The Winter King
Author Notes: I've been taking a break from writing my story Magic and Might. But I have not abandoned it. I will continue it around mid-august.
Chapter 03: Winter Omens
It has been four years since Harry became a part of the Stark family. During those four years, Harry learned politics, religion, the land, strategy and how to become a fighter. His sword skills were now on pair with his brothers Jon Snow and Robb Stark. What truly amazed the Stark family was his skills with the bow. Harry had become a fine archer and was considered to be the best in the North.
Today, however, Bran was learning the art of the bow. Harry, Robb, and Theon were gathered around him.
"Patience Bran," Harry said as Bran missed his tenth arrow.
Bran pulls back the bowstring and lets it loose. It went off course and it's the barrel beside the straw that he was supposed to hit. Robb grabs Bran and holds him tight.
"Go on, father's watching," Robb said as Bran looks behind him to see his parents watching him. "And your mother," Robb added. Bran gives a weak smile and returns to shooting his arrow. This one flew overhead; over the wall and into the tree.
Theon and Robb start laughing but were doing their best not to burst out so loud.
"And which one of you was a marksman at the age of ten?" Eddard Stark calls out. This shut the boys up. Harry's smile disappears as well. "Keep practicing, Bran." He says giving small encouragement to his son.
"Try not to think so hard," Robb said as Bran fired another arrow. This one flew overhead. Harry chuckled as Robb and Theon gives a small laugh.
"Here." Harry said as he moves Bran arm into the correct position. "First, see the target." Harry says as Bran pulls back the bowstring. "Relax your breathing." Harry replies as Bran follows Harry's instructions. "Now, when you're ready, release the arrow." Harry says.
An arrow hits the target dead center causing Bran and the others to look behind them to see Arya holding a bow. She gives a small bow and had a huge smile on her face.
Bran drops the bow and starts to chase his sister around. She only laughs as she takes off running.
"Quick! Faster Bran!" Theon calls out as they all laugh seeing the two young siblings run around.
"I'll clean up." Harry said as he picks up the bow and went to retrieve the arrows.
"What's going on up there?" Theon said.
Robb and Harry look up to see the Master-At-Arms Ser Rodrik Cassel talking to Eddard Stark and Catelyn Stark.
It didn't take long, Eddard gathered his men along with Robb, Theon, Jon, and Bran. Harry was to come as well. Ser Rodrik Cassel and the Captain of the Guards Jory Cassel was riding with them.
"A deserter was caught?" Harry said to Robb.
Over the past four years, Robb, Jon, and Harry formed a tight bond. Many would have thought the trio were in fact real brothers.
"Aye, the punishment for desertion is beheading. It's a law that has been passed down for centuries." Jon said.
"This isn't going to be pleasant but it must be done." Robb added.
"If he is going to get beheaded, why is father going?" Bran asked.
"Father believes a man who gives the sentence, should carry out the sentence. You'll understand soon enough Bran." Robb said.
"It's not going to be pleasant, but it's something you'll have to learn." Harry added.
They reach the site where some guardsmen were dragging a man in black clothes. He was a bit older than Harry, but he looks nerve wreck. Almost like he's seen a ghost. Harry almost laugh remember the first time he saw a ghost.
"I know I broke my oath. I know I'm a deserter." The man said to Robb Stark. "But I know what I saw. I saw the White Walkers. I should have returned to the wall, should have warned them. People need to know."
Harry said nothing. Knowing it was rude if he interrupted.
He remembers reading stories of the White Walkers. How they rose an army of the undead to kill the living. However, if he's memory served correctly, there hasn't been any sightings of the White Walkers for over a thousand years.
"Please get word to my family. Tell them I'm no coward. That I died facing a wildling attack." The man pleaded.
Eddard nods his head as the men got the man in position for the beheading.
"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the first of his name…."
"Don't look away." Jon said to Bran. "Father will know if you do."
"…I, Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, sentence you to die."
With a swing of his sword, the man's head fell to the ground.
Harry would have thrown up had he been ten years old and had to see it. But the war he faced and the battle of Hogwarts had somehow hardened his stomach.
It didn't mean he liked it.
After he was done, Eddard Stark walk up to his young son to speak to him.
