Willam wiped away tears alongside Robb and Bran and Rickon as Lady was laid to rest having come home.
Something had occurred on the road, and the guards who carted Lady home didn't understand much other than that Arya's wolf had attacked and injured Prince Joffrey, and that Arya attacked the twat as well but the wolf had run off so Lady was punished instead.
Willam thought it cruel, that there was no way their sister was so aggressive as to attack the Prince without a reason.
He wished Nymeria had taken the Prince's life if the death of one of the litter was a consequence, he can't possibly know what their sister is going through.
"Sansa adored Lady," He said giving voice to his thoughts, "Lady was so kind to deserve such a fate, why couldn't they just let them run free... "
Robb nodded, a hand on his shoulder, "She was a gentle soul, we'll never see her like again."
Bran was the most quiet, has been since he had finally awoken sometime after their mother left for the South with Ser Rodrik.
They were all glad, all of Winterfell and Bran had even found a name for his guardian direwolf, Summer is his name.
Robb sent a raven to both the Wall and King's Landing to inform their family, and though Bran was upset about having to be carted about by Hodor his brother was alive, it was all that mattered to Willam.
The castle even gained a bit of cheerful energy, until today that is as the deceased wolf was buried in Winterfell's lichyard where the Lords of Winterfell buried their favorite servants and close friends.
Shaggydog, Grey Wind, Summer, and Swiftrunner all gave a resounding howl as the night came, for Willam and the others retired to the feast hall for dinner.
Robb and Theon talked amongst themselves, so Willam nudged his brother, "I have the masons getting a movable chair for you, some Lord in the South had one made a few years back, and the design spread around." He said, knowing Bran already has a dislike of being lifted out of bed and being carried around on someone's back.
Not that Hodor minds, the tall man is simple and rarely has complaints, actually he only says his name as a way to talk.
"Why bother." Bran said in a huff, "I might as well be hefted around like a sack of potatoes."
"A talking sack of potatoes!" Rickon joked and for a moment Bran acted as to get out of his chair till his feet wouldn't move, so he grabbed a piece of bread and threw it at Rickon.
The bread flew past the fourth-born son and rolled, Summer and Shaggydog went to claim it till Grey Wind took stepped over it and snarled. It seemed as if the 'elder' wolf got his prize till like a wind, Swiftrunner snatched it from his littermate and ran off with the three giving chase.
It had everyone laughing, even Bran couldn't help but grin from his broody mood.
After a few days, the chair for his brother was completed. The machine had four wheels for pushing or pulling, like a pull cart the farmers use for their fields. Intricate direwolf designs were sculpted, and the wood itself was a dark varnish.
Bran seemed happier, and Hodor became pleasant company for his brother who would push him about during the days Luwin was teaching him outside, or during matters of import that were done in the great hall.
"Lord Stark?" A washerwoman walking by greeted Robb, his elder brother nodding to the woman who looked back before leaving.
"I have to say despite the brewing troubles, you look good as the Lord of Winterfell, brother." Willam said and Robb grinned from ear to ear, though seconds later the smiles gave way to frowns. "No word from Mother or Father?"
"Not yet, It's starting to worry me." The two stopped and Robb seemed frustrated. "I know the King needs help but why did he have to come here? Why choose us where others could do what Father is doing far better?"
Willam looked at his brother, the oldest son tensing at the weight. "Because the North Remembers, Robb." His brother turned he smiled, "It means we remember every truth, every lie, every oath, and every deceit." He inched close, patting his brother, "The Lannister's deceit and attempted attack on our family has to be answered, our Father will see to it."
Robb nodded, agreeing and before the Lord of Winterfell could speak, Luwin called out to them.
"My Lords, come to the great hall, a visitor is here." Robb and Willam looked at one another before hurrying towards the hall.
The visitor was a man of the Night's Watch, and Lord Tyrion Lannister who had rode with Jon and Benjen to the Wall.
Robb's jaw kept clenching with every second that Tyrion was in their home, and Willam too was wary of the small man's presence whom was in a cheerful mood.
