A/N: Yes, I know, I know, I did not keep it up, all right. But I tried, believe me and I will keep on trying.

I'm glad to see new reviews everytime I log on to update - it's very motivating! And much appreciated!

So, here you go - another chapter, and finally there's a bit of Tormund doing things.

Hope you enjoy it!

xxx

scuffie

They sent the messenger on his way the very same night, and as Lord Snow assured Avyn, it was his fastest rider on the best horse, so they hoped he would return in less than ten days with the little boy.

The next week, Avyn seemed very changed: Her bruises healed and she started smiling now and then. She took long walks with Sansa and spent hours in the library or talking to Ser Davos who had become her confidante. Avyn enjoyed the company of the elderly knight, his presence seemed to calm her and he always had some great stories to tell. One morning, she met him in the yard and together they climbed the ladder up to the wall, where they could look over the surroundings of Winterfell.

He was telling her of his life as a smuggler and Avyn was most intrigued by his criminal background, curious about his adventures, but she interrupted him, when she saw a group of riders approaching the stronghold.

"Who's that?", she asked him "Are the first lords arriving already?"

"Ah, well, a good question, my Lady. But I have to disappoint you, those are merely Tormund and his men. They went hunting, and it seems like they could finish earlier than he had estimated."

"Are the wildings the ones who provide food for the rest of us?", Avyn asked surprised.

"Yes", Davos nodded "Well, at least Tormund shares with us. Our soldiers have to take care of themselves, as do his wildlings."

"I don't want to be depending on a wildling", Avyn said, a fold between her eyes "I can hunt myself, you know? I'm actually quite good at it."

"That's quite peculiar, my Lady", Davos said and cocked an eyebrow.

"My father taught all of us", she shrugged "I liked it. Well, not the killing, but the chase, you know."

"Well then. You might find the chance to join the wildlings sometime. Jon has set you free, after all. Though we might have to face some difficulties. Your brother did hand over Rickon Stark to Bolton, so they might not believe in your loyalty towards Jon and Sansa."

"I doubt it. After all, he handed me over as well. Lady Sansa has freed me from my prison and they have both been nothing but kind. And Sansa told me, they have invited every last Lord in the North, so undoubtedly there will be quite a few who have actually worked hand in hand with Ramsay Bolton."

"But, Mylady, you are...a woman", Davos said, without looking at her, reminding her of the harsh truth that a female ruler never had the same respect among her peers as a male ruler would.

"So is Lady Sansa – who is the last legitimate child of Lord Eddard Stark. And for the last few months Bear Island has had a Lady ruling it – I keep forgetting her name... But she's not much more than a child."

"Lady Lyanna", the Onion Knight nodded "She is quite an act, if I may say so."

"Yes, you see? But anyways, I guess we'll have to see what the Lords say when the time comes. I only hope I'll be able to see Brynden soon."

"How long now, since you've sent the messenger?", Davos asked interestedly and they walked a few steps on the wall.

"Five days, maybe six? The messenger should return in about three days, with the child, I hope."

"You seem to be quite taken with that little boy."

"I am", Avyn said and blushed "We have taken him in as a small babe, and I was the only one to care for him. Especially since my father did not want me to leave the Last Hearth and rejected every suitor for various reasons – not that I had minded that much."

"But, my Lady, maybe the thought has not yet crossed your mind: As the Lady of the Last Hearth you will have to marry."

She looked at him and blinked for a second: "Oh. No. I had not thought about that."

"Well, you will find yourself some very nice lord or knight, I am sure", Davos smiled.

"I sure will", she nodded.

Avyn was very silent for the rest of the day, thinking about her future. She would have to marry. Well, she did not mind too much. But what of Brynden? She did not want to shut her son out of her life, for the sake of finding a better match. It had been clear from the beginning that one day she would have to acknowledge him as her bastard-son. And she knew, she'd had to find a husband who'd not mind. And who could love Brynden just as if he was his own.

Oh dear Gods of Old, she pleaded Help me keep my child happy and safe. Have him arrive here in all well-being. Please, give me the strength to enlighten my hosts about the snowflake's heritage. I need your support in this time, when every wrong move could ruin my life and that of my son.

The two days later, in the morning, as Avyn was on her way downstairs for breakfast she met Tormund in the corridor.

"Good morning, lass", he greeted her and grinned.

"Good morning, wildling", she replied without thought.

"I thought ye were a lady", he said, raising an eyebrow.

"I thought I was, too", she said, surprised at how her mouth had run away with her again.

"Doesn't matter to me", he shrugged "A wildling is what I am, so ye aren't as impolite as ye seem to think. Now, come on, lass."

"No, Tormund, wait. I'm sorry", she said pacing a little more quickly to keep up with him "I should not have greeted you that way. Even though you are a wildling, it's not nice."