"Do you understand why I did it?" Eddard Stark said.
"Jon said he was a deserter." Bran replies.
"But do you understand why I had to kill him?" Eddard said in a stern voice.
"Our ways are the old ways?" Bran said.
"A man who passes a sentence should swing the sword."
"Is it true he saw the White Walkers?" Bran asks.
"The White Walkers have been gone for thousands of years." Eddard said.
"So he was lying?" Bran said.
"A madman sees what a madman sees." Eddard says hoping to not scare his son.
"Either way my Lord," Harry says as he mounts his horse. "The deserter saw something that scared him. He could have imagined it as White Walkers. It could have been Wildlings. Or it could have been something else. The only fact is that he saw something."
"What course would you advise to your Lord?" Eddard asks Harry.
"Tell the Night's Watch what happened, report what he said and have them take precaution for any future encounters North of the Wall," Harry said slowly.
Eddard nods his head.
"As this is your idea, you shall ride for Castle Black and inform Lord Commander Jeor Mormont of what happened and you will return with his response." Eddard Stark informs Harry.
"I shall do so when we've ridden back to Winterfell," Harry said as he turns his horse to ride the other way. "It's always better to be safe, then sorry." Harry added.
"There is truth in that Bran. Remember that." Eddard said as he helps his son settle on his horse before getting on his own.
They rode down before one of the guardsmen stop. Harry looks down and sees a dead stag of massive size. One of the biggest Harry has ever seen. However, it's gut had been ripped out and its meat was rotting. Telling Harry and the others it has been dead for some time.
"What is it?" Theon said. "Mountain Lion?"
"There are no Mountain Lions in the North." Eddard Stark said.
"Swords out. We don't know what killed it or if it's lurking around." Harry said as he pulls out his sword. The guardsmen follow suit.
Eddard notices a trail of blood and follows it.
It didn't take long for them to find the killer. A female Direwolf, a horn was caught in her throat as she lays on the ground covered in blood and clearly dead. Beside her, was five pup trying desperately to feed on her milk.
"It's a freak!" Theon Grayjoy said as he looked at it.
"It's a Direwolf!" Eddard Stark said in amazement. "Tough old beast." Eddard Stark said as he removes the horn from the Direwolf's throat.
"Direwolves are pack hunters. They don't travel alone. Where is the rest of its pack?" Harry said as he looks around.
"You think they're in the area?" Eddard Stark asks.
"Don't know. The do travel for miles. This one most likely stayed behind to look after her pups as the rest of the pack is off hunting. She must have been hungry and couldn't resist going after the stag that came close to her den." Harry said.
"There are no Direwolves south of the wall." Robb said.
"Now there are five." Jon said.
"Five we know of, there could be more." Harry said.
"You want to hold it?" Jon said as he picks up a Direwolf pup and gives it to Bran.
"What normally happens to pups if they're mother is killed?" Bran asks as he holds the young pup in his arm.
"The Direwolves are like any wolf pack. They will adopt the pups and raised them as if they are their own. However, the problem is, there has been no wolf call. Meaning the pack isn't within range to get to the pups in time. That means they are miles away. Most likely trying to find a good meal. They could be gone for days. They will either starve or another predator will eat them." Harry said.
"Give them a quick death." Eddard Stark orders. "It's better that way."
Theon moves to kill the young pup in Bran's arms. Pulling a dagger from his side.
"No!" Bran cries out.
"Put away your blade." Robb Stark orders.
"I take orders from your father not you!" Theon challenges.
"Please father." Bran says to his father.
"I'm sorry, Bran." Was all he could say.
"Lord Stark." Jon said as he finally looks up from the pups. "There are five pups. You have five children. One for each of the Stark children. The Direwolf is the sigil of your house. They were meant to have them."
Eddard Stark looks at Jon carefully and all anyone could do was wait for his finally decision.
"You will train them yourself. You will feed them yourselves, and if they die, you will bury them yourselves." Eddard Stark declares. Theon gives back the pup to Bran.
Harry moves to pick up two pups as did Robb. Bran was holding his.
"What about you?" Bran asks Jon.
"I'm not a Stark." Jon says.
