Sorry for the missed week on this one guys; had some sort of lurgy over the week that left me exhausted throughout, and a shoutout to two awesome stories that are on ; Brockton's Celestial Forge by Lord Roustabout, and Of Elder Scrolls and Huntsmen: Dragon Rose by JessesanMan.

Beta reader: Eragong

Chapter 4: Winterfell

Slowly the immense grey walls of Winterfell emerged over the crest of the hill before them, and the four travellers sped their pace slightly as they approached the final descent down into the winter town and Winterfell. The ancient citadel of the Starks lay in the hollow between several of the low rolling hills that covered the central region of the North. The sparsely populated winter town spreading out from its walls, only a few of the houses with the telltale wood smoke of occupation.

The group stopped at the top of the hill, looking down on the fortress, "Those walls are colossal," Landon murmured, "Are the defences of King's Landing similarly formidable?"

Benjen shook his head, gesturing for them to keep moving, "Winterfell was built by Brandon the Builder with the aid of giants. It's one of the largest castles in Westeros; behind Harrenhal and Storm's End, of course they are both substantially larger," He said with a grin at Landon's stunned expression.

M'rissi gawped silently, as Cae twiddled a strand of hair, before speaking up, "What great beasts stalk this land to require walls of this magnitude?"

Landon shook his head before Benjen could reply, "No magic. That's why the defences are so much greater. Tall walls pose little obstacle to a powerful mage, or a cabal of battlemages. Against just soldiers, with mundane instruments…" He waves a hand towards the construction, "They would struggle to overcome such barriers."

As they passed the first row of vacant buildings, Benjen shot Landon a serious look, "Are you saying a powerful mage could just blow the walls down?" He looked at Cae, "Could you do that?"

She shook her head as Landon replied, "A master of Destruction could certainly damage them, but a talented mage could simply fly over them."

"That's illegal," Cae reminded him sharply, still looking at the citadel with quiet interest.

"You're able to though. You've done it before." Landon pointed out with a slight grin, "Benefits of an elderly teacher, I believe you said."

Cae absentmindedly waved a hand at him, while M'rissi snickered at the exchange, as they entered the shadow of Winterfell.

Lord Eddard Stark sighed internally as Arya fidgeted with her dress, prompting an immediate rebuke from Cat, his wife stepping to the side to straighten the collar that Arya had just knocked askew. His brother's early arrival at least gave the opportunity for his younger children to rehearse for the arrival of the King and his court. He turned his gaze back forwards as Cat settled back beside him, ignoring Arya's surly look as the sound of voices and laughter echoed through the open gatehouse.

His back straightened as four figures came into view. The first was obviously his brother, and he let a small smile split his lips as Benjen raised a hand in greeting before turning to murmur something to his companions.

His companions were unusual to say the least, the first was a man clad in heavy dull-grey plate; not iron, not quite steel, something else. A blade hung on each hip, one with a similar grey metal scabbard, and the other with a far more ornate gold and gemstone sheath, clashing with the relatively subdued colours of the rest of the man's equipment. His helmet was off, revealing aquiline features on a dornish complexion, his short-cut hair giving the man a somewhat severe cast. A third sword, as well as a heavy shield made of the same strange metal as his armor were slung on his back, atop a hefty leather backpack.

The next was clearly a woman, the slender figure standing in stark contrast to Benjen and the other man, even with the ornate steel covering her frame. She stood nearly head and shoulders above the two men, though she probably weighs less, Eddard thought, watching the woman adjust her stance slightly as a gust of wind through the gatehouse caught her. Two blades rested on her hips as well, a shortsword in what looked like a yellowish horn scabbard, and a dagger in a jagged black scabbard, standing in stark contrast to the light colour of the robes that cushioned her armour, and concealed her face behind a thick fur hood.

