The bitter wind blew against my face as I walked, Astrid next to me and was now to my knees in height as we walked back to camp. I went out to scout for another road to take with our horses so we can get back to Thedra Ascent and get somewhere safe and warm. It's been two weeks now since we found Nymeria, Astrid and Koda, and the three of them never left Gendry and I alone, unless they went hunting. We were getting farther North, and that gave me more anticipating in getting home and getting things back to order once more in my life.
Since Gendry and I kissed, a shift was felt between us, a good and much needed shift. We hardly left each other's side, holding hands and smiling at each other in affection. I knew Gendry was protective of me, since the moment he saved me for the first time in Flea Bottom, but now he was worried whenever I would scout an hunt alone. He knew that I was capable of fending of myself, that much was certain, but he would want to hold me longer when we would sleep next to each other and let the kisses linger a bit longer. He was still stubborn and hard headed, but he softened his heart for me. He was very careful with me when we would kiss and hold each other, as if I was a jewel of one of the swords he would create: with care and precision.
Koda was attached to him by the hip, following his commands and was just as stubborn as he was. Astrid was more like me: Adventurous and bold in seeking out new things to find. She too was attached to me, never letting me leave her sight with her beautiful two colored eyes and always nuzzling against me, as if trying to communicate that she loved me. Nymeria was just as protective over her growing pups, though Koda was as big as her at this point since he was huge to beguin with, and she would hunt for us when she had the chance. I knew she missed her master, and I missed her master as well. Arya plauged my mind when I would sleep, having me wonder if she was still alive and fighting for her way back to Winterfell. It made me want to find Winterfell, a small sense of hope that she was there.
Astrid and I, with me having me bow loaded and ready for use, walked through the thicket that we knew Gendry, Koda, Nymeria and our horses were waiting at. My hair was slowly coming back to it's length, but I had it braided and over my shoulder. My skin, being that it went through so much, was back to its fair form because of the North, though it felt thicker and more battered. It was as if I grew up dramatically since I first left the North so long ago, grew up and grew colder because of what happened to me and my life. But I was coming back home with more gifts than burdens, and a new mission on my mind.
Astrid trotted in front of me, looking from left to right and then behind me to see if I was following her. We were back at camp, having me see a small fire that was out and the smoke rising and one of our saddles on the ground as Gendry was packing it. Koda was on the ground, head on his paws, and watching his master with his light carmel eyes. I smiled, seeing Astrid run over to her brother and tackle him, both of the Direwolves now wrestling and nipping at each other. Nymeria was sitting next to Gendry, seeing me and barking once.
Gendry looked over his shoulder and smiled as I placed my arrow back in my sheath and my bow on my back strap. He stood back up and wrapped his arms around me, having me lean in a kiss him sweetly on the lips. HIs kisses were so addicting that I was getting more and more lost every time I kissed him. He pulled away and smiled at me, having me run my fingers in his hair and breathe him in.
"You find a road?" He asked me aloud, still close enough that I could feel the vibrations of his voice against my skin.
"It's not far from here. It should lead us to Wolfswood." I explained to him, seeing him nod his head as we heard our dire wolves playing on the ground, pouncing each other and biting each other's ears. It didn't matter to me that we were in the woods and covered in dirt and grime, for some reason, we both were content with each other. I never felt like a Lady, and I didn't when I was with him. I felt like myself, at peace and filled with joy. He stirred a fire within my soul that I never wanted to loose.
"Come on, let's go find your home." He said as he kited my lips once more lightly then pulling away from me. He got the saddle and walked over to his horse, Koda breaking away from Astrid and trotting over to his master with a wagging tail. I smirked, walking over to Gendry behind him and wrapping my arms around his middle, He froze as I kissed his neck in a tender manner. For come reason, since we kissed, I never wanted to stop kissing him since it was bringing me joy and passion from within. HIs skin was soft against my lips as he wrapped one arm around my arms on his middle.
"Our home." I reminded him against his neck, seeing him smile and nod his head. I grinned, kissing him once more before I moved to my own horse. He was going to his new home, a new home with me that was far from the Red Woman and the people who wanted him dead. I wanted to protect him, as much as he wanted to protect me. I had to, since he was the only thing I had left now that was constant and true.