"Aye", he nodded "As I said, it's all right. Ye don't seem to like me, so ye needn't pretend. Davos told me it was your brother I killed in that fight. I shan't apologise, my Lady. 'Twas a battle after all. But I am sorry for your loss."

She looked at him in amazement as he grinned: "Us wildlings aren't all that bad, lass."

"I gather that", she said, her eyes still widened "But, you know, I am hardly a lassie any more."

Now he was the one to look down at her in slight surprise: "Ye aren't wedded, are ye? And ye are young, an' pretty. I hadn't thought it might bother you."

"It doesn't really", she said, even though it had bothered her quite a bit. But she had never thought about it being normal were he was from "If you... well, if you want to call me that, by all means, do it."

He nodded and together they reached the hall.

Tormund opened the door and held it for her, which she acknowledged with a slight smile. Just now, Avyn began to realise that, maybe, the wildlings weren't as wild and uncivil as she always had thought. Or at least Tormund wasn't. But then she saw him having breakfast and revised her opinion. He did eat like a pig.

She sat on her usual place, opposing Davos and the wildling and usually, Sansa would sit to her right, only the red-haired woman had not been seen yet.

Averting her gaze from Tormund's rather unpleasant eating habits she started to chat with Davos, wondering where the Stark girl might be. Additionally, her brother was missing, so Avyn wondered if the siblings might have an argument of some sorts.

A notion which was confirmed only half an hour later when Sansa found the Lady Umber in the library. Avyn put down her book as she noticed the rather angry look in her friend's face.

"Good morning, Lady Sansa", she greeted the younger girl "You look quite distraught. Can I be of any help?"

"I fear you can't. It's just that Lyanna Mormont, the Lady of Bear Island? Well, she said not to trust you, because of what your brother did. Seemingly she spoke to Jon the day before yesterday, but I only found the time to talk to him today."

She let out a frustrated sigh and sat down next to Avyn.

"We had a little argument – somehow Lady Mormont has manged to influence him. But he does trust you, my Lady, know that much. The only problem is to convince others to trust you. Or, your family's name, that is."

Avyn nodded and sighed: "I have talked about the exact same topic with Ser Davos only a few days ago. What have you decided will happen to me?"

"Nothing is decided just yet", Sansa said "which is very frustrating. I told him to just stand up to his men and tell them that..."

"Oh no", Avyn shook her head "Lord Snow will not be able to do that. They need a scapegoat. They might have forgotten about where their loyality lies, but at least they are not responsible for your little brother's death. So, yes, me and my name should be the perfect way to divert your attention from their own faults."

Sansa looked at her in astonishement: "You seem changed, Lady Avyn, if you don't mind me saying that. But not for worse, I can assure you. Anyways I fear we have some battles ahead of us."

"We, my Lady?", Avyn raised an eyebrow "I would rather not have you fight with your brother because of me."

"I don't fight against Jon", Sansa simply replied "I fight against people who want to destroy your reputation."

Avyn smiled: "Thank you very much, my Lady. Your help is much appreciated, indeed."

"No need for that", Sansa said "Us women have to stick together in this world of men, don't we?"

A sudden feeling of warmth spread throughout Avyn's body.

"Yes", she said "guess we do."

Sansa decided that spending the day in the library was far too dull and made her friend join her for a walk. They went around the castle, returning sooner than they had thought, simply because of the cold temperature. When they reached the stronghold, they met Ser Davos who was talking to Tormund and another man. Next to the man was a horse on one side and a little boy on the other.

As soon as Avyn realised she started sprinting towards the men, followed by Sansa with some distance.

The Lady Umber just so managed to stop in front of the men and fell to the icy ground in front of her son.

"Ann", he greeted her and stretched out his small, chubby arms in her direction.

"Hello, little snowflake", she mumbled and pulled him into a tight hug "How are you?"

"Good", he nodded as she let go of him, not without stroking his brown curls.

"Did you have a fun ride? Was the man nice?"

"Ya! He knows fun games!", the child giggled before turning shy and looking up at Tormund.

"That's good to hear", Avyn smiled "Are you hungry now? You must be exhausted after such a long ride, Brynden."

"Ann?", the child asked instead of answering her questions "Is he a giant?", Brynden pointed at the wildling.

Before Avyn could reply, Tormund turned away from Davos, to whose conversation with the messenger he had listened (they had politely turned away not to disturb the reunion) and laughed a deep, rough laugh.

"No, lad. I am no giant, though maybe ye are a dwarf, little master."

Brynden was so in shock that he quickly hid in his mothers lap and Avyn shot Tormund a glance. But to her surprise the wildling squatted, so that he was not as tall and said: "But maybe, if... the lady allows it, ye could sit on me shoulders, Master Dwarf?"

As fast as he had hidden his face, Brynden looked up again in such a gleeful manner that even if she had wanted, Avyn would not have found it in her heart to forbid him riding on Tormund's shoulders.

Maybe, the wildling was not so bad after all.

Did you like the chap? Please let me know :)