The third and last companion was also a woman, and barely stood taller than Sansa, not quite reaching up to Benjen's shoulders. While the first woman moved carefully, with an almost stately elegance, the second wove back and forth at the back of the group. She was near silent as she gracefully stepped from shadow to shadow, seemingly more by instinct than any deliberate intent; some of her face was visible as she gazed up at the bulk of the First Keep overshadowing all else within the walls. For a moment as she twisted her head about, Eddard was sure he saw a glint of gleaming amber beneath her hood; but the movement also revealed the powerfully built warbow that was strapped to her back, along with a pair of quivers. The bow looked to be made of the same yellowish horn as the scabbard her companion carried.

That and the armour, which was near identical to what the first woman was wearing, were beautifully made, and as they stepped out of the gloom of the gatehouse and into the sunlit courtyard, Eddard could make out the delicate filigree and carvings across the armour of all three of the strangers. The man's was sharp and angular, with each plate intricately inscribed with swirls and triangular iconography, two opposed curves taking the place a knight would ordinarily place his house sigil. The taller woman bore carvings of hawks, songbirds and falcons of all kinds, without a house sigil anywhere to be seen. The shorter woman's armour was carved in a similar fashion, immense cats and lions were engraved into her armour, concluding with a long toothed beast on each pauldron.

Landon looked across the arrayed nobility as they passed under the second gatehouse into the main courtyard of Winterfell. The lord and his lady wife stood slightly behind, with their five children standing before them; a sixth child standing a few steps aside. Benjen quickened his pace as Lord Stark stepped out from behind the crowd with a small smile on his face. "Benjen, it has been too long. Winterfell always has room for you."

The two of them clasped hands as Benjen replied, "That it has, Ed. Too many years, and too much change. It's good to see you haven't knocked Winterfell over in my absence."

Lady Stark looked almost scandalised as Eddard barked a laugh in reply, before he stepped to the side and extended an arm towards the three travellers. "I wasn't expecting you to bring guests, especially ones that are not also brothers of the watch." His tone was light, but the slight edge to his words sent a small ripple of tension across the courtyard.

Benjen's own smile thinned somewhat before he replied, "There is news from north of the Wall, brother, and these travellers are part of it. Serious news." He added, with a meaningful glance at the crowd behind Eddard.

The man's eyes widened slightly, "My solar then." He replied to Benjen, before he turned back to his family, "Cat, Robb and Jon, with us; Sansa, Arya, Bran to your lessons now. Cat, could you…?" He gestures towards Rickon, and Lady Stark's sudden sour expression vanishes as she nods, turning to summon a maid who was hovering near the main keep; a quick gesture had the maid hurrying forwards to collect Rickon.

"You just got here! You're going to hide away already?" Arya's tone was nearly petulant as she walked up beside Benjen, arms folded in front of her. Before he can reply, Lady Stark pulls the girl away with one arm, pushing her into the grip of a thin elderly woman, who steers her back towards the keep, ignoring Arya's protests.

With the younger children sent away, the remaining group began to head towards the main entrance, where a trio of guards were waiting for them. Benjen greeted the guard politely, before removing his shortsword and dagger from his belt, handing them over, before heading inside with Lord Stark. The guard approached Landon next, and he reluctantly removed his sword belt, handing both blades over before reaching over his shoulder for the third. As the guard went to move away, he reached out to catch his arm, gesturing towards Dawnbreaker, "Do not draw that blade, or any of the rest, they are extremely dangerous."

"I understand, Ser." The guard replied bemusedly, pulling his arm from Landon's grip, as he moved on towards Cae, who was already removing her two weapons. M'rissi hesitated for a long moment before doing the same, carefully handing over the large bow, and a pair of daggers that had been hidden beneath her cloak. After a last look around the courtyard, the three of them followed the Starks into the warmth of the keep.

Lord Stark's solar was as solemn and reserved as the man himself, situated near the top of the great keep. A wide ironwood desk dominated the centre of the room, with several small tables bearing maps, ledgers and various tools positioned around the room. A pair of servants hurried to collect plain, though sturdy, chairs from around the room to place them before and behind the desk while Lord Stark sank into a large padded seat at the centre of the desk, pushing aside parchments and books while his household took their seats behind him. His wife leant forward to gently rest a hand on his shoulder, while the two boys sat quiet and attentive, watching their uncle take his seat. Landon tested his chair carefully before sitting, wincing slightly at the creak of the wood as he shifted his helmet from his belt onto his lap.

