Hey fellas,

I come bearing gifts, namely a new chapter - which is, granted, a bit of a placeholder - but i thought a little cuteness and sugarcoating might be nice, now that it's winter. I truly hope you enjoy it!

xxx

scuffie

The days went by and Avyn could not but notice how her son developed quite unique a friendship with Tormund Giantsbane whom he still called simply "Master Giant".

And Tormund himself had grown rather fond of the young boy as well. "Wee Master Dwarf" had become his own nickname for the boy. But Tormund was not the only one to enjoy the lad's staying at Winterfell. Jon snow was nothing but kind to Brynden (who still firmly believed him to be his brother), Ser Davos told the child a bedtime story every evening and Sansa gave Brynden way too many sweets and goodies.

"I thought having Brynden here would do you good", Sansa admitted to Avyn one evening, while they were sitting in front of the fire, drinking wine "But now I feel that all of us needed that little ray of sunshine very much."

„You are not wrong, Lady Sansa", Avyn said „ His coming here made me very happy."

„But surely you must have noticed how the men love him! Jon, Davos - and even Tormund! I bet the boy could even bring my stern Brienne's heart to melt."

They chuckled and Avyn bent to get the bottle of wine to refill their cups:

"I still don't know what to think – that wildling is spending so much time with my little snowflake and Brynden loves every second of it. But I cannot always be there to supervise them. I mean, well, certainly Brynden trusts Tormund a great deal , but I find myself still unable to trust a wildling. Even Tormund. And I have to admit, Tormund does surprise me now and then, quite a lot, actually."

Sanasa looked at her friend in amazement but Avyn would not notice, as sh seemed to be far away, lost in her thoughts. Sansa smiled, and drank from her cup silently as Avyn drifted away in her memories of a few days before.

Brynden was to meet Tromund, to play with wooden swords and since Avyn had not been able to join them quite often before, Brynden had made her promise to tag along. She was still uncertain about which way to behave towards the enormous wildling so she just stood there, holding Brynden's little hand while they waited for Tromund to finish his talk with Lord Snow. Avyn was thankful though, because she could use this moment to prepare herself. While she was still trying to think of something to say – anything, really – Jon Snow was making his good byes and came towards her, as he had spotted her.

"Hello my lady, little master, how are you today?", he asked.

"We are both more than happy, Lord Snow. If someone had told me a few weeks ago how much I would come to like Winterfell, would never have believed them."

"Your words make me glad, Lady Umber", Jon snow smiled "Even though..."

He tried to say something but was interrupted by a much too eager Brynden who could not be held back by politeness and shouted loudly: "Master Giant" as he ran away from his mother towards Tormund who had just turned around.

"Master Dwarf", he replied with his loud, rambling voice, and bend down to greet the little boy.

Avyn shook her head disapprovingly but could not help herself but to grin as she heard Jon Snow's light chuckle.

"He is quite an act, your ward", Jon smiled.

"He is", Avyn replied happily.

They stood in silence and watched as Tormund handed Brynden a play-sword.

"Lady Umber", Snow sighed after a while "I am very sorry."

"Pray, Lord Snow, do tell me why."

"It is difficult, my Lady. The more lords arrive, the more difficult it gets. We will have to find a strategy to help us let you keep your stand as a lady. The lords and ladies of the North are very open about their... well, their concerns about you."

"It's about Rickon, Smalljon and the Boltons, is it not?", Avyn asked under her breath.

"It is indeed", Jon nodded.

"What exactly is it that they ask of you?"

"They want me to banish you from the North."

Jon Snow did not look at her while speaking but Avyn could see how uncomfortable he was having this conversation.

She took a deep breath, put a hand on his shoulder and smiled as he turned to look at her.

"Lord Snow, do you trust me?"

It took him a second but then, with a stern look on his face, he replied: "Yes, Lady Umber, I do."

"Well, then I am sure we will figure something out", she said as her smile broadened, "You should excuse me now, though. I promised Brynden I would watch him have his first real swordfight."

They chuckeled again, as Jon bowed a little and Avyn started to walk away. After a few steps she turned around: "You know, I think you should start calling me Avyn, Jon."

And she left a perplexed Lord of Winterfell behind.

Watching Brynden fight against Tormund was a true delight.

She noticed how gentle the wilding behaved when he was with her son, while Brynden hit him as hard as he could with the wooden sword. It must have taken Tormund a great deal of caution, seeing as he was so very strong. Avyn laughed as Brynden ran through right between the wilding's legs to attack him from behind with a, for a child, heavy blow on Tormund's buttocks. Tormund turned around, put on an angry face which barely managed to hide his own amusement, and caught Brynden with his hands, taking him up into the air which made the lad giggle.

While she watched the both of them play, Avyn thought about what Jon had said to her. Again, the topic of marriage would be brought up for sure. She truly would not mind to marry, her only concern was Brynden and his future, which would most certainly be compromised by a husband.

She would have to tell Jon about Brynden's true ancestry, about him being her son. It was the only way she would have any chance of finding a match willing to, maybe, adopt the boy as his own.

"Lady Umber", Tormunds deep voice pulled her out of her toughts "it's nice to see ye."

"Tormund", she said and managed to smile as she took in the image of that giant of a man holding her little son's hand "is your game already over?"

"Is not a game, Annie!", Brynden chimed in to correct his mother "'Tis exercise."

"And you did very well, I think, my dear", she smiled at him "He will be a great fighter, won't he, Tormund?"

"Aye", the wilding said, eyeing her curiously "That he'll be. Now, laddie, why don't ye go find yer handmaiden, so she can get ye cleaned up and find you something warm to drink."

