This chapter, as I think people could have guessed, falls before/concurrent with Bran II in AGOT. I wanted to focus on Olyvar's interactions with Robb in this one, as well as a slight interaction with Bran at the beginning. I'm still continuing to establish the relationships that Olyvar has with his extended family, with a particular focus on his cousins. Cheers
"Men, let's catch our dinner." The men gave a mighty roar at their King's call for the hunt to begin, eager to go out into the wilds of the North and hunt for boar that inhabited the woods. Robert had obtained such a desire to go off and hunt since he arrived at Winterfell that Olyvar was surprised that it had taken him so long to go off on one.
The men had gathered before the sun had risen above the eastern horizon, at the hour where men could still see the warmth of their breath dissipate in the air. Olyvar had not been accustomed to these conditions, not since his last visit to the Eyrie could he remember being this short of breath. He had chosen to dress warm, wearing a heavy coat along with gloves. He had his sword holstered to his hip and a bow draped over his shoulder, quiver on his back. Despite the equipment he had, he felt bare without a shield.
"How does the northern morning treat you, cousin?" Olyvar turned to see Robb walking over to him, horse reigns in hand and his mount following him. Robb was dressed in a similar attire as Olyvar, a heavy coat and gloves. He was flanked by Theon Greyjoy, who was wearing his customary smirk, and both were followed closely by Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind. Olyvar had been intimidated of the direwolves the first time he had met them, but eventually quelled his fears of the beasts, in part to the time he had played with Arya's direwolf, Nymeria.
"I admit, it has been some time since I've breathed in crisp air. The south is a tad bit warmer than the north. Not that I mind so much." Olyvar's mind flashed back to his last trip to the Eyrie. It was the only thing that he could compare to what he was feeling now. Crisp air, the sharp wind, the dawn now barely peaking from behind the veil of trees. Despite the weather being chilling, Olyvar found that it was also refreshing.
"Let us hope that the capital hasn't made you soft, falcon." Theon taunted, wearing the grin that seemed to rest naturally on his face. Olyvar frowned, but gave Greyjoy no satisfaction in a response. Robb had warned him about Theon's personality, and Olyvar had made it a point to not let it get the better of him. "Well would you look at that, the Prince has decided to join the hunt."
Olyvar looked over to see Joffrey atop of his horse, flanked by Sandor Clegane and Ser Barristan Selmy. Joffrey looked over in their direction and gave a smug look towards the trio. Olyvar shot a scathing look back at him. Maybe he'll get lost in the woods and squeal like a woman. Such a thought gave Olyvar a tad bit of joy as he watched Joffrey turn his horse, heading towards the front to join the King.
"Ahh, so it is true." Olyvar turned to see that Tyrion had come alongside him atop his mount. "I had heard that you and my nephew had gotten into a little spat yesterday. Tell me, did the little fool challenge you to live swords as the men say he did?"
"Aye." Olyvar looked up at the Imp, which Olyvar thought would be an uncommon occurrence for anyone to do.
"Now what did you say to him that had him lose his head like that?" The Imp grinned that nefarious grin only he could. Where it had once made Olyvar uneasy, it was now met with a similar grin.
"Nothing of consequence, I assure you. But never mind that business, Lord Tyrion. If we don't start riding, we're going to be left behind."
"True, the King has never been patient. Well, I suppose we will see what our dear Robert catches for his dinner today." Tyrion spurred his horse to catch up with Robert and the rest of their party, who had already exited the gate. Olyvar mounted his own horse along with Robb and Theon. But before they exited, they saw that Bran was approaching them.
"Bran, what are you doing here?" Robb sounded slightly annoyed at the sight of his brother.
"I want to come!" Bran had been annoyed ever since the night previous, when his lord father had told him that he would not be allowed to attend the hunt. He looked up at the three elder boys, and Olyvar could see the longing in his younger cousin's eyes. "It's not fair."
"You're too young, Bran. Father told you that you had to stay here in Winterfell." This had been the wrong thing to say by Robb, as Bran only crossed his arms and looked even more annoyed. Olyvar decided to intervene.
"Bran, I promise that when I get back I'll play with you."
"Promise?" This had done the trick, as Bran's face lit up upon hearing Olyvar's promise. Bran and Olyvar had always practiced their swordplay, Bran always pretending that he was some great knight in history. The boy's knightly aspirations had shown through yesterday at supper, when all he had talked about were the stories of of Westeros' most famous knights.
"Only if you don't have a temper for not going hunting." Bran thought for a second before nodding enthusiastically in agreement, which Olyvar returned. "Alright, we've waited long enough. Come, we've fallen too far behind." Olyvar spurred his horse as Theon and Robb did the same, and the boys streaked out of the gates, Grey Wind eventually overtaking the three of them and leading them to the tail end of the hunting party.
"So tell me, how do you like having to become Joff's brother through marriage when you become a man?" Olyvar groaned as Theon snickered at Robb's inquiry. The betrothal to Princess Myrcella had become public the night previous, as Robert drunkenly yelled it out for all in Winterfell to hear. All the men had yelled and shouted their approvals, including Robb, who had ruffled his hair too many times for Olyvar to count.
"It's not exactly the most appealing thing that the gods could offer me." Olyvar had been slightly pressured into the betrothal to Myrcella by the King, who had proposed the matching in the honor of his father. If there was one thing that Olyvar had trouble refusing, it was anything that the King proposed in 'honor' of his father, which Robert had a knack at doing quite often.