"What is your news, Benjen?" Lord Stark asked once everyone was settled, he rested his arms on the desk before him, watching his brother with cautious eyes.

"Cold winds are on the rise, Ned, Winter is coming and darker things are coming with it." Benjen rolled up his sleeve revealing the faint scar of teeth on his arm, "The Wildlings are retreating from their villages, and massive bonfires burn in the night. I was caught in a storm in the lower Frostfangs, and two men attacked me in it. I stabbed one in the eye, and the other in the throat," He gestured to each point in turn, "They didn't even bleed, Ned, they just kept coming. I fear for the Long Night, The Others and their wights."

The warm air turned chilly as the two boys turned white and Catelyn let out a quiet gasp; Eddard sat as solidly as before, but an undeniable tension had entered his expression as he stared intently at Benjen, "Are you sure?" His voice was almost a whisper and Benjen almost flinched at the sound.

"I'm sure," He said firmly, gesturing back towards the three adventurers, "These three are the only reason I survived, and even then, some of their weapons did nothing to the wights."

Eddard shifted his gaze to the group, accepting a grim nod from Landon, before M'rissi threw her arms up in the air, "She put an arrow in its brain, and it did nothing! She does not like things that do not die."

With a glance at the irate Khajiit, Cae continued, "We did not have the opportunity to test all of our weaponry on them, but fire was capable of dispatching them where mundane means failed."

As Cae continued, Robb spoke up, cutting her off, "Fire? They didn't care about an arrow, so you threw a torch at them?" Catelyn murmured reproachfully as he spoke, but Eddard didn't even turn, keeping his gaze locked on Cae.

She slowly extended one hand flat before her, while raising her other to her hood, pulling it down. She focused on her extended hand as Eddard recoiled in shock, cutting off a curse before it was even half off his tongue, and a small flame sprung into existence on her palm, casting flickering shadows on the faces of everyone looking on.

"You are a child of the forest, aren't you? Like from Old Nan's tales?" Eddard's quiet tone was filled with as much uncertainty as Benjen had ever heard from his brother, and Cae quickly shook her head as Landon replied.

"We've not heard of that name, but we are all foreign to this land," He gestured towards M'rissi, and she gratefully pulled her hood down, letting her ears flick upright as she uncoiled her tail from her waist. The Starks alternated between staring at the yellow-skinned Altmer with the flame in her palm, and the slight Khajiit who started picking at her ears quietly complaining about her hood.

"We are not from Westeros," Landon said firmly, "Where we come from magic is commonplace, especially amongst the nobility. Trolls, ogres, undead, demons, they are all things we have faced and defeated in time."

The silence after Landon's statement stretched for almost a minute before Eddard spoke again, looking straight at Landon, "Did you come to fight the Others? Or for another reason?"

"We didn't even know your land existed." Landon replied bluntly, causing Eddard's head to jerk back in shock, "We were intending to travel to the city of Solitude, but a powerful daedra, a demon, interfered, and we arrived north of your Wall instead of our destination."

Catelyn spoke then, gazing towards the two stranger beings behind Benjen, "So where are you from?" She asked quietly, "Asshai-by-the-Shadow? The Golden Empire?""

Cae replied with a thin smile, "I could not find our homelands on all the maps of Castle Black, we hail from the continent of Tamriel, which stands under the rule of the Dragon Empire." She quickly raised a hand to quell the sudden questions from Robb and Jon, and to reassure their suddenly pale parents. "We have managed to determine that what you called the Valyrian Freehold is not related to our homeland. The Empire is named for the Dragon God of Time, Akatosh, and dragons themselves are seen as cruel beasts and tyrants. Intelligent, and powerful in magic, but monstrous."

Eddard sighed, rubbing his brow with one hand, "You are aware that the King and his court are visiting soon, aren't you?" Benjen gave a single nod, and Eddard continued, "I cannot bring this to him, not yet."

Benjen replied quickly, trying to keep the shock out of his voice, "It's Robert, Ned. He'll listen to you."