We road down the road on our horses, Astrid and Koda on our sides and Nymeria in front of us. The cold day was having me worry that we would freeze if we didn't make it, but once we made it to Wolfswood, I knew where we were. It was as if I was there plenty of times, I knew the road well. Astrid stayed next to me as I lead the way, NYmeria and Koda behind with Gendry as I wanted to get there faster and faster. There closer we were getting, the better I was feeling about it. There had to be something there, anything, that would make me feel as thought this was not in vain.
Gendry and I said nothing as we rode, he knew that I was determined to get back to the fortress and to see what became of it. I was glad he was supportive of what was going on with me, not asking questions or having me feel like a fool as we went on.
We got out of Wolfswood, having me see that we were back in the west and against the shoreline, which was a good sign since Thedra Ascent should be visible by now. I peered ahead of me, having me see the tall watch towers of my home. I kicked my horse, galloping at this point with Gendry behind me trying to keep up. Astrid was right at my side, never slowing down as I kept riding. Hope rose in my chest and my heart, thinking that my home would be the perfect ending of the adventure that I had. But as I got closer, I saw that it was the opposite, as there was no sign of life there in my home.
It was abandoned.
I slowed, walking slowly as Gendry was behind me. Nymeria went in front of me and sniffed around, having me see that as we entered the open walkway into the courtyard, there was not one person in sight. No sound, no scent of food or iron being made, nothing. No one was there, no one thing was moving except of small smoke and the chill of the wind. It was aghast town now, having me think that this happened some time ago. I rode into the middle of the courtyard, dismounting and walking my horse to the post and tying him up. Gendry did the same as he look around as well, just as confused as I was as I walked around the courtyard, confused and scared. I drew out my bow and loaded a arrow as Artsid stayed next to me, whining to show that she too was scared and confused.
"What happened here?" Gendry asked aloud as I looked at the top of the towers along the fortress. Nothing changed since I left, but then I saw something that made my heart chill, for one of the Thedra banners was burned, damaged on the end. I then knew, it was not good.
"It was attacked." I said aloud in worry as I looked back at him. Gendry had a grave look on his own face as Koda was next to him, already to his hip and as black as night. I then walked around some more, Gendry on one side of the yard with his hammer ready and me with my bow. There had to be some kind of sign that someone was here, that something really did happen and that there were survivors. But the more that I looked, the less I was confident in the fact that someone was still alive around there.
The last place that I looked was my old shop: the shack itself was ransacked and torn from top to bottom. Someone was looking for something here, or someone. It made be worry that they were looking for me, whoever they were. I walked into the shack, Astrid behind me and sniffing the ground around her as I saw the old furniture tossed and moved around. Nothing was the same, it was all destroyed and nothing was there. But then….where was Sophia? I prayed then that she was alive, but it didn't seem so. There was no sig of her, nothing showed that to me.
I thought that coming back here would be safe for Gendry and I, since we had to leave all that we knew in the South to make sure we would live. But now it didn't seem that hopeful since the whole fortress of Thedra Ascent was deserted and showed no sign of life. I walked back out to see Gendry with both Nymeria and Koda, whom were waiting for me as I looked at him with a grave look on my face.
"There's no one here." I said to him, seeing him watch me as I walked over to the middle of the courtyard once more. It didn't make sense. Was there a uprising here, a struggle that I didn't know of? Who would do such a thing? Why would the House of Thedra be a threat? But then, it clicked: The House of Stark. They were fiercely loyal, dedicated to the Stark House and if something happened to the Starks, then we would of suffered as well. I then had a thought, having me look over my shoulder and see the main hall, where I was brought in months ago with the very proposition that would change my life. The front door was opened, ajar with the wind pushing it lightly as I walked over to it, Astrid on my heels.
"Nora, what is it?" Gendry asked me aloud, having me push open the door and feel the bitter cold of the darkness. The tables were overturned and the chairs pushed aside, as if the battle was in that very room as I trotted to the other side, where the Lord of Thedra Ascent sat once with pride. Who knew if he was even still alive, more likely dead and gone as I looked at the lone Thedra Banner that was still standing, along with the banners of the Allies that we had.
