

"It's not pity. It's a shame that your parents were killed. At least you got to know them."

"What do you mean by that? You live in the fancy castle with your parents and brothers and sisters."

"Aye, I live in the castle. However, the Lady of Winterfell is not my mother. I never knew my mother."

"It's cruel that you never came to know your mother but you must recognize how much better you have it than the people outside of the castle walls?"

"That's true, indeed. My father does not allow others to treat me with the usual disdain felt by bastards."

"It doesn't make sense to me to treat someone less due to circumstances that they can't control."

"Right you are. If only the rest of Westeros could come to that realization then there probably wouldn't be so many wars tearing the realm apart."

Ygritte's gaze fell upon Jon as she moved forward and cupped his cheek in her hand. "Thank you for saving me. If you want someone to show you how to actually use that bow while we're here at Winterfell then come and find me."

Surprised by the contact, Jon's eyes locked with Ygritte's and he nodded.

Quest Completed!
Meeting the Maiden Fair: Introduce yourself to the maiden fair and make a good impression Reward for completion: Free Folk archery, increased Reputation with Ygritte

Quest Activated!

Free Folk Archery : Learn how to shoot arrows like the best of the Free Folk
Reward for completion: 1500 Experience, increased Reputation with Ygritte.
Penalty for failure: Decreased Reputation with Ygritte.

Accept?

The quest was accepted before Jon was conscious of his actions. Surely she does not intend to practice archery here, after being attacked by a bear. I should get her out of the wood before anymore enemies spawn. "I think I did pretty well, taking that bear down when it had just figured out that it could climb the rocks to get to you.

"With as many shots as you fired, I would hope that you were able to take it down!"

"Alright then, once we get you back to your camp safely I will be sure to seek out your masterful instruction in the art of archery."

"You know nothing, Jon Snow. At least you did not seem to have any serious bad shooting habits, from what I could see. All the better, that means that you will have less to unlearn in order to shoot like one of the Free Folk."

"So who exactly are the Free Folk? At first I thought that was the name of the performing troupe. Hearing you speak of them makes me think differently."

"The Free Folk is much more than a bunch of people performing for some high up Lord. The Free Folk choose their own paths, the Free Folk take action when others hesitate and, most of all, the Free Folk decide what's important to them and seek it out."

"Wow, that is not the answer that I was expecting."

"The Free Folk don't usually fit people's expectations."

"How have I never heard of them before?"

"I don't know what goes on in that fancy castle of yours. Maybe you have, the Free Folk are called many other names."

"Like what?"

"I didn't even want to tell you my name. What makes you think I'll tell you anything more about the Free Folk?"

"Well, I did save you from a bear that looked like it was going to make you its supper."

"And I've told you my name, more than you need to know and offered to help you actually learn to use that bow. From the way I see it, we are more than square."

"Alright, let's just get you back to camp before we find, or are found by, any of the other creatures that claim the Wolfswood as their home."

Jon took Ygritte's hand and began pulling her out of the clearing and back into the wood, towards the camp. The midday sun had shone brightly and clearly in the clearing however the sun's rays were obstructed by the dense foliage of the Wolfswood, making it look much later. Their trip was mostly uneventful but Jon was surprised that Ygritte ever made to pull her hand from his grasp. He led her through the wood without accident and saw the end of the wood much earlier than he expected.

How did the return trip seem to take so much less time? It feels like we just left the clearing, yet here we are approaching the camp. I must have been more focused on the soft hand in my own than how many steps that I have taken. "I never asked you, what did Theon say to cause you to storm off into the Wolfswood?"

"It's not so much what he said, that was fine. It's just the way that he came up behind me and put his arms around me before pressing against me as if he already had stolen me. It's one thing to steal a girl. It's another thing entirely to act as if you had already stolen her without doing anything to make it so. It just made me mad, that he would be so presumptuous to act like a man when he hadn't done anything to prove himself as one."

"Oh, I thought he whispered something to you considering the way you reacted to him."

"Words only carry so much weight with the Free Folk. A person proves their worth with their actions, as you did against the bear."

Jon stopped and focused on Ygritte.

Ygritte, Daughter of the Free Folk
Level: 9: S. 1 P. 2 E. 2 C. 2 I. 1 A. 2 L.1
Reputation: 80%

Wow, 80% reputation. That's the highest reputation that I've seen so far. Apparently there is some truth to those stories that Sansa loves so much. I saved her from the bear and have a very high reputation with her as a result. "Does saving a fair maiden from a bear count as a worthy action?"

Ygritte took a step to stand directly in front of Jon before responding. "Aye. There are even some that would hear the story and say that you stole me from the bear, instead."

"Is that what you think?"

"I haven't decided what I think about you just yet. I am thankful that you took out the bear but that I'll be able to return to the Free Folk. I know that all men must die and that I'm no exception to that rule, but I'm glad that my day didn't come today."

"I'm glad that I found you when I did. It would be a poor showing for House Stark if one of our guests vanished into the Wolfswood, never to be seen again, before she had even been at Winterfell for a full day."

"Why are you so concerned about the honor of House Stark? From you told me, the Lady is not your mother. You carry the name Snow, not the name Stark. Their honor is not your honor."

"It's true that I carry the name Snow but my father raised me the same way that he raised his other sons. I suppose that, having learned from him and strived for his approval for so long, concern for the honor of House Stark has become very important to me."

"If you say so, Jon Snow," Ygritte let go of his hand and exited the Wolfswood. "Don't forget what I said about teaching you to shoot."

Jon followed her out of the wood as he replied, "Don't worry, I'll be sure to seek you out to see if you're as good as you would have me believe."

Ygritte cast him a crooked smile over her shoulder. "You know nothing, Jon Snow."

AN2: Mance at Winterfell with Ygritte before the feast to honor the king? Why would they be at Winterfell? I took some liberties with Ygritte's back story, I couldn't recall any mention of her family. What did you think of the dialogue sections? What are your thoughts on the story? I expect the Starks to receive tragic news about the fate of Jon Arryn and the coming of the king pretty soon. So Jon will be meeting his most loyal companion in the coming chapters. Let me know if there is anything else that you would like to see, it may just be incorporated. :-)