Eddard nodded in response, "He will listen to me, but I don't know if he will take it seriously. It has been years since I saw him last, and he's been in King's Landing, and the palm of the Lannisters for over a decade. In the years leading to Lord Arryn's passing," he paused, trying to subdue the spark of pain in his eyes, "Reports from the capital speak of debt, extravagance and more. I don't know if he is the same man I fought beside, and until I know for certain, it would be better to keep this close." He gestured towards the three adventurers, "We could perhaps say that you hail from Asshai, the people there are unusual, both in manner and appearance; even your stranger features may not draw too much attention if we let it be believed that you hail from the poisoned wastes." He paused for thought, "That could work; perhaps as tutors or bodyguards, I doubt you would be convincing as merchants."

M'rissi leaned forwards before Landon or Benjen could reply, "But we need to think about what we need, yes? We want to go home, M'rissi wants to go see Kasia and S'ahara again. This land is not ours, it is too quiet, and the sky is all wrong."

Eddard gave her a slight smile, "I cannot ask you to aid me without giving something in return, the library of Winterfell would be open to you, it has maps and star charts that may aid in your search. If what my brother fears comes to pass, the North, all of Westeros, would be grateful for any aid you can give us. If your magic can defeat what comes it could save many lives."

M'rissi looked towards her two companions, Cae nodded, and Landon replied, "I believe we were sent here for a purpose, Lord Stark, if you can aid us in finding our way home, we will stand against whatever fiends may come." He raised a hand to gesture towards Robb and Jon, "though, I suspect a demonstration of what we can actually do may be useful, if only so we can prove we are what we say, rather than simple tricksters."

The next day, the three adventurers rode from Winterfell, following Benjen, Lord Stark, his two eldest sons, and a small retinue of guards. Benjen led them to the west into the edges of the wolfswood. Heavy clouds hung low overhead, and a pervasive mist clung ground, leaving the woodland slick with moisture.

Eventually, they stopped in a small glade just within the forest, and the group tied their horses at the far edge of the clearing from where Landon and the others stood.

Landon looked upwards as the Starks stopped a fair distance away from the adventurers, "I believe I have a good proof of our abilities." Cae and M'rissi immediately moved several steps away from him as he took a long slow breath. "Lok Vah Koor!" Benjen was the only northman to not scramble backwards as the Shout boomed through the air, startling the horses. Almost immediately, the mist around the group began to lift, and the clouds scattered overhead, letting warm sunlight filter through to the forest floor; as the northmen watched, the clouds retreated almost over the horizon, turning the dull autumn morning into a bright crisp day.

The silence that followed was eventually broken by Robb, who was staring up at the sky, before turning his gaze back down on Landon, "Are, you a god?" He questioned uncertainly, drawing a laugh from Benjen.

"They aren't gods, nephew. Landon is rare in his lands, a type of warrior known as Dragonborn, who can speak in the same tongue as the dragons of their lands. It is powerful and rare, but not unheard of; normal men and women can learn to use the same magic, it just takes them a great deal longer." Landon nodded at Benjen's explanation, and the northmen slowly relaxed as they saw Benjen's nonchalance at the display.

"Is that something that can be taught?" Robb asked again, looking around the glade in awe as the last of the mist vanished into the treeline.

"Not fast, and not easily. For someone who isn't a Dragonborn, it can take decades to master a single Shout; and I know dozens. It is not simply speaking the words, you must know what they mean, what they truly mean. You are imposing your will on reality and telling it that it must change, it is a powerful, untamed art that can kill the careless." Landon raised a hand before Robb could ask another question, "I know you are not Dragonborn. There was a prophecy it said that when the dragons returned to Tamriel, the Last Dragonborn would stand against them. I am the Last Dragonborn. I stood against Alduin the World Eater, and ended the Dragon Crisis in Tamriel." He turned towards Cae, forestalling further questions, "I believe you should go next."

