Farewells

Robb POV

Sometimes it felt like Winterfell was empty. Without my father, Jon, and Theon, it got quieter, even when my father and Jon were relatively silent to begin with. Arya's laughter became rarer. Bran wasn't a curious child anymore but a focused student. Rickon stopped his wild behavior and started to learn proper manners.

I wish our father could see us now. We are growing, learning, and becoming the people we were meant to be. I couldn't help but think about it, sitting under the Weirwood in Winterfell. Ice in my arms didn't need sharpening or cleaning, but it gave me solace. There weren't many problems arising in the North after the war.

Apart from worrying about Dreadfort, as it was empty now, I only had to worry about the upcoming winter. Yet it left me time to think of my father and how I could have acted differently to save him. Was it right to slight my aunt Lysa? Would my father call me honorless for killing Littlefinger? Was I worthy of my lordship?

I wish uncle Edmure were here. But he is gone, and I don't know who to ask for advice. Mother wasn't doing well either. Losing her father and husband, hearing how delirious her sister become, and now her brother was missing, probably dead. How many trials do the gods wish to throw at us? How many can we handle?

Ice reflected my short auburn hair and stubble of beard. I looked at the blue eyes and asked. "What should I do?"

Nobody answered, but I knew what I had to do. I had to ride north. I had to leave Winterfell to my mother and siblings. I had to leave them, for I had duties and responsibilities to uphold. I wished to stay with my family and help them with our grievance. But I was Robb Stark, Warden of the North, Lord of Winterfell. I had to uphold my name.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up and left the godswoods of Winterfell. My mother was waiting for me as I entered my solar. She only glanced at me, and I saw her eyes tearing up. She knew me well, I wanted to say that she didn't need to worry, but the words would be empty and meaningless to her.

"I must do this, mother," I held her shoulders.

"Ned had to ride to the south, Edmure had to sail to the Iron Islands," My mother responded, and I could feel her shoulders tremble.

"It is my duty as lord of Winterfell," I had to stay strong.

"And what of the duties of my son? What will I have to think of when I don't hear from you for months? What will I do when they bring only your sword back? How much do we need to sacrifice, Robb?"

"As much as needed," I said.

"Your father would be proud of you, and I would hate him for that," My mother told me. "Say your goodbyes to your brothers and sisters, at least."

"I am sorry, mother."

"You are no longer a boy," My mother said. "A man grown, where did the time go?"

As my mother left, I started writing letters to Karstarks, Umbers, Mormonts, and other houses up north. Five thousand men will be raised. Lord Commander of the Night's Watch promised two thousand of his best men to join us. Our objective was to break the Wildling army, but my real intentions were to investigate the appearance of the White Walkers.

If anyone knew about them, it would be the Wildlings. Yet it was almost impossible to make contact with them. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont informed me that more than half of the rangers he sent still had not returned. He is concerned that the Wildling army is hidden in the hounded forest.

It wasn't anywhere near enough information as the hounded forest was too massive. It extended from Frostfangs to Shivering Sea. But there were two places they most likely were. Fist of the First Men or Hardhome. Too bad those places were on different ends of the Hounded Forest.

Knowing that staring at the map wouldn't give me anything anymore, I stopped. Standing from the desk, I walked around the castle. I came to Maester's Luwin's Solar first as I had letters I wanted him to send. I found Arya and Bran inside, listening to Luwin's lessons. It reminded me of Jon and I.

"Lord Stark," Luwin stopped his lesson to the delight of Arya and Bran. "Do you wish something?"

"I wish to send these letters," I replied. "And I want to take my siblings with me."

"Of course, my lord," Luwin took the letters from my hands, and my siblings followed me happily.

I wanted to talk to them. Ask how they were and what they have learned, but no words escaped me. I walked to the courtyard with them. Arya and Bran looked at me, confused but soon smiled when we reached our destination. It was empty, so perfect for what I wanted to do. I picked up a couple of wooden swords from the stack and gave them to my siblings.

"What is this, Robb?" Arya asked.

"It just occurred to me that I have not sparred with you in forever," I replied. "I wanted to see how far you two have gone with your training. Now both come at me."

I laughed as they pounced at me like pair of direwolves. They were getting better, maybe even better than Jon and I were at their age, but nowhere near close to making me worried. I parried the attacks but didn't counterattack. I let them have fun, trying to hit me. It was a wistful few minutes until they got tired.

"Arya, don't get in the way!" Bran yelled out in frustration.

"You are the clumsy one!" Arya shouted back.

"I think it is enough for now," I smiled at them.

"What? Please, a few more times, pretty please," Arya asked with puppy eyes.

