Brynden Rivers 292 A.C

He was flying again. Round and round one of the tower's in Winterfell. Through the window he could make out Jason and an older man he hadn't met before. He tried to peer closer but was distracted by a dark shape sloping off into the sacred wood of Winterfell. Getting closer to the shape he realised it was Jon. Brynden perched up on the branches of the Heart Tree watching as the boy visibly relaxed in the presence of the old gods. Brynden felt a sense of kinship with the boy and resolved to try and spend more time with him during his stay. As Jon knelt to pray he flew off back out of the woods not wanting to intrude on what he always viewed as a private experience. Upon reaching the courtyard again, Brynden just tried to enjoy the feeling of flying. He did twists and turns, climbs and dives. He felt freer than he had in a long time.

With a blink, he was staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. Both Jason and the older man, a maester by the chain links over his robes, quickly appeared by his bedside. Jason spoke first.

"My Lord your awake, are you hurt?"

Brynden sat up in the bed and shook his head. "No Jason, what's going on?"

The maester answered. "It appears you collapsed My Lord; I believe with your long travel and the physical toll of sparring yesterday your body decided for you that you needed some sleep. I doubt there is anything seriously wrong."

Brynden nodded. "Thankyou maester, I don't believe I've caught your name."

"Luwin My Lord."

Brynden smiled. "Good to meet you maester Luwin, now if you excuse me I believe I need to have a chat with my friend here. Is there anything specific you'd recommend before I go?"

Luwin shook his head. "No My Lord, with some rest you'll be back to perfect condition."

Brynden nodded before giving a small smile. He then motioned with his head for Jason to follow. The pair walked out of the maester's chamber and took the stairs down and exited into the courtyard before they started to speak.

"What happened My Lord?"

Brynden frowned. "I'm not entirely sure Jason, I didn't think I was that tired. Perhaps the maester's right, either way I'm okay now so not to worry. Anything interesting happen while I was out?"

Jason considered for a moment. "Both of Lord Stark's oldest came by and waited for you, at least until Lady Stark turned up. It appears she blames Jon Snow for your injury My Lord. Gave him a proper seeing to as well."

"That's ridiculous, he did nothing wrong."

"Either way My Lord, I overheard the boy is now banned from sparring and was pretty strongly advised not to be near either you or her children again."

"I'm going to have to talk to her, do we know what's happening with the meal tonight?"

"I was speaking to one of the servants from earlier, it seems as though Lady Stark expects us to be there just before the hour of the bat."

"Are we to be seated with the Starks or separately?"

"I don't know My Lord. Do you really think it wise to confront Lady Stark over something as small as Jon Snow."

Brynden stopped Jason and turned to him. "It is the right thing to do, is that not enough of a reason."

"But it could jeopardise our position here My Lord."

"I don't care Jason. On this you'll listen to me."

Jason nodded.

Brynden smirked. "In addition, I like him."

It was as they were walking back to their rooms that Brynden felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He was being watched. Brynden slowly scanned over his surroundings before spotting the reason for his alarm. An old lady was stood on the rafters about 50 metres ahead of them. Her gaze, even from the distance, was piercing.

"Jason, who is that lady?"

"I don't know My Lord."

Brynden's eyes couldn't leave her. "I believe we should head back to my room for now, it's not long until we'll be summoned for the meal."

"Yes My Lord."

The pair retired to Brynden's room with the ancient gaze following them as they went. Neither of them could put a name to the face nor had they heard anything they could attribute to the old lady they'd seen. Brynden dressed in his finest clothes, the only ones he currently owned, while Jason simply took his armour off in preparation for the night's activities. It wasn't long until the pair were being escorted by a servant to the great hall of Winterfell.

Brynden couldn't see Jon at the high table, instead he was greeted by smiles from the Starks which he returned while also searching the tables for the black hair of Jon Snow. The servant quickly showed Brynden to the high table, he was to be seated with the Stark's themselves, while Jason was sat at one of the lower tables in the hall, this being something the pair expected. The meal was quick to arrive and Brynden had to marvel at the beauty that was the pie on offer. None of the pie's lasted long, especially Robb's and Brynden's whose plates appeared cleaner than when they'd been made, something the pair noticed Arya trying to copy much to Lady Stark's clear distaste.

Once everyone had finished eating conversations opened up all around the hall. At the high table the majority centred around Brynden's collapse previously in the day and all of the Stark children said how happy they were for his recovery. Brynden's smile nearly didn't fall all night and it wouldn't have done if he hadn't spotted the shape of Jon in the back of the hall. Clearly trying his best not to be noticed. His mind refocused on his task of talking to Lady Stark on the boy's punishment. He had been warned on Lady Stark's hatred for the boy and so didn't bring it up with her first.

"Hey Robb, where's Jon?"

Robb glanced at his mother before speaking. "He's not allowed to sit with us at mealtimes Brynden."

Brynden feigned confusion. "How come?"

Lady Stark interjected. "I was worried that after he had hurt you then you'd be upset to see him, especially so soon."

"And is that the only reason Lady Stark, due to your worry for me?"

Lady Stark gave him a smile. "Of course Lord Brynden. Your safety is my highest priority."

