Hey guys, so here is the next chapter of The Lone Wolf. Hope you all enjoy it, and be ready for more.
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or Halo as they belong to their respective owners.
Winterfell
2 months before King Roberts arrival
Noble Six
Grabbing the last few logs of wood from the carriage, he hoisted them onto his shoulder. He had just returned from Deepwood Motte and met with Lord Glover who has been having trouble with his shipments. Though with the Spartan in attendance no trouble had occurred.
Being giving strict orders from Lord Stark he only took a handful of guards with him, Mathos himself volunteered to go. The two of them becoming fast friends in the few months he'd been here. He looked to his left as he saw the man setting his own log down, though giving his back a good stretch afterwards. Six gave a small chuckle at that.
Mathos seemed to notice as he pointed his finger, "Fuck right off, Spartan. Not all of us can be as gifted as you, blessed by the gods you are. Though I can't complain what with 'ye takin the load off us." He said as he took a seat on a nearby stool. His long face steaming with sweat, though a grin forming as he waited for Six to respond.
Six dropped the massive logs from his shoulder into the pile, all without a complaint. "I never said a word, though I can see your training is paying off. Last month you couldn't carry one of those more than forty feet. Now you've carried six twice the distance. How have the lessons been?" Six responded as he approached his friend.
Mathos smiled, "Well, my friend. I never thought I'd ever learn to read or write, though I'm no educated man yet. I truly can't thank you enough for this. I'll be able to teach my wife and children when it's done. A future for them is all I've ever worried about."
Six nodded in understanding, "I'm glad I was able to help, though you must give Lord Stark some credit as well. He could have refused altogether, but he is an honorable man and understood my reasonings." He looked to the battlements and noticed Ned standing atop them. "I'm afraid I'll have to cut this short, I have to report back. See that the rest is carried out."
Mathos nodded his head and went to ordering the men around, Six ascended the steps and was met halfway by his liege lord. Six dipped his head in respect, "Lord Stark."
Ned nodded back as he clasped him the shoulder before descending, "Spartan, you're a welcome sight. I trust everything went well from the looks of it." He motioned to the last of the lumber being carried off.
Six nodded his head in affirmation, "Yes, no sight of any bandits or trails of them. Lord Glover gave me this, for you." He reached behind him and handed Ned a sack of coins.
Ned sighed in relief as he took the baggage, "Taxes for the north are always welcome, winter is coming soon. We'll need more glass gardens and this will only help. As expensive as they are, it is crucial we have more."
A thought came to Six suddenly, "Have you thought of any significant exports for trade from the North?"
Ned scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, "We trade lumber, furs from animals, and of course the ironwood. Many others of course, but it does not bring much coin I'm afraid."
Bringing his hand to his chin he gazed towards the northern border, where the wall would be. It was entirely made of ice, but he could not just ask to start hacking away at it. He would need to find another solution. Caves.. there were many caves spread throughout the north that had been frozen shut or entombed. Yes. That would work.
He looked back as Ned remained quiet, "Ice, we can export ice. I'll send a few riders out to the nearest frozen cave and gather a few samples."
Ned seemed rather confused at the prospect of ice being made into a good that can be traded. "What could ice be useful for other than building the wall all those thousands of years ago?"
Six gave a hint of a smile before responding, "Trust me, Lord Stark. My people used it for many things of which I will show you." Six waived over one of the riders getting ready to depart.
"Yes, Spartan?" A young man in his early twenties, Derikk was his name.
"You've been on patrol out in the woolfswood, recently, yes?"
Derikk looked to Ned who gave a small nod before answering, "Aye, what of it?" Confusion laced in his voice.
"Did you see any caves with growths of ice?" Six asked as he pulled a small bag from his many pockets.
"Aye, one not a few hours ride from here." Derikk said pointing in the direction. Six nodded as he handed him the bag.
"Take this and a few other men with you and bring back as much ice as you can, do not let it melt. Keep it out of the sun. Report back to me when you return." Six commanded as the man nodded before yelling for more men.
Ned raised his eyebrows at the Spartans commands, "I hope this will be worth it, Spartan. But I trust your judgement."
Six only gave a small smile in return, "I assure you, this will help the North in more ways than one."
Ned sighed before giving in and heading back to his solar, not before looking back "My sons have been waiting for more lessons, Spartan. I told them you would be more than happy to entertain them, I hope I would not be made a liar?" Ned gave a ghost of a grin as he kept walking.