"I have an idea." I said to him, grabbing the one ally house banner that I needed and yanking it to the floor. Within one hour, the Stark House Banner was flying in the wind on the tallest tower of Thedra Ascent, alongside the Thedra House Banner. I wanted a showing of my allegiance and strength.
I wasn't going to die yet.
The rest of the day was consisted of Gendry and I making out way around the rest of Thedra Ascent to see the damage. Most of the damage was of a ransacking and taking most of the goods, having it seem like nothing was left that was worth or value in it. It made my heart ache, wondering why this would indeed happen to a realm that had no threat or ill nature to any other house. It was merely because of the allegiance that we had that was our folly, and all of the people no longer here, deserted and alone.
By the end of the day, early into the night, Gendry and I made the great hall look more like home instead of a dangerous place: placing the tables and chair back to the original places as Nymeria went out hunting. To me, it was making me think that this place can be at peace once more, even though I knew it would take years and year before that was ever accomplished. But it was a good way to start: where the Lords and Ladies once stood and ruled for the protection of this home.
Astrid and Koda curled up together, watching us as we got the last table on the higher level and then grabbed two chairs, sitting side by side and saying nothing from both the pure exhaustion and the still shocking revelation of the deserted fortress. I looked around, having me hear the distant voices of the past Lords and Ladies in this hall, talking with each other about simpler things and no worries or cares in their tones. We lit the torches once more, mourning them on the walls and giving the place the warmth it once had, though it was still freezing from the walls that were stone. I touched the stone walls, feeling that there was still warmth left over in the walls from the hot water that still ran through the walls. My mind was on overload, thinking of what we had to do and where we had to get our fortress to its original glory and safety.
Tapping my fingers on the battered table in front of me, I blinked a few times and then finally spoke, after a few hours of silence and thinking merely in my own thoughts.
"Where are we going to start?" I asked aloud, having me see Gendry look over at me as I heard Astrid and Koda walk over to us side by side. Astrid sat next to me and Koda layer down in front of the tables, head on his paws and scanning his eyes on the great hall in front of us.
"Nora…." Gendry trailed off, having me shake my head in defiance as I folded my hands in front of me.
"I'm not leaving this place." I said in a cold tone, having me look down at my lap and see Astrid rest her head on my lap, looking at me with her grey and blue eyes. She was consoling me from her eyes and how she nuzzled me.
"Gendry, this is my home. I'm not leaving my home after I have fought so hard to get back here in one piece." I explained to him, feeling Astrid's fur against my leg and having me reach down to rub her tenderly with my own skin, "I grew up here, I know this realm better than any other place that I have been, and it needs to stay alive."
"But with only the two of us?" Gendry asked me aloud, having me see him get hesitant about the thought that I had, "What if someone attacks us and finds us again?"
"We'll make do." I said back to him in a short reply, "As long as I can get this place no longer looking like a tomb and death. We can go slow if we have to, one place at a time." I paused, looking over at him and seeing him eye me with his piercing blue eyes. There was a pause between us, having me think back to what I was asking him to do: to rebuild Thedras Ascent one piece at a time. It was a crazy thing to think about, let alone do with two people. But something inside of me really think that I could do it, Gendry and I could do it. I needed that hope, that sense of drive and need for survival.
Lost in my own thoughts, I felt Gendry scoot closer to me and budge me with his shoulder, wrapping his arm in my own on the table, gently holding me and bringing me back to reality as I heard Astrid whine below me on my lap.
"I'm here with you." Gendry explained to me, having me see him search my eyes and silently tell me that he was telling the truth to me, "It'll take a bit of a while for us to do it, but if you are here, than I am here with you."
"Gendry, you don't have…." I trailed off, thinking that I was holding him back from surviving on his own. He had Koda, he would not be alone to fend for himself. I felt as though I was holding him prisoner, since he too could of been on his own and lived his own life for how he wanted.
"I am choosing to stay here, with you." He said back to me, his voice was bolder now as he clutched my arm with his hand, "I don't have a home to go back to, I never had a home to begin with. So if this place is your home, where you have your memories and your future, then I don't want you to loose it." He paused, having me see him bring our joined hands up to his lips to kiss it in a loving manner. I watched him carefully as he continued, "I almost lost you once, Nora. I will never loose you again."