"Lord Tyrion, what bring's you here?" He asked for Robb who was finding it a little hard not to be completely ruthless.
Tyrion rose a brow in confusion, "A bit chilly, I must say I felt more welcome during my last visit."
"Apologies, Lord Tyrion, along with the young Lord's awakening, there was a fire that destroyed half of Winterfell's library." Luwin addressed and looked to Robb.
"Oh I am sorry about that, it's just I... " Just as Tyrion started to speak, Hodor pushed Bran in on his chair, "Hello, Lord Bran, I must say you don't look too bad for someone who nearly died." Willam watched Robb tighten his already closed fist. "I have a gift for you."
Robb remained silent no longer, "Why would you give him a gift, Lannister?"
"Well I might have given it to Lady Stark but as I see, she isn't present, boy." Tyrion spoke with the same cold tone as Robb.
Robb didn't appreciate it and rose from his seat, "I am not your boy, Lannister. I am Lord of Winterfell while my father serves the King."
"Then you might want to learn a Lord's courtesy."
Willam cleared his throat, hiding his anger a fair bit better than his brother, "What Robb meant was why give Bran something of which you won't want anything in return?"
Tyrion chuckled, "Well, Lord Willam. I might as you would describe have a soft spot for children who feel different than others, as you know." Willam frowned and felt Robb's stare on him. "A little crow said Bran liked to ride so I got this."
Luwin scoffed, "The boy has lost the use of his legs." It was a sad thing, each of them loved riding their horses through the hills and through the woods.
"And what of it? Even a cripple can ride." Tyrion's response earned him a glare from Bran.
"I'm not a cripple!"
"And I am not a dwarf! By the Gods, my father will rejoice to hear it." Bran cracked a smile, Tyrion did the same and approached the high table, handing them the blueprints.
Willam and Luwin peered over the paper as Tyrion explained, "Start with a yearling, teach it to respond to the boy's voice and commands." The piece looked exquisite on paper, made to help those who cannot use their legs ride horses.
"Perhaps it's best to not look a gift horse in the mouth, brother." Willam whispered to Robb, and Luwin despite his hesitance agreed with him.
Reluctantly, Robb conceded, "As the Night's Watch has always been welcome under our roof, we accept your gift, the hospitality falls to you as well, Lord Tyrion."
Tyrion shook his head no to the offer, further making Robb feel like a fool, "Spare me, my Lord Stark. Outside Winterfell is a brothel and it is there I shall make my bed. Farewell, Bran. I hope you ride and be as tall as anyone."
When Tyrion and the Watchman left, Robb sat back down and shook his head.
"That doesn't seem like someone who wanted our brother dead, so it has to be either the Kingslayer or the Queen." Willam said thoughtlessly, yet Robb agreed with him.
"Right, just to be safe we'll have a guard posted on our doors tonight." Not unreasonable, and maybe their wolves should stay by their sides as well.
Retiring to his chambers later on, Willam couldn't help but think about Tyrion actually helping Bran ride a horse again and how kind of a thing it was, not at all what he had read about the Lannisters of Casterly Rock.
The House was founded by Lann the Clever who took the Rock from under House Casterly during the Age of Heroes, a long line of Kings and Queens rose from the Rock till they bent to Aegon the Conquerer after the Field of Fire.
The House was like any other for a number of years, only instilling fear when Tywin Lannister took over the territory, what he did to Houses Reyne and Tarbeck, and long after that was the Sacking of King's Landing where King Aerys, Elia Martell and her children were all slaughtered, butchered like cattle.
Sitting in bed, he wondered if this was a trick as Robb thought and that like the Casterly's that their House would be fooled.
Willam fell asleep soon after letting Swiftrunner out, the wolf itched for fresh air so he let it be.
As he slept, he dreamt strangely as if he were an animal, a dog maybe? No, perhaps a fox? He didn't quite know but it felt freeing, it felt right. His hands and feet planted on the forest floor, running about until he found himself before the Weirwood that resides in their Godswood.
Staring too long was when he woke, the taste of red meat in his mouth for some reason but he let it go.