"Not at all, my lord. They know where to find me." He called back before heading to his quarters. Sighing as he entered the hallway he gave respective nods to the guards on duty. Opening his door he let his body weight close it as he slumped to the floor with a thud. Letting his body rest for a few minutes as he just gazed at his armor. It stood tall on its ironwood mannequin, he was growing used to the wood from Ironrath as it was very valuable and sturdy.
His visor still bearing the small crack from his fight with the covenant, his mind going dark as the past caught up with him. He hated remembering it, but at the same time it was all he had to keep going. Keep moving. Keep fighting..
It was all he'd ever known. Until he came here, and in these past few months he had begun to feel something he hadn't felt in his entire life. Peace. It was a rather foreign word for a soldier like him. He had found a sense of companionship with the men he had trained. A friendship with Mathos. But above all else he found something to fight for, the Starks of Winterfell.
He was a lone wolf, but they were a pack. He had grown very fond of young Jon as they had a lot in common. He could see a bit of himself in the young lad. So he began to take him under his wing. The young man was a fast learner and was very interested in anything he said or taught. It provided them both with a distraction and purpose.
He grabbed the water basin next to his bed, grabbing a handful and splashed some in his face. Sighing to himself he began to remove his top and place it neatly on the bed. Wiping the cloth around his shoulders to remove any dirt or grim from the weeks travel. His dog tags dangling as he did so, giving them a quick wipe down he gazed at them for a few seconds before resuming his wash.
His moment of peace was interrupted as he heard numerous footsteps coming his way, a set of knocks just soon after. "Come in." He set the cloth down and reached for his freshly cleaned UNSC undershirt he wore under his armor.
He could hear the door open and turned to face the newcomers, it was only Jon and Robb. A surprise as Theon wasn't with them, usually tied to the hip of the heir of Winterfell.
Giving a small smile he gave them his full attention, "Not even back a full hour and already craving for more?"
They didn't respond as they continued staring at him, he frowned deeply before following their eyes. The deep plasma scar where his heart was, still dark and gruesome to the eye. He merely looked back at them and put his shirt on rather quickly. "I'm sure your father has scars, mine are no different. War doesn't leave us without a reminder of it."
Jon seemed to be the first to recover, "I don't think he's been stabbed in the heart before.."
Robb nodded slowly as he averted his eyes, "Forgive us, Spartan. We didn't mean to cause offense."
Six merely shrugged, "There's nothing to forgive, curiosity can get the better of us." He rubbed his hands together and leaned back into the stone wall, "Now, what can I do you for you?"
The two brothers looked at each other before Robb stepped forward, "We want to go on a hunt, a hunt with you specifically. We've seen the amount of game you bring in, it's astonishing compared to even our best hunters."
Six could hear a slight hesitation in the voice, his eyes narrowed. "A hunt? That's why you've come to me, to go on a hunt?" He came off stern because this did not seem right to him. Their body language suggested they had something else in mind. Shoulders tense, a weight being shifted between feet faster than usual. Plus the need to avert the eyes.
They seemed to catch on before Jon nudged his brother and whispered in his ear, the stark heir sighing in defeat before reaching into his pocket and pulled out a scroll. Robb handed the parchment to him, Six gave a small look of suspicion before reading the contents.
Gerrion,
I know it's been sometime since you've heard from me, I've been running and hiding in the wolfswood. There's something in here, something from the darkest pits of the seven hells. Don't come looking for me, stay away from here. I've been hold up in the old ruins of the barrow kings of old for weeks. Gerrion.. this creature or whatever the seven hells it is. I can't see it! I can hear it but can't see it! The closest I've come to seeing it is when a few travelled to close to the ruined keep. A blade made of light cut them in half. Their bodies dragged away. Forget about me, brother. Tell mother I love her and I'll see father soon.
Ulfick
Six stared at the letter for several seconds, he read it once. Then a second, and a third. His heart began to pump as his rage began to surface. 'A blade of light.' He had only ever encountered one thing that carried those. But it was impossible, it had been months since he'd arrived here. Surely he would have found out sooner if one came with him. His mind racing through possible outcomes he forgot about the two in the room. He slowly looked at them and from the looks on their faces, they had no idea how dangerous this had just gotten.
He laid the letter on the table before addressing them, "I will not ask where you got this from, but I will tell you both now that there is no way in hell you are coming with me on this."
They went to argue but he held up his hand to silence them, "You were right to bring this to me, but does your father know of this?" They shook their heads and Six pinched his nose in frustration. This just kept getting worse, now he had to find a way to explain the letter to Lord Stark.