Harry knew Jon was disappointed he didn't get one. But he was happy he saved the five pups. He too was sad he wouldn't get a pup. They move up before a noise behind the tree caused Harry and Jon to look down.
There were two more pups and they were the smallest of the litter.
"Well now, those two are yours." Theon said.
"Don't you want one?" Bran asks.
"I don't fancy looking after one." Theon admitted.
"Let's get them to Winterfell and get them fed. They have to be starving."
The journey was more difficult to return with seven pups in their arms. But eventually they did make it back.
"Jon can you look after Bandit; I have to ride to Castle Black." Harry says as he gets on his horse.
"I'll keep him safe." Jon said.
"Relax, I'll only be gone for two days!" Harry said as he takes off.
Four guardsmen were traveling with him and it was a smooth ride.
Granted it was nothing like flying on his Firebolt, but still he still loved the feeling of the wind blowing in his face.
A single horn was blown at the castle gate before the gate was open. Harry walks in and slowly gets off his horse.
"Benjen Stark, it's good to see you." Harry said.
"I've told you before, call me Uncle Benjen. What brings you to Castle Black?" Benjen asks as he greets Harry.
"It's imperative that I speak to Lord Commander Mormont immediately." Harry said.
"Well you're not here for a social visit. Come on." Benjen Stark says as he leads Harry upwards.
"Stay with the horses." Harry orders the guardsmen.
"Commander Mormont, a guest has arrived from Winterfell." Benjen Stark says.
"We don't get visitors. Come in to my quarters, you can tell me why you are here." He said. Harry walks in behind them into the Lord Commander's personal quarters.
"This morning we executed a young man, Will of the Night's Watch Rangers for desertion." Harry said.
"A raven would have suffice. Surely you didn't ride north to Castle Black for that." Lord Commander Mormon says.
"No, it's not. It what he says that brings me here." Harry said as he accepts the drink from Commander Mormon. "He claims to have seen White Walkers."
The room filled with silence as Benjen Stark and Commander Mormon look at each other.
"Are you certain?" Benjen Stark asks.
"I can't verify what the man saw. However, what Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North agrees is that the man saw something. Something that caused him to run. It could have been Wildlings, dress like something to scare him. Or it could have been a Walker. Or it could have been something else. All we agree on is that he saw something to scared him."
"What does the Warden of the North expect us to do?" Commander Mormon asks.
"He wants the Night's Watch to be careful. We don't want to take the chance that whatever it was that attack him will attack other brothers of the Night's Watch. I know you have the Night's Watch travel in groups. Did any of his brothers return or make any report since going north of the wall?"
"Only three went out. I gave them specific orders to only track any signs of Wildlings and report it back immediately. This man was the only one who came back." Benjen Stark replies.
"Then something attacked them." Harry said.
"It may have been wildlings and the lad spook. We've seen it happen before." Commander Mormon said as he waves the threat of White Walkers off.
"That would be reassuring wouldn't it. However, for the time being, we only have his word that White Walkers attack him. I would advise putting more sentries on the wall, just to be safe. Until we know for sure, what attack and the purpose behind their attack."
"I think; it would be wise to keep this quiet. But we'll increase sentry duty all the same." Benjen Stark.
Lord Commander Jeor Mormon sighs.
"I know Lord Eddard Stark. He would not have sent you here unless he was sure something happened. We'll send out larger parties when we venture north of the wall. And we'll double our sentries. We have received reports that more and more wildlings are venture near the wall. We may need more men."
"I'll tell Lord Eddard Stark immediately that the Night's Watch is requesting more men." Harry said as he sets down his mug and gets up.
"Give my brother my regards. Tell him I'll be seeing him soon." Benjen said.
"Anything the Night's Watch needs before I head out?" Harry said.
"Couple months of supplies would be nice." Benjen joked.
"I'll tell him."
"You don't have to. I'll be heading to Winterfell shortly myself to pick up the new recruits." Benjen said.
Harry smiles as he walks out the room before getting back on his horse and getting ready to ride south to Winterfell.
At Winterfell Eddard Stark was taking the news of the death of Jon Arryn.
"Have Winterfell ready for the King's arrival." Was the only words he could muster as he holds the small piece of paper in his hand.