A little bit after breakfast, he and Theon were training with their bows as Bran and Rickon resumed their lessons with Luwin, the little brother learning about the Great and Vassal Houses of Westeros, he remembers when he had to put into mind each and every motto.
Winter is Coming, the most important to remember was the first to learn as a young boy and understand what it means.
Theon's shaft hit the target dead center, "Show off!" He hissed and pulled back the bowstring, his arrow hitting the mark as well.
"Not showing off, Will, I'm just better," Theon said and to prove his ego, the ward closed his eyes and shot dead center once again. "Something harder, perhaps? Aim for that narrow gap, it's wide enough for an arrow to go through."
Scoffing and rising up to the challenge put forth, Willam pulled back and missed it, "Damn it! Let me go again." He did so and missed once more and grunted in frustration.
Theon laughed aloud, "Move, Willam the Bookwyrm." Pulling back his bow, Theon did the impossible and the arrow went through the gap and stuck a tree. "The Iron Islanders are good at three things, lovemaking, sailing, and archery."
"And failed rebellions, Greyjoy," Luwin said and Willam laughed at the funny comment, Theon grimaced and Bran sighed loudly.
"What's wrong, little brother?" Willam asked Bran, seeing the boy with some distress.
"I just... I'll never be able to work a bow."
Luwin leaned forward, "This is not certain, if the saddle that Lord Tyrion brought actually works then you can learn to use a bow on horseback."
"That's right! See Bran, you can be like the barbarians in Essos, Dothraki boys I remember learning as young as five." He said and Bran smiled, cheerful about the prospect.
Feeling a sense of positivity, Willam knocked and shot an arrow in one last attempt, the shaft doing as Theon did in the first attempt. "See that, Greyjoy, mistakes can lead to achievements." Theon scoffed and grinned, patting him on the head and messing up his hair.
As the day ended, the family and some of the household gathered in the feast hall to dine together.
It was there that Robb brought up a topic, "Willam, I had thought we could all ride together in the woods once Bran's saddle was done, like we used to as little boys."
"That sounds great, Rickon should come with too."
Little Rickon was six, in a few months he'll be seven so he should learn to ride as well. "Rickon, want to ride with Will, Bran, and me?" Rickon nodded, his mouth full of bread so he wasn't verbal in taking the offer.
The saddle would be complete but no new foals were ready to be ridden, at the moment their brother's new pony would learn and take commands from Bran with him and Hodor helping where needed.
A fortnight would pass when the time was right, as he and his brothers were getting their horses ready, each of them not holding their excitement, especially knowing their Mother will be home soon.
The raven came just a couple of days ago, from Mother who said she would be heading for the Eyrie first then sailing from Gulltown to White Harbor.
Bran was happy, Rickon too as they missed her more than he or Robb who had really come into his own.
"My Lord!"
Luwin came out of the Great Keep, a worrisome expression on his face and a raven scroll in the Maester's hand.
Robb sighed, patting Bran's head and taking the scroll from Luwin. Willam noticed his brother's face go from cool to angry then sorrowful.
"What's going on, brother?" He asked and Robb gave him the scroll, and reading it he shared his elder's feelings, "Gods, no... "
Their Father was attacked by Jaime Lannister in King's Landing, and many Stark men including Jory were killed in the encounter. He remembers the man who was like an older brother to them all, even to Theon.
"Don't tell them, not yet." Robb told him and he agreed, "I shall speak to you when I get back, Luwin. Let's go, brothers."
He handed the scroll to Luwin, then mounted on his palfrey, and together with his brothers and Theon and their wolves did the party set out for the nearby wood to have some fun whilst they could.
The entire time did Willam worry about his father and wondered what state he was in, or how Arya and Sansa are doing as they must be overcome with grief which seemed to strike their family faster and harder each time.
He also wondered if his mother knew. She is closer and in the Eyrie by now where their aunt Lysa and cousin Robert lived.
Willam seated himself on the right of Robb, and Theon sat on his brother's left as Bran and Rickon rode around in circles, the wind flowing in their hair as the two laughed.
Robb had to warn them not to be too reckless, "Not so fast, you two!"