"I need to speak with your father, now if he's available. This is of the utmost importance, tell him it concerns the safety of the north. That's I'll say to the two of you, until I return."
That seemed to get their attention, "You're leaving?" Robb asked incredulously.
Jon had the same mind of his brother, "Why must you leave now?"
Six started gathering supplied before responding, "I will explain more as I said, when I return. Now go talk to your father. Now."
They muttered under their breaths before leaving the room. He started assembling his armor to his person, the feeling of it bringing a welcome sense of security. Along with a state of mind. If this was what he feared, this was going to be a fight that he needed. For himself, to rip that piece of his past away. While making sure that what happened to Reach or any of the other planets in his realm. Did not happen here.
As he grabbed his helmet and placed it on his head, his armor was now complete. He grabbed the DMR from his closet and began loading a fresh new magazine into it. Checked his frag grenades and bio-foam. His knife and kukri secured in their sheathes, he grabbed the makeshift rucksack and loaded it onto his back. He stormed out as a man with a purpose.
The guards and small folk around him noticing his appearance made way as he crossed the halls. His fists clenched so tight he could hear the dust from his gloves slide off. His face set in a stormy grimace as he approached Lord Starks solar. Knocking three times he waited.
"Enter." Came the reply and Six wasted no time, practically barging in he saw the Lord of Winterfell signing some papers. He looked at Six with confusion, "What troubles you, Spartan? My sons say you have a very important matter to discuss with me."
Six nodded before answering, "I have been keeping my ear out for anything of importance to the safety of the North." He reached into his back pocket and presented the letter, "This.. is why I needed to speak with you and why I need to leave immediately after this meeting." He handed the letter to Ned. He watched as he carefully took it and read it, his body seeming to sink into the chair. His face becoming more and more worried, once he'd read the contents he threw the letter onto his desk.
Ned seemed to contemplate his next few words, "If this.. if this is what I'm to believe. What can I do?" The lord of Winterfell asked him.
"I'll ride out immediately with the supplies I have or with any you provide, all I require is a carriage to carry my equipment and transportation. I will personally take care of this myself, Lord Stark." Six stated with absolute determination in his voice. Ned looked at him for a few moments before briefly nodding.
"Very well, Spartan. But, I'll expect you back within the fortnight. If not, I'll have a search party sent out for you." Ned stated, leaving no room for argument.
Six nodded his head and left the room, he made his way to the front of the castle where a carriage was already being prepped. He loaded his supplies into the back and began counting his food rations for the trip, it would take him roughly two days to reach his destination. Not taking into the fact of how long he would need to search for the creature. He noticed a large bundle to his right under a few cloaks, curiously he lifted the pelts and was surprised to see a war hammer. He ran his hand along the length of the body before getting it up for further inspection. The weapon was massive in ordinary standards, but to him. It was perfectly balanced, the leather wrappings along it feeling very smooth.
He turned his eyes to the head as he felt the spikes on the left side, sharper than he anticipated as it cut a small rivet into his glove. The other side being given a smooth flat surface, it was very well crafted and he would need to thank Mikken personally when he returned. It was everything he had wanted and more. Admiring the blacksmiths work he silently gave a few swings and was satisfied with how it felt. Strong and powerful. That's what he felt from it... yes this would do. He set it back where he found it and covered it back up. Only then did he hear the footsteps coming from the rear.
"I wish you didn't have to go, Spartan." Jon said from behind him, six sighed as he turned to meet him.
"I can't let anyone take this risk if what I fear comes true. I'm the only one who can deal with it, this is something I have to do. For all of us, and for them."
He said that last part under his breath, he could see the crestfallen look on young Jon's face. He strapped the last of his supplies before approaching him. He laid a hand on his shoulder, remembering just how tough life was for young Jon. Being a bastard and for Six to treat him as an equal, was something he treasured greatly. "I'll come back, Jon. You have my word on that, you know why?" Jon shook his head at that.
Six grinned behind his visor, "Because Spartans never die." He turned away and and hefted himself onto the drivers seat, the wood groaning from his weight but he grabbed the reins and snapped them at the horses. The gates of Winterfell closing behind him, his eyes becoming sharper as he glared into the distance. 'Here I come, the last of the Spartans.'
A/N: Wassup guys, here she is! The latest installment of the lone wolf. I'm here Germany for a rotation so I have to write from my phone. I'll try and keep the updates coming, please let me know in the comments how I'm doing and as always. Stay Safe!
Deuces