Uff, guys, I have to say, you have pampered me with reviews - now that I have gotten none for a chapter for the first time while writing this story, I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed and wondering if you truly did not like it.

On the other hand, I tend to be a bit of a pessimist around wintertime, so I just kept on writing - I hope you like this new chap!*

xxx

scuffie

*Even though there might be ~some~ clichés in there...

The big hall was filled with chatter, when Avyn arrived. Surprisingly she noticed Ser Davos sitting close to Tormund instead standing on his designated place behind Jon Snow.

As she went to him and asked him why, he said: "We thought we might have better chances to get through to them if it did not appear as though he already had his staff ready. You might notice how Tormund and his men stand so far off close to the walls, for exactly that reason. By the way, my Lady, I believe the wildlings are already awaiting you. Tormund has already gotten a chair for you, as far as I know."

Avyn nodded and thanked him. As she was just about to take off, Davos held her back.

"He seems to like you, my Lady. Tormund that is. Do yourself a favour and don't just brush him of as a wildling. He may seem harsh but he has a good heart."

"So people keep telling me", Avyn sighed but said good bye with a smile.

Indeed Tormund was awaiting her already. He had put up a chair in front of him so she could see everything that was going on and handed her a glass of wine as soon as she had greeted him.

"I thought a lady like ye would not want to stand", Tormund said and gestured for her to sit, but Avyn stood.

"The gathering has not yet started, Master Giantsbane", she said and smiled "I thought we might talk a little before."

"Very well", Tormund said, seemingly a little confused by the unusual politeness in her voice "Tell me, how is wee Brynden? I have not seen him all day."

"I left him with the maid, they are in the library now to read some stories. But rest assured, he is missing you deeply", Avyn smiled.

"He is a good lad. Ye raised him well", Tormund said and Avyn thought that under his beard there must have been a smile hidden as well.

"It's a shame ye don't ken his parents", he added and his eyes suddenly seemed to pierce through her. Quickly Avyn said: "Yes, a shame."

But luckily for her, Jon Snow opened the gathering and so she could turn around and sit down without it being impolite.

At first it all seemed very civilised, or so Avyn thought, but that general feeling changed quickly when suddenly angry voices could be heard that were complaining about having wildlings in their midst. Avyn did not even know what was happening yet while Tormund had already gotten her up from her chair and stood in front of her protectively.

"Now they also take our women!", one man with a red nose and a big belly yelled. And others chimed in.

"Let the lady go!" - "Go fuck your ugly hags and leave our women be in peace!" - "How dare you touch her with your filthy hands!"

Avyn did not know what to do, she just clenched onto Tormunds fur-clad shoulder, trying not to stumble or even fall as the crowd seemed to move closer.

They only stopped when someone finally recognised her: "Look, it's that Umber-bitch. HA! Not only a traitor but also fucking a wildling!"

"Enough!", Jon finally yelled loud enough for everyone to hear "That woman and these men are guests at Winterfell, they fought with us and were abused by Bolton. However, we are not here to discuss the Free Folk nor Lady Umber, we are here to talk about the next big fight."

"The war is over, Bolton is gone!", one of the men replied. Many men nodded in agreement.

"The war is not over. There is another enemy, and we will have to fight him together. All of us."

Now Jon had the full attention of the Lords and, shaking, Avyn sat back down on her chair, trying to focus on what had been said, but it was impossible. The danger was too real. She was aware of Tormund still standing behind her and she wished for him to put a hand on her shoulder or anything, really, to make her feel more safe and more... real.

Avyn only awoke from her trance when Jon Snow was loudly declared to be the "King in the North". She turned around to see Tormund's face, which was completely blank. A look at Davos showed her the same reaction. Had they not thought that surely everyone would pledge their loyalty to Sansa, Ned Stark's trueborn daughter? Was it not planned for her to rule and for Jon to advise? Avyn took a deep breath as she caught Sansa's glance. It seemed cold and calm at first, but there was something in her eyes that made Avyn fear that her friend was truly not too happy with the outcome of the gathering. Tormund stroke her arm softly and nodded towards the door to indicate that the meeting had indeed come to an end. Avyn got up slowly, straightened out her skirts and followed the wildling outside the hall. But while all of the lords and ladies went to their rooms, Tormund led her outside, where the icy wind bit her face.

"What is it?", she asked him. He was standing with his back towards her.

"Nothin'", he said, then turned around. Still he was quiet but he eyed her yet again and Avyn started to feel conscious. Until finally he said: "I am just glad ye are well, lass."

She cocked an eyebrow, unsure about what to say. So often had her tongue already slipped, she did not want to risk it happening again.

"Well...", she finally managed.

"Ye are a fine woman", Tormund added.

"Err... thank you?", Avyn tried.

"The Southerners don't realise it. They will, someday."

"What is going on, Tormund?", she asked and took a step towards him, just as Tormund took a deep breath. But alas her foot slipped and Avyn would have fallen badly if it had not been for the wildling's quick reaction. He caught her while she struggled and easily took her up in his arms.

"Are ye all right, lass?", he asked, his face close to her like it never had been before.

"Why, yes", she breathed "thank you."

"Are ye certain?", he said concerned.

"I think so..."