"Summer, Shaggydog, keep an eye on them," Willam said and the direwolves went to follow their masters, after they knew the boys wouldn't hear them, Theon brought up the unfortunate news.
"When are you going to tell the little ones?" Greyjoy asked to know and
Robb's smile began to falter, "Not now... "
"Blood for blood, they killed Jory and the others and need to pay for it." Though Willam partly agrees, just because Jory's death is still shocking.
Willam shook his head to this talk, "What, you want us to go after the Kingslayer with an army?" Theon smirked at this and he couldn't believe it, "Out of the question."
"It is out of the question, only the Lord of Winterfell can call the banners to war." Robb stated and Theon wouldn't be deterred.
"You are Lord of Winterfell, and Lord Stark is abed with injuries because of the Lannisters. It's justice." It's revenge, not justice, though the Lannister Kingsguard much deserves it.
Willam got up and looked at Theon, "Are being sincere, or are you really just itching to start a war to prove yourself?" He questioned Theon who jumped to his feet as if insulted.
"The Kingslayer already started the war! Started when that spear went into your father's leg!" Theon shouted, "It's up to Robb to defend his House when Lord Stark can't!" Willam was ready to argue things further till Robb stepped between him and Theon.
"Enough!" Robb said raising his voice slightly, "Fighting one another isn't going to solve anything, not right now." Shamed, both himself and Theon let it go, Robb looked for their brothers and heard nothing, "Where's the boys?"
They had begun to panic, calling for Bran and Rickon till out of the brush, Rickon came in with his pony. "Bran's in trouble!" Not wasting time, the trio of Will, Robb, and Theon followed Rickon with Grey Wind and Swiftrunner trailing close.
Coming upon a hill, looking down they saw what appeared to be a small camp but no fire yet and Bran was removed from his horse, Dancer, and lying on the floor against a fallen tree.
"Wildlings and deserters?" Willam saw four in total, black cloaks, and fur cloaks.
Robb pulled back, "Rickon go back home and bring the guard, and we will figure a way to get Bran out." The six-year-old seemed reluctant but obeyed and left. "Theon go that way, cover us and take them out with range while my brother and I get them out into the open away from Bran." Theon nodded and snuck below.
"This is what Father prepared us for, right?" Willam asked more for himself than toward his brother, his hands shook a little because of the inevitability.
Robb looked him in the eye, "Stay behind me, alright, don't attack unless you know you can do it."
His brother is past majority age, yet still a boy to some and he is dealing with this better than himself. "I can do it." He whispered and followed Robb a bit far from the camp and slowly approached.
The outlaws heard them and quickly grabbed their weapons, "What're you doing here?" The head of them demanded.
"You took our brother, release him, and surrender," Robb told the four who laughed at the terms, "I am Robb Stark of Winterfell, these are my lands and I demand you put down your arms or die."
"Kill the boy, we'll deal with Ser High and Mighty." The deserter said to his follower, she made a dash for Bran with his spear till an arrow zipped through the trees and punctured her neck.
Robb dove in, his sword brandished, and disarmed another before slashing the man's throat.
"You'll pay for that!" One with a long ax shouted and tried attacking Robb from behind but Willam jumped in and ran his own sword into the man's side causing him to fall and bleed, Willam then took the sword and finished him by running the blade into the Wildling's throat.
The leader attempted to escape on Dancer, and got past them but Grey Wind jumped and tackled the man off, Swiftrunner and Summer attacked with their littermate till the man screamed no more.
So that's what it's like to take a life? Willam gulped and slowly used a rag to wipe the blood off. Robb hurried to Bran's side and lifted their brother up.
"What do we do with the bodies?" Robb asked them but he didn't know.
Theon chuckled, "They are no more than criminals, let them rot, I say."
Considering what just happened moments ago, Willam and even Robb were inclined to agree with their father's ward.
Alright, not much happened in this chapter. Anything going down south will largely remain canon till the war begins. On a side note, Osha is now axed so what will this mean when encountering Ramsay in the future? Getting anxious thinking about it.
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