Cae nodded, stepping forwards as he stepped back. She reached into her satchel, taking out a hunk of raw iron, before hurling it away across the clearing. The northmen watched it land with a quiet thud, before leaping back into the air and flying back into Cae's glowing hand. Her other hand pulsed with a bright green glow, and the iron's dull sheen shifted into the unmistakable sheen of gold. She shifted her stance, letting the hunk of gold ore float from her hand towards Jon, who quickly caught it as the glow in her palm faded. Before she could be questioned, she widened her stance again, bringing her arms around in a slow circle as sparks of light began to coalesce around her. Her eyes closed and brow furrowed as she concentrated on the effect, before she slapped one hand against the earth, immediately, two bright white circles formed on the ground around her.

"This spell would sap the energy from those who would do me harm, and gift it to me, it has been useful in my travels." She said quietly, before dismissing the effect with a wave of her hand.

"You can turn iron into gold," Eddard began slowly, watching Cae with some apprehension, "That… it would turn our economy on its head."

Cae nodded, "It is a tightly controlled magic in Tamriel for that reason, a chunk of ore like that would make…" She paused for thought, "Perhaps fifty septims? Not a great sum, but enough for a few nights in a reasonable inn."

Benjen clapped his brother on the shoulder, "From what I understand, their small coinage is copper, iron and gold, while the larger coins are made from materials that can't be transmuted."

Landon reached into his pouch to remove a handful of moonstone and ebony coins. "Malks and ebons, but we're getting off track, M'rissi?"

The Khajiit stepped forwards, taking her bow from her back when she froze, her ears perking up, and her head swivelled to the north, "She hears people."

The Stark guards slowly drew their blades as they turned in the direction that M'rissi indicated, while Robb and Jon stepped closer to the adventurers.

"There shouldn't be anyone in this part of the wolfswood," Jon informed Landon quietly, "Unless someone got badly lost, they are either poachers or bandits."

Landon nodded slowly, before saying, in almost a whisper, "Laas Yah Nir," Robb watched as the man's eyes fixed on something in the distance, slowly tracking across the edge of the glade.

"Thirty. They are still approaching." He said, just loudly enough for the northmen to hear him, "Unhorsed, likely armed. Get behind me!" He snapped harshly as Robb began to move forwards towards the line of guards, blade in hand. The boy flinched, and Landon grabbed his shoulder, pulling him behind his shield just as the first arrows flew from the trees.

Two of the Stark guards went down immediately under the arrow fire, dropping silently as they were struck in the face and neck. Several others were injured, and Benjen hissed as an arrow sank into the meat of his arm. Landon raised his shield as the arrows came, shielding Robb and Jon with it as most of the arrows glanced off of the metal. One arrow however sank into the weaker chain under his right arm, scraping his ribs as the metal fought against the impact. Cae and M'rissi weathered the storm the best, turning to face the thick armour on their backs to the storm.

"How dare you shoot at her?!" M'rissi roared, spinning back around with her bow at the ready, eyes searching for targets, the first leather-clad warrior to step into the glade dropped almost instantly as M'rissi's arrow sank into his eye, the burst of flame inside his skull clearly visible to those in front of him as he collapsed to the ground.

Another wave of arrows came as more attackers charged from the woodland; this time, however, the arrows struck a barrier in the air, scattering away from the group as Cae twisted the air before them. The charging warriors seemed unconcerned by the effect, splitting around the northmen to begin encircling the group. The majority of the group wore heavy gambesons, with steel breastplates and helmets providing extra defence.

The Stark guards leveled their spears at their foes, attempting to hold them at length while they scrambled to reorganise their formation.

The screams of their horses drew Landon's gaze momentarily, as the archers turned their attention away from the shielded northmen and towards the softer targets, cutting them down with disciplined and well aimed marksmanship. Moving carefully, Landon pushed the two boys towards their father, keeping his shield ready to deflect any arrows that came their way. Eddard and one of the guards quickly took hold of the boys, putting them behind the line of warriors.

M'rissi's arrowfire continued to cause havoc amongst the attackers, but by herself she could do little more than delay them as they continued to close in, keeping their shields between them and the deathly weapon she wielded.

With the two boys in relative safety, Landon turned to the rear of the group, and several of the attackers who had almost circled all the way around hesitated as he drew his blade, their eyes drawn to the momentary red glow on the dragonbone blade. Before he could move forward to attack, however, Cae yelled out a warning, only for her words to be cut off in a scream of pain.