"Maybe next time," I hit her head with the wooden sword. "I will be leaving soon."

"Where?" Bran asked.

"To the North, to the lands beyond the Wall," I answered. "I will be gone for some time."

"Can I go with you?" Arya pleaded.

"No!" She stepped back at my firm refusal. "You are to stay at home. Practice more, learn more, and maybe one day I will not have to refuse you, Arya."

"Fine," Arya whined but didn't complain.

"Will you going to fight the Wildings?" Bran asked.

"Mayhaps," I answered.

"Please, don't die," Bran muttered quietly.

"Bran," I looked at my brother's eyes. "I will not die, I promise you."

"You can't keep that promise," Arya said.

"Yes, I can," I replied.

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can."

"No."

"Yes."

"Ugh," Arya got frustrated at me, and I laughed.

"Nobody going to stop me from keeping this promise, no wildling, not even the White Walkers."

I knelt to them and gave them a firm hug. Even if they hid it well, they still haven't gotten over the death of our father. And the news of Edmure's missing got them even more. I have forbidden anyone within the keep to say anything indicating Edmure's death. Those who spread unfounded rumors were punished severely.

"Be safe," Both Bran and Arya said.

"You too," I replied before standing up.

It didn't take long to find Sansa. She with Jayne Poole were sewing something and chatting along with themselves. Seeing me, Jayne Poole quickly stood up and bowed. I nodded to her and motioned to leave me alone with Sansa. After Jayne left, I sat beside my sister and looked at what she was sewing. It was a direwolf.

"I heard you will be leaving soon," Sansa said.

"I am."

"I thought I could finish it by the time," Sansa said, motioning to her embroider. "But it seems I won't."

"You can give it to me when I return," I told her. "A welcome back gift."

"I make it most splendid. Ladies from every corner of the world will swoon over you with it," Sansa said. "So, please come back."

"I will," I gave her a big hug. "You will be the oldest of us when I leave. Take care of your siblings. No matter how much they might annoy you, we are all we have."

"I will. I promise," Sansa started to cry, and I held her.

It was always hard to say goodbyes. I didn't know how long I would be gone, at least for months, even more, if the situation turned worse. After Sansa stopped crying, I left to find Rickon. He was still too young to understand that I was leaving for a long time, and after I told him to treat Shaggydog well, I returned to my solar.

There were still plenty of times we talked. We ate meals together, but it was easier to say farewell now. I had to focus on the task ahead of me. I had to make sure that everything was prepared for the marching. Men had to be ready, and resources had to be prepared. There was no room for a mistake. Edmure has taught me that it is better to be safe than sorry.

…

With the new roads, uncle Edmure helped the North building. It wouldn't take long to reach the wall. The other lords with their men will meet me in Moletown. The track was peaceful, with no trouble, and two thousand men with me marched quickly. Greywind was mainly by my side unless he went off-road to hunt.

"My lord, we see the town," My scouts informed me.

"Good, inform the other men," I said.

After a few more hours, we reached the town. It was a bustling town with wooden walls protecting it. With a better road to the town and increased men in Night's Watch, Moletown has prospered. I could see Lady Maege Mormont, lord Umber, and lord Karstark waiting for me with their children.

"My lord, we are glad to see you well," Lord Karstark said.

"Is everyone here?" I asked.

"Yes, three thousand men at your service," Lord Karstark answered.

"Very well, before I left, King Jaehaerys promised me that the ships would soon sail to the Eastwatch and join the Manderly fleet."

"Good tidings, then," Lord Umber responded with a boisterous laugh.

"We shall rest here tonight and march to Castle Black with the sun," I informed them.

Once I had supper with them, I put a helm and mingled with the Northmen instead of retiring to bed. I hid my face, and nobody questioned me, even if a few were curious why I was wearing a helm. I checked how well the men were doing under various lords. Taking a look at their armor and weapons, the food they received, and their mood.

I was satisfied with my findings. It didn't look like any lord was abusing their power and weren't supplying the soldiers with what they needed. Even though some were worried about the journey to the north beyond the Wall, the mood was light. Even the cold winter winds didn't seem to damper them.

It might change when we reach the Wall, and they start hearing stories I have heard. But I was glad the morale was high among the men, and nobody was dissatisfied with marching to the north. Many were delighted to be able to help the Night's Watch, and some even joked that it was time they start pillaging the wildlings.

Once I returned to my tent, I was dead tired. I lay on my bed with a belly full of meat and ale. Greywind has returned from his hunt by this time with a bloody muzzle. I cleaned him up with cold water and let him sleep inside the tent near me. His warmth reinsured me and made me fall asleep without any worries.

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852,