Eustace
Eustace ran down the cobbled pathway from the forest, down to his family's house. He was particularly happy this morning, for yesterday was his first time. And it was quite incredible. He had gotten back near midnight, he figured, and thought for sure his mother was unaware of his adventure. Yet, she of course knew what he had done, and spoke with him well into the night. The sun was almost up by the time they had finished talking of orphans, bastards, and all around broken things. Now, however, he was as free as he could be, and he planned to make a trip to see this girl today, as soon as he was done with his chores and the family was taken care of.
Opening the door, Eustace noticed immediately the aroma of fresh bread and fried bacon. Their house was not great, he knew, but they had a simple life, living in a large cottage compared to the other houses in the village. They were once great lords, with a castle that reached the sky, or so he was told, but the War of the Usurper, as his father called it, changed that. After King Robert won, their castle was torn down and they were forced to live in a country house, a great fall of a great house.
"Is breakfast ready, Nym?" he asked his younger sister. She was a beautiful girl, the fairest in the land, he thought. But she had a fire in her, an iron resolve. "Go call everyone, and help mother to the table. We will start soon." Nymeria replied.
Eustace walked through the doorway and fulfilled Nymeria's requests. The family was soon gathered around the large table to eat their breakfast.
"I will be going into the village today, so I'll need the sword, mother." Eustace said to his mother, after eating a fluffed biscuit with melting butter. "Why do you need the sword, son? It is the identity of our house, not a plaything for you to show off to the girls." his mother chided him.
"I know that mother, but I need it to protect myself when going through the village. Their is a war going on, and it will soon reach here. We need to be cautious."
They argued about the sword for nearly five more minutes, with Nymeria chiming in whenever she wished, gaining the ire of both her mother and brother. Soon, however, they agreed to let Eustace take the sword into the village.
Eustace sighed after the fiery debate with his sickly mother, and regretted worrying her over it. After all, he was the eldest, by a few minutes he was told, and thus the head of the family. The Valyrian sword was his by rights, and he had practiced with it every day, as his father taught him. "You will be a great knight some day." he had said, and Eustace remembered those words every day, knowing they will come true. One day. He thought, One day.
After they had finished breakfast, Eustace helped his mother to the bed and walked out the door with the sword securely on his back. It was a bastard sword, and was quite heavy for him, although he had grown used to the weight. He grabbed the family horse and started out to visit the pretty girl from the next village. Hopefully, she would not be angry at his abrupt exit last night.
As he pushed his horse into a trot, he felt the summer breeze sweep through the valley and enjoyed the smell of flowers on the roadside. The day was beautiful, and his life was as well.