"As much of a curse as that is, it's not as if you can complain much. That Myrcella is likely to grow into a woman more beautiful than the Queen when she was youthful." Greyjoy's point was one that Olyvar could not refute. Even at the age of ten, Myrcella had all of the looks to be considered the second coming of Cersei Lannister. Her long, golden curls were paired very well with her lovely green eyes. Any boy his age would be excited with how she would likely look in the future.
But Olyvar had never really felt anything romantic towards Myrcella. The two had always played in the Red Keep, and he found her much more pleasant than Joffrey, but he had never seen her in a light of a marriage suitor. Despite his feelings, he had stood and taken his wife-to-be's hand at the feast, bowing in front of the crowd in the Great Hall alongside of her. He could have sworn that he saw Myrcella blushing as he looked at her and she at him, but paid no further mind to it.
"Come on, you two. Grey Wind caught the scent of something." Robb spurred his horse to go faster, Olyvar and Theon repeating the action. Olyvar could see that they were breaking off from the main group, which he didn't mind. He had always felt surrounded by guards in King's Landing, and had never been able to go off alone on his own to explore the city outside of the Red Keep. He had been able to go off alone on Dragonstone from time to time, but there was nothing on Dragonstone that was interesting. At least Shireen was fun to play with.
The boys crossed into the forest, slowing their horses due to the obstacles that the trees provided. The three dismounted and tied their horses around trees. Theon spoke. "I'll stay back and watch the horses. You two go on."
"You sure?" Robb gave Theon an apologetic look. "I could go back and fetch one of the guards-"
"It's fine Robb. Go with Olyvar and see if you two can get a buck or a boar to go along with what the King's hunting." Theon gave a wave as Robb and Olyvar went off further into the forest, Grey Wind's nose guiding the cousins deeper.
"Are you sure Grey Wind knows how to hunt yet?" Olyvar asked uncertainly, making sure to draw his bow and ready an arrow in case they spotted prey, or worse a pack of wolves. The direwolf growled lowly at the inquiry, apparently insulted by Olyvar's worry.
"Does that answer your question?" Olyvar smirked as he and Robb continued further, making sure to stay as quiet as they could. Step softly, avoid branches. Just like Lord Stannis instructed. Lord Stannis didn't hunt very often, but Olyvar knew that he was quite skilled. He had brought Olyvar along whenever he had been invited to join the King in a hunt, and always urged Olyvar to learn by studying how he and Robert went about tracking their prey.
Suddenly, Grey Wind's head perked up. "He's got something." Robb silently drew his sword as he recognized his companion had caught the scent of a wild animal.
"Let us hope it's not something that can eat us as well." Olyvar kept his bow facing down, but knew that should trouble come, he would be ready. He had a quick bow that shot true. Most of the time, at least. He had worked on his archery skills in the Red Keep, asking Ser Arys Oakheart to help train him whenever the Kingsguard member was not busy with his duties.
The trio walked for quite some time, making their way down a moderately steep hill. Once or twice Robb had almost fallen, but was able to regain himself before the trio continued onward. But despite having followed the scent for a distance, the young direwolf had seemingly lost it after a time. Olyvar loosened the tension he had put on his bow and stood up straight. "It looks like he lost it." Olyvar frowned, disappointed that they had not found anything yet. He knew that it was early in the hunt, but he still had the itch to find some prey.
"It's alright Grey Wind. We'll get it back." Robb scratched the young direwolf between the ears, much to Grey Wind's apparent enjoyment. "Well, I don't suppose you know the way back?"
Olyvar looked around. "You know these woods better than I do. Besides, I was paying attention to where your pet was bringing us." He looked over to Robb, who only shrugged.
"You two would do yourselves a good deal to learn this forest. Especially you, Robb." At first sound Olyvar had spun on his heel and aimed his arrow towards the noise, but lowered it as soon as he saw that it was simply his uncle walking towards them, Theon at his side.
"Father. Why are you here?" Robb asked.
"I saw that the three of you had trailed off from the group, and decided to come back and see what you were up to." Eddard looked down at them, causing Olyvar to avert meeting his uncle's gaze. The sternness his uncle's grey eyes told him that he was none too pleased that the boys had gone off alone. "Well, did you two find anything?"
"Grey Wind had a scent!" Robb said enthusiastically, attempting to impress his father. "He lost it after a while though." Robb's voice had changed in tone now, sounding much more dejected than when he had started explaining their findings to his father.
"Well, at least you three didn't find yourselves in any trouble. Come then, let's get back to the horses. Robert is up ahead from where you stopped." The Lord Stark turned heel and lead the way back, Theon waiting to join the boys as they followed.
"Well, that could not have gone any worse." Olyvar said, still disappointed they had not found anything on their own.
"You could have been found by a bear or a pack of wolves." Theon pointed out. "That could have turned nasty for the two of you."
"Always the pessimist, aren't you Greyjoy?" Olyvar shot at Theon, who responded only by flashing his typical grin.
"We would have been fine." Robb said, a slight gleam appearing in his eye now that he was aware that they wouldn't be punished by his father. "Olyvar's bow, my sword, and Grey Wind fangs. We could have defeated anything out here."
"Your youth would have been the death of you." Lord Stark called back, causing Robb to flush a slight red. "Now when we get out of these woods, please try to stay close. Especially you, Olyvar." Olyvar gave a sheepish look as he was addressed. His uncle apparently still remembered how troublesome he had been with Bran and Arya.
"Well, maybe we'll get lucky when we meet up with the rest of the party." Robb's optimism brought a smile to Olyvar's face. It's going to be fun visiting Winterfell when we're older. Especially when Bran can join in the hunt.
A/N: There weren't any real questions asked in the previous chapter, although the reviews were nice. And how about that parting thought by Olyvar? Kinda sad since we know what happens to Bran, don't we? :(