Landon glanced behind him, unwilling to fully turn from the enemies before him to see Cae down on one knee, cradling her hands as a man with a crackling green mace, covered in vicious spikes stood where her barrier had once been. Almost immediately, arrows began to fly into the defenders again, cutting down more of the now unprotected guards as the archers took advantage of the lapse.

The two men in front of Landon rushed in as his attention shifted, their blades clattering off of his armour as he twisted back around to face them; two quick slices with his blade and the men dropped screaming to the ground, blood pouring from severed limbs.

More Stark guards fell as the hail of arrows continued to pour down, M'rissi roared in pain as one pierced her ankle, sending her sprawling to the ground, and Jon clutched at his belly as one sank deep into his gut.

"Tiid Klo Ul!"Landon felt his throat spasm as the world slowed to a crawl around him. He rushed past the closest attacker, slamming his blade through the man's throat as he passed. The eyes of the men he passed widened fractionally as he ran down one side of the Stark spearline, not even pausing as he cut through the raiders, moving closer to the concealed archers in the treeline.

He felt time beginning to return as he caught sight of six bowmen standing amidst the trees, slowly turning towards his path as he lashed out with his blade. Four died before the noise of the battle crashed back into Landon, and the last two men scrambled to get out of his reach as he took another breath.

"Yol Toor Shul!" The wave of fire roared out of Landon's throat, washing over the two men in a storm of agony. Landon turned back towards the battle as they began to scream; the loss of one side of their encirclement had sent the attackers into disarray, and M'rissi had taken out another two from the ground as Landon had dealt with the archers; while Cae was struggling to defend against the heavyset man who had begun tearing down her hasty defences with his mace, drawing more magicka and strength from her with each passing moment. Landon charged back towards the group, the beginnings of a Shout cut off by an agonising convulsion from his throat.

Cae deflected another blow with the last of her ward's strength, glowing fragments of magicka scattering away from the shattered barrier as the man pushed forwards, raising his mace only for Lord Stark to dash from the line of his guards, slamming a shortsword deep into the man's side. The sound of the air being driven from the man's lungs was almost lost in the thud of the man hitting the ground, and Eddard quickly whipped his dagger across the man's throat.

The surviving attackers began to panic as the tide turned against them, the loss of their covering fire allowed the guards to begin pushing forwards. The soldiers jabbed their spears between shields and through the thin armour of the raiders. Finally, almost as quickly as they came, the last half dozen warriors broke and ran, sprinting away into the treeline as the guards withdrew to surround the Starks.

With the battle seemingly won, Lord Stark rushed towards his injured son, taking hold of one of Jon's hands as the boy lay on the ground, holding his stomach. Robb knelt beside him, shock keeping back his tears for now. Benjen hesitated, before hurrying over to Cae, who was already rushing towards the group, a blue potion at her lips returning some of the colour to her skin.

Landon jogged over to M'rissi, who had set aside her bow to hold onto her ankle with a pained hiss; the arrow had cut through the thin leather that had covered the joint, entirely passing through the tendon.

"Come on, let's get you up," Landon murmured as he lifted one of M'rissi's arms over his shoulder, helping her hobble towards Cae and the rest of the group. On her knees, Cae gripped the arrow protruding from Jon's gut, and abruptly ripped it out, his scream of pain almost causing Eddard to pull him away from her ministrations. Landon set M'rissi down amongst the injured as Cae placed her hands on Jon's stomach, letting the soft white glow of her magic suffuse the wound. His cries slowly petered out as the flesh knitted closed, leaving nothing but a slight mark on his belly. Eddard watched in reverence as she withdrew her hands, quickly drinking a second potion before moving onto one of the injured guards, making her way through the most severely injured.

Landon stood again, moving towards the man that Eddard had slain. The vicious black mace lay near the body, glowing with a sickly green light; as Landon watched, the weapon pulsed once and vanished, leaving behind nothing but the faint stench of rotten flesh.

I'm not 100% happy on how I write long conversations, but I think this one turned out alright.