Chapter seven
The wolf and the Crossing
The ride to winterfell has been a mostly dull affair Justin spent most of his time avoiding his brother and sitting around fires talking with the men. His father chastised him for doing so. He was a Knight and a Lords son he shouldn't be acting like a commoner. But Justin felt more at home with the common soldier then he ever did with high Lords and Ladies. "Ser is that Winterfell?" Dexard rode up close to Justin as the seat of house Stark came into view. "Aye I believe so. I was only a small boy when I first came here but it looks about the same, give me some water from the skin I need a drink" after drinking the water and wiping off his chin they both rejoined the convoy.
As they finally passed through the gates of Winterfell Justin spied his father speaking to Lord Manderly's son Ser Wendel Manderly. His father was most likely talking about preparations for Danards wedding. Although Ser Manderly had two daughters it didn't seem as though his Father had any interest in marrying Justin off. He was a second born after all and hardly a reasonable match for one of the most powerful families in the North. Danard's wedding would already be seen as a potential power grab but he would be Lord if Eaglesend, Justin would just be his sworn sword. Many would see that as the Maxwards trying to take White Harbour from under the noses of the Manderly's and his Father would have none of those rumours. Justin dismounted handing the reigns of Thunder over to Dexard. As Justin took in the sights of Winterfell he had noticed the amount of men here. The Manderly's garrison alone dwarfed the Maxward men entirely. Just as Justin was about to leave to explore Danard grabbed him by the arm. "Oi where do yeh think yeh going? The Lord's are gathering in the great hall to speak to Robb Stark and if I have to sit there and listen to the niceties thrown around by Lords who can barely stand each other so do you" before Justin knew t he was being dragged off to the main hall.
As one would expect the meeting was a turbulent one. Many Lords supported marching south whilst others questioned it. Shouts of traitor and coward were thrown around before Robb Stark was able to calm them down. "My Lords I thank you for your councel but I won't leave my father to rot in the dungeons of Kings Landing and be falsely labelled a traitor. I plan to march south within the next week. Ready yourselves and your men" with that Robb Stark left as many of the Lords still bickered and others spoke of how the war would affect trade into the North. As Justin left the Great hall Danard once again pulled him aside. "I was wrong Justin, about Lucas, he may be a bastard but he's still our brother. As for you marching with us I still don't agree with father. But until he dies he's my Lord and I'll respect his commands" before Justin had time to respond his brother had marched off shouting at some men unloading supplies off the cart.
As the night slowly crept upon them a messenger informed Justin that the Lords and their sons were invited to feast in the great hall alongside Robb Stark. Justin enjoyed his time at the feast he laughed and joked with men he'd never met before and men who he knew from childhood the night was going well. "Oathbreaker is it?" Justin rose to his feet seeing the Greatjon Umber shouting at Robb Stark. Justin quickly slipped his hand onto the hilt of his sword in case the Greatjon took his anger any further. "I'll not sit here and swallow insults from a boy so green he pisses grass" with that the Greatjon went for his blade but before anyone else had time to react Robb starks dire wolf leapt across the table biting the fingers from the Greatjon's hand causing him to scream out in pain. "My father always taught me it was death to bare steel against your Liege Lord, but doubtless the Greatjon only meant to cut my meat for me" the Greatjon made his way to his feet kicking the chair away from him clutching onto the bloody remains of his hands. "Your meat, is bloody tough" the old man started to laugh as the rest of the great hall joined in with him.
The time had come to march towards Kings Landing. Justin could not sleep the whole night before. He spent his time checking his arms and armour and sharpening his blade to a point where he could swear it was more grindstone then blade now. Dexard was helping Justin into his armour. He had the smith make him a new set his tourney armour was left in Eaglesend. Now he sported chainmail, steel pauldrons and boiled leather over the top. His cloak was given to him by his father. Fox fur and wool. He protested at first that once they reached the south he would not need it but his father simply said "We won't reach the south for a while and even when we do you'll thank me during the long nights. A warm fire is all well and good but you won't be able to huddle around a fire when you're on patrol or on sentry duty." Once again his father was right when they made camp that night Justin was put in charge of a small group of men watching the western parameter. By the time other men had come to relieve them Justin was sure he'd collapse of exhaustion before he reached his tent. The tent was a simple thing made out of goats leather, there was barely enough room for him to undress let alone comfortably walk around but it kept the rain and the wind out which was good enough for him.
Days seemed to pass by in a matter of hours as they marched further and further south. They would reach the Crossing soon. The seat of house Frey was one of the only ways to move supplies and men down South. Justin had heard many things about house Frey about how Lord Walder Frey has more Bastards then most men have hot meals and how his allegiance often went to those with the heaviest purses. That was when the crossing came into view for Justin. His throat tightened and his stomach had began to knot. Twin castles just like the ones from his dreams. He unsaddled himself from Thunder and walked to a nearby tree wretching into a bush as the whole world spun around him. "Justin, what's wrong Lad?" His father stood over him a concerned look on his face as many others looked on. "It's nothing Father, probably just had a bad egg" he couldn't tell his Father or anyone about the dreams. They'd think him mad and lock him away somewhere. They waited for what seemed like half the day for Walder Frey to permit them access through his gates. Even though Justin reminded himself constantly that they were just dreams he kept his hand firmly on the pummel of his sword just in case.