As he tried to let her down again it showed that she had twisted her ankle, so he easily carried her inside. Much to Avyn's dismay as she knew there was enough talk about her already. Luckily, they soon enough met Sansa who lead the wildling to Avyn's chambers.

He laid the lady Umber down in her bed gently, so very carefully that he once again surprised Avyn. Tormund cleared his throat looking from Avyn to Sansa and clearly wanted to say something when suddenly Brynden came jumping from his chamber, his maid right behind him, and crawled onto Avyn's bed.

"Annie! You's back! Can we go to the feast now?", he asked gleefully.

"I am sorry, Master Brynden", Sansa said "but it does not look like Avyn is going to go anywhere tonight."

"Why?", the child asked with his big eyes fixiated on the Stark.

"She hurt her ankle", Sansa explained "So now she needs to rest a little."

"Well, I would not want for you to miss the feast, my little snowflake", Avyn said as she looked at her son. Brynden had been looking forward to going there the whole day. "If Suca does not mind, she can accompany you."

The handmaiden curtsied: "I would like it very much to join you, Master Brynden. We will not be long", she promised Avyn, who smiled approvingly.

Brynden nodded, gave his mother a kiss and jumped off the bed before taken Suca's hand and following her outside. Before leaving he tug Tormund's leg and looked up at the wildling:

"Is you coming, too?", he asked.

"Aye", Tormund said "Save a seat for me, will ye."

"Go to Lord Snow, he will tell you what to do", Sansa advised the handmaiden quickly. And gone they were.

While Sansa started tending to Avyn's ankle, Tormund squatted next to the bed to make it easier for him to talk to the lady: "Well, I should get meself down there, too", he said.

"You should", she smiled and – she did not even know why – reached out for his hand to squeeze it for a mere second "Thank you for bringing me upstairs. And for everything you did this evening. You were... quite chivalrous."

She grinned as he smiled briefly before getting up and turning to leave.

"Tormund", she asked quickly and he looked back at her, seemingly amused "Would you...?"

"Aye", he said, guessing her thoughts "of course I will look after the lad."

"Well", Sansa said after she had put some bandages around Avyn's ankle "That was quite a moment between you and our wildling friend."

She got up from the end of the bed and sat down next to her friend.

"Very... romantic."

"Nonsense", Avyn replied "Tormund has merely been nice."

"Very nice", Sansa smiled.

"My Lady, whatever are you insinuating?", Avyn asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh come on, can't you see? He clearly likes you."

"No, I don't think so", the lady Umber dismissed the thought without any ado "He just likes children and wants to spend some time with Brynden, that's all."

"Whatever you say", Sansa said, slightly amused "At this point I am actually surprised you ever became pregnant."

Avyn rolled her eyes again but then suddenly the girls bursted into giggling.

After they had calmed down, Sansa asked: "Do you want me to stay a little longer? I really don't need to go to the feast, you know?"

"Oh, I think you really do", Avyn said and sat herself up a little "Though I do appreciate the offer and I love having you as company, I think Jon is in need of your support. I know all of us planned for things to go differently, but hopefully you are not too hurt by what happened today."

Sansa folded her hands in her lap and seemed to study them intendly: "It's not that I am envious or anything, believe me. Jon is a good leader, he has way more experience than I do, and, even though it has taken me a while to realise, I think my father would approve of him being the Lord of Winterfell. However", she sighed "I cannot help myself but to think about the last time the North tried to have a King on their own. It all went so horribly wrong, and ended with me losing brother and mother. Robb and I have gotten along quite well, I have some very nice memories of our youth. And even though Jon and I were never as close – which was mostly my fault as I behaved ghastly towards him – I don't think I could handle losing him now. Not after we have just met again and he finally feels like a brother to me."

Now Avyn reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly for quite a while.

"You must not fret, my lady", she said, trying to smile "That is something you learn everyday as a mother. Children do many foolish things – just like men do – and you can only stand by and hope everything will end well. Otherwise they will not learn, not achieve anything. You need to have faith, Sansa."

The next morning the swelling had diminished and Avyn was eager to get out of bed. Not as eager as Brynden, though.

The bastard ran around the room, asking for his mother to get ready so that they could go downstairs and have breakfast.

He told her all about last night, how there had been so much food and Lord Snow had allowed im to eat everything he wanted. And then there had been music, beautiful music, Brynden said, and people were dancing and he had danced a little, too, with Lady Sansa. And Master Giant had been there, too. In fact Brynden had even been allowed to sit inbetween him and Jon. And all of it had just been so "pre'y", Brynden beamed, so very "pre'y".

Avyn smiled and nodded as she listened to her son's stories while she brushed and braided her hair. But seeing how Brynden loved being at Winterfell broke her heart a little. After all they would have to leavesometime and return to the Last Hearth.

After breakfast Avyn was approached by Jon who asked Sansa if she could take care of Master Brynden for a little while so he could have a short talk with the Lady Umber.

Avyn's heart raced as she got up to meet Jon in front of the table after everyone had left the hall.

"Lady Avyn", he said "how is your ankle today?"

"Much better", she smiled.

"Very well", Jon said "would you mind going for a little walk with me, then?"

So, tell me? Did I do a good job? A bad one? Will Santa bring me some nice presents?