"What's you do?", Brynden asked, clearly not wanting to leave just now – especially since it seemed to him that the adults wanted to talk alone.

"Well", Tormund said "I want to ask yer Annie about something really boring."

"'Bout what?", Brynden wondered.

"If you be good now I might tell you later", Avyn smiled.

"Mhm", Brynden said.

"Now, dear, please go inside, Suca is waiting for you in the hallway."

He nodded, hugged first the wilding and then the lady and off he went.

"Well...?", Avyn said, raising an eyebrow.

"Ye don't seem too happy, lass."

"How come, that you seem to read me like a book?", Avyn jokingly asked, but Tormund did not jump in on her jesting.

"Jon is concerned, too."

"Well, he is under a lot of pressure", Avyn sighed "He has yet to prove himself."

"Aye", Tormund said and lead her to a fire in the yard, close to a bench on which they seated themselves "Has a lot of things on his mind, the lad."

"He is very nice", Avyn smiled.

"He worries a lot about ye, lass. So does the lady."

There was a moment of silence, and for a second Avyn thought he might add a "and so do I", but he did not. Maybe she was interpreting too much into his words.

"Well, I never wanted to be the reason for any concern, believe me", she said quickly.

"Have I offended ye, lass?", he asked and looked contrite "I know, I am no good at yer way of talking."

"I have to say, I find your way, as you call it, quite refreshing, Tormund", she said, trying to be kind "But I am sorry, I don't seem to understand why you wanted to talk to me."

He was silent for a moment longer before he finally admitted: "I don't want ye to be unhappy, lass. Nor Jon or his lady sister. Ye are good people, all three of ye."

"Why, thank you, Tormund", she said, completely taken aback.

"I want to help ye. Jon has explained yer situation to me – took him quite a while to get it into a ol' stupid head like mine. But I think I get ye now. I want to help ye keep yer home."

"Oh, that is certainly very nice of you, Tormund", she smiled, still confused by what was going on "but I don't see how..."

"And I have to say something else", he added quickly, now turning to face her openly for the first time while they sat there, his hair and beard even more fiery while lighted by the flames "Remember, how I said I would not apologise for killing yer brother? I see know, I was wrong, lass. I am sorry about what I did. The situation might've been a whole lot different if I hadn't."

"What do you mean?", she said, slightly concerned about his solemn tone of voice.

"If I had not fought him, ye would've better chances at keeping yer home."

"Oh, Tormund, don't say that", Avyn put her hand on his arm. Why she did not know, to comfort him, probably. Comforting a wildling? Before she knew it, her cold fingers dug themselves into the warm, soft fur. And suddenly, their eyes met, hers grey and deep, his impressive yet undefined, flickering blue in the flames.

"It's too cold out, lass. I better get ye inside", he mumbled after a while.

She nodded and followed him back inside the warm walls of Winterfell.

Both Sansa and Avyn were lost in their thoughts and sat now in complete silence when suddenly the door opened.

"My Lady Sansa, my lady Avyn", Ser Davos greeted the women "Finally I found you. Did you forget, that Jon had asked for your company in the small hall tonight?"

"Oh", they both jumped up "I am very sorry", Avyn said "We have indeed..."

Quickly they followed the ser downstairs where Jon Snow and Tormund already awaited them.

„Now, Sansa, there you are, finally", Jon said and greeted his sister with a kiss on the cheek, "Avyn".

"Sit yeself down, lassie", Tormund's way of greeting was not in the least as refined as Jon's but it made Avyn ease up a little "Cup o' wine?"

She nodded thankfully.

As everyone was seated around the fireplace, Jon finally took the word:

"Tomorrow we will have our grand meeting with all the lords and ladies of the North. Which means, of course, that you will have to be there. And you should be prepared to hear some horrible things."

"Well, I think I will be able to handle that", Avyn smiled politely and took a sip of her cup.

"Believe me, it might take a bad turn", Jon Snow sighed "but I would ask you to stay quiet for as long as the meeting goes. We have to show them that you are here, and that you have our trust, but anything you might say will probably be turned around into something negative."

"I will do my very best to remain silent, my Lord", Avyn nodded.

"You should stay with Tormund while Sansa and I, assisted by Ser Davos, will lead the gathering", Jon continued.

"But...", Avyn said surprised "Tormund is a wildling!"

"Aye, lassie. Thought that was quite clear by now", Tormund said, not too happy with the lady's outburst.

"I apologise, Tormund. I was just wondering if it would help me to be seen with a wildling? Surely your lords and ladies of the North will not be too fond of that."

"You fear, that it would not help your popularity if people associate you with the wildlings?", Davos said, cocking an eyebrow and turning to Jon "I think she might have a point there, Snow."

"Can't she sit next to me?", Sansa said, reaching for Avyn's hand "To show that she has earned our trust?"

"No", Jon shook his head "surely she can't."

"But why?", his sister asked.

"It would seem like she has manipulated you, Lady Sansa. Which would also shine a bad light upon yourself; people would think, that, because of your youth, you are not fit for leadership."

Jon got up and began pacing in front of the fire.

"I still believe it is best if you stay with Tormund, Avyn. Davos and I have reason to believe that it might be dangerous for you to be here tomorrow... The probability is small, yet I would rather you were safe. And Tormund, though a wildling, has at least some kind of stand in our circles. If not because he fought for us in the battle of Winterfell, then at least for his sheer height and strength. He could protect you."

Avyn sighed and exchanged a look with Sansa. She did not want to be associated with Tormund. Sure, they had had some nice moments, and he was so very nice to Brynden, but nevertheless, he was what he would always be, a wildling, in the end uncivilised and brutal.

So, how did you guys like it? Please let me know!