It was settled, even after hearing him tell me I was no longer going to be alone in this. WE both were a packaged deal now, and neither one of us wanted to leave the other. I smiled at him, seeing him lean in and plant a kiss on my lips. I kissed him back, the only way of showing that I was thankful for him and I needed him in my life, nothing more or less. I heard him sigh against my lips as he kissed me once more, a bit of boldness in the kiss. But then we heard a low growl in front of us, having us break away from our kiss and look in front of us. I saw Koda, now crouching and his ear low to his skull, the hair of his neck up and alert as his teeth were bare and his growl was booming. Astrid's head moved from my lap and she barred her teeth as well, but she stayed next to me and had me rest a hand on her fur coat. We saw Koda looking at the front doors, which we kept open for Nymeria since we knew she would be coming back soon. But it wasn't her that was coming through the doors, it was someone else.
A stranger.
He was in peasant clothes, the dirt on his face and his grease in his hair showed that she was in fact no threat. But I saw him walk in, slowly and having both of his hands around his arms to make himself warm. I had no clue what we were going to go if someone found us, if we were going to stay at it alone or welcome people in. But now I realized that I needed to not be whom we were running from: The Lannisters. They were all about power, thinking of themselves in the ever changing Game of life, but I was not them. I was a Stark, and if I knew anything about them, it was that they were in fact gracious and kind to those who needed salvation and help.
I soon realized why he was cowering as we both stood at the table and watched him carefully. Gendry reached over to his hammer that was on the table, wrapping his fingers around the handle as I watched him. I heard the sound of pattering paws behind him, having me see fur. It was Nymeria, she was walking behind him slowly but with two rabbits in her mouth that she caught. She circled him halfway, being next to him and watching him as he stood before us. For a second, it had me confused since he was looking at the both of us as if we ruled the place. Did we really, since no one was here now? He eyed us carefully as he then clutched his hands together as if he was going to recite a prayer. Nymeria walked over to the table, dropping the game of rabbit in her mouth and then going to Koda, nuzzling against him to calm him down.
"I saw the light in Thedra Ascent and I thought…..that someone…" the man started, his voice was frail as he looked right at me and then I saw his eyes going wide. Something went off in his eyes as I saw Gendry look at Koda, whom was still hostile towards the man, whom even took a step away from Koda.
"Down boy." Gendry said to him, in which Koda instantly lowered his hostility and stayed close to his mother. I eyed the man some more, seeing his eyes were still on me the whole time, as if he saw a ghost.
"You're Lady Thedra." he said aloud to me in almost a declaration, having me slowly reach on the table to where my dagger was and grip it as Gendry eyed him suspiciously. The man then pointed to himself.
"I was in the caravan that was going to the Wall, I know you're face." he explained to me slowly with a shaky tone, "You were with your father and you both were coming back here."
"I recognize you." Gendry said to him aloud, having me look over at him and see Gendry nod his head. I wouldn't of know his face myself, but with Gendry it was different. He knew since he was a servant woking around the clock, "You were sparred from the attack."
"Aye, me and several others ran before they caught the others." the man explained aloud, looking from him to me and then taking in a shaky breath.
"You were taken, I remember seeing you with your bow. You saved us from death." he said to me aloud, as if it was a shocking discovery. Now I only did it to protect myself, but he had other plans, so I tried to find words to tell him that I was nothing more than a regular girl.
"There has been talk of you, here in the North and how you defied the South." He explained to me in more of a excited tone, having me look at him in both confusion and wonder? Defied the South? It didn't sound like me at all, having me look at Gendry in confusion, Why would that kind of message be spread, but the next thing he said made me floored as I looked back at him.
"There was also talk of a Stark, roaming the North with wolves. The people are starting to believe." He said to me aloud, having my eyes go wide as I clutched both Gendyr's hand in my own and dropped the dagger on the table, grabbing Astrid's fur in my hand as both a weight and protection protocol. They really do believe that I am a Stark, but just the wolves in my company and that fact that I did look like a Stark. But no one else knew, except for Gaila and Gendry now. How was this possible, but I saw him have a firm stance as he eyed me with now determination and loyalty, as if I was his ruler.
"People are rallying for the last Stark child. They are rallying for the North once again."