Brynden smiled back. "Your family's reputation is truly well earned My Lady and I thank you for your concern, but Jon Snow did no such harm to me and as such I don't mind seeing him at all. So if there's no problems then I'd appreciate it if he could sit with us."

Silence descended upon the great hall of Winterfell and all eyes made their way to Lady Stark waiting for her reaction. Realising this, she graciously nodded to one of the servants who went to fetch Jon. While everyone's eyes followed the servant Brynden's met Lady Stark's own and noticed the barely refrained disgust when she stared at Jon, even more he could tell how she was struggling to hold her tongue and anger. When she also looked back at him he just gave her an innocent smile hoping his age would work for him in this regard. For now, he'd beaten Lady Stark but he doubted he'd get away with anything similar again.

When Jon was seated at the high table all of the Stark children gave him wide smiles, something that made his heart warm but it all paled from the look that Jon was giving him. It was a look of thanks mixed with respect and one that, to Brynden, made the risk of Lady Stark's fury well worth it. The night was one that both Jon and Brynden felt they'd remember for a long time neither boy thinking they'd ever laughed as hard or as true as they did that night. Sansa, Arya and Robb were also not exempt from the positive atmosphere and the hall looked on fondly at the family seated on the high table. It was Jason who noticed how Lady Stark hadn't laughed once. As the night quieted down the Stark children all made Brynden promise to see them on the morrow, something he chuckled at and agreed. Once he'd retired to his room he couldn't keep the smile off of his face. For the first time in a long time Brynden went to sleep looking forward to waking up.

He had promised to spend the day with the Stark children at last night's feast and Brynden readied for the day quickly. First on the list was breaking his fast which was a similar affair to the night previous except for Lady Stark's absence from the table. Both Sansa and Arya forced him to promise again that he'd come and see them after the morning drills with their brothers. Once the trio of boys had broken their fast they headed out to meet Ser Rodrick once more for another day's practice. After they'd arrived the master-of-arms explained that due to yesterday's incident, their practice would be limited to single spars instead of the three-way of the day before. All three boys smiled at each other, while one on one combat was probably less likely on an actual battlefield it was a much clearer way to highlight the superiority in one's swordplay and Ser Rodrick could feel the boy's competitiveness rise making him smile.

The first spar was Jon versus Robb both boys being closely matched and the spar lasting around 30 minutes as they were both familiar with each other's skills. It was Jon though who took the day as a quick flurry of spins and thrusts pushed Robb of balance before Snow followed up with a sweep to Robb's legs sending him to the floor. Brynden was glad to see Jon help Robb up and the pair laugh together before it was his turn. Brynden faced off against Robb in the follow on from the previous day's missed match-up. Robb was good, that was clear, but his energy levels were low and due to his unfamiliarity with Brynden's moves lead to a rather quick victory for the Riverlander. Again Brynden was impressed with Robb's attitude as he also offered to shake his hand and japed that he'd get him next time. Something Brynden profusely argued against making both boys laugh harder.

Finally it was Jon facing off against Brynden, the pair stood still waiting for Ser Rodrick's shout. Once he did, the pair circled one another trying and failing to find any immediate glaring issues in technique or defence. Brynden had a longer reach and therefore was looking to keep Jon on the outside while Jon was the quicker of the pair. It wasn't long until Jon thrust forward trying to slip inside the guard of the taller boy who backed up and slashed downward in reply trying to plant Jon into the dirt again. Jon managed to bring his sword up fast enough to block and used the momentum to spin and hit Brynden in the side. Jon attempted to push his advantage but was held back by Brynden's solid defence. The back and forth continued until Jon managed to push through and catch Brynden with a spectacular riposte forcing the boy's sword from his hand before holding his sword at Brynden's throat. After the yield Brynden gave Jon a wide smile and shook his hand. The three boys then spoke some more about the rest of the day they had planned. Robb sadly said he couldn't join the rest of his siblings as he had more lessons with Luwin while Jon and Brynden were free to go and see Sansa and Arya.

The duo went to pick up the girls from their morning sowing lessons, something which Brynden was astonished to find they did with a septa. His surprise came in two-fold. Firstly, why would a lady of the faith was teaching sowing rather than preaching Brynden did not know. His second surprise was at the existence of a servant of the new gods in the heart of the territory of the old gods. The closest sept to his home had been in the nearby time, despite the fact they were no longer in the north, their faith in the old god as strong as it had always been, at least he hoped his siblings were following the old ways.

The septa had tried to turn them away when she'd seen Jon but after realising who Brynden was she relented and allowed the pair to take the two girls out. Sansa immediately begged to go to the gardens and show Brynden what she assured him was the most beautiful sight in the north, but Arya refuted and asked them to take her to the sparring grounds and watch the knights go about their practice. Before an argument could start Jon and Brynden assured them that they'd do both and they would spend the rest of the day doing whatever activities the two wanted. As the day dragged on Brynden, Jon, Sansa and Arya enjoyed their time together and while Brynden enjoyed himself immensely there were moments of melancholy were he imagined if this would have been his life if Oriel was his mother. would his siblings have liked him? What weighed on his mind though was the mysterious woman from earlier on. Who was she? What did she want?