Winter's Wolf

by Retcon343

Naruto never believed in destiny, being a low born in the Northlands of Westeros left few openings for fate to ply its fickle trade. No, Naruto never believed in destiny but he never needed it. He'll carve a path to the top with the edge of his blade and the strength of his wit. Join him on his journey from lowborn orphan to ... well let's not ruin the surprise.

2. A New Station

Sorry for the delay in getting this up. I've gone back to work and somehow my job seems even more tiring than before the pandemic.

This was originally meant to be two separate chapters but neither came in over ten thousand words so I just merged them together. I don't know about you guys but I'm always a little disappointed when I wait three months for a new chapter and it's only three thousand words of even more build-up.

I got a bit more experimental with this one. POV is the way forward, I think. I also think I might have gotten a smidge carried away with the world-building. More telling than showing. but I feel like I needed to set up the status quo in detail to add more weight to future events.

On the note of future events. I hadn't initially planned to write anything beyond the first chapter. It was just a bit of fun. I've had to go away and plan out a few arcs to see how much mileage I can get out of this idea. I've got an overall narrative in mind that I think marries both worlds together in a somewhat coherent manner.

On a final note, Winter's Wolf is a placeholder title and I'm really struggling to think of something more fitting. So feel free to shoot over any better ideas.

Without further ado, I present Naruto Uzumaki in "Winter's Wolf"! (Working title)

-0-

Naruto I

"Heave!" was the cry ahead of them. Naruto did as he was told.

"Heave!" it came again, easy in command. And again the young blond heaved against the thick rope in his muddy little hands.

"Heave!" once more again he pulled the coarse rope down there was more resistance this time, he was tiring but so were the other men on this task. They were fading quickly.

"If I "heave" any more you'll have my breakfast in your pretty blond hair m'lord" came a squirrelly voice directly behind him.

"At least you had breakfast, I didn't have time after morning training to visit the kitchen." Will moaned, he was the third man on this rope.

"There's dried meat in my pouch, I knew you'd be hungry" Naruto replied through gritted teeth.

"Thanks, I'll.."

"Nope" came from the voice behind Naruto before Will could finish "No food for you Garner. I'll not have you heaving that on me. I'm not some brothel wench to have your spewage all up my back" That drew muffled laughter from all the men in earshot. The young man in front of Will on the rope was always a source of merry for the people of Flints Finger.

"Heave!" he was snapped from his thoughts. His calloused hands were burning but he would not stop.

"Heave!" the man next to him holding one of the four ropes that wafted down from the frame of the scaffold yelled. An array of shaggy Northmen held what was left of the rope behind their leader.

"heave!" the man commanded once more. The heavy wooden beams that they were hauling up to the top of their latest public project were closer to their target, it was a wonder the small metal pulleys that held the lumber in place could bear the weight.

Not long now and they would be one step closer to completing the first building of the first and only town square in Flints Finger. It was a long time coming, the culmination of a years worth of bargaining and pleading with Lord Flint and many a neighboring lord for the resources needed to renovate Naruto's small part of the North.

With a final "Heave!" his lord master's voice cracked through the silence and the wooden beams were in place. Ready to be moved into position by the two men who stood atop a thin bridge of two planks that spread across the internal scaffold of their new inn.

Naruto sighed heavily, he ignored the layers of cold mud that caked his hand as he ran it through his grimy blond locks. It had been a long day, looking around him he marveled at the sheer amount of men and women that had volunteered to his cause. Three dozen cold, wet and muddy Flintmen - as they called themselves - eagerly staring up at the skeleton of the inn as it took shape. Thin brown, black, and white bones harvested from across the western forests of the north crisscrossed and hung high above the muddy ground beneath them. Naruto had chosen this area, only two hundred yards from the main gates of the large castle that stood on the highest cliff in the region. A castle that had no real name, they called it Flints Finger, after the small region it was it built in. It stood atop a steep hill with its western and Northern portions overlooking the crashing salty waters of the Saltspear to the east and Blazewater Bay to the west. It was made of smooth black, chalky stone that was always slick from the sea spray so far below it.

Living under its towering shadow was a small village, aptly named Flints Finger, Naruto wasn't sure if it was the town, the castle, or region that was named first. It was of little importance for in truth, to come to Flints Finger was to come to the region and the village and the castle, for there was sparsely anything else for miles in any direction. To the south, the flatlands lead to even higher cliffs that crawled their way up to great heights on a base of jagged, steep step-like stones that were named The Flint Cliffs. There was an old tower on the Cliffs, the Blind Lord's tower, said to be haunted, cursed by spirits that drowned at the bottom of the Sunset Sea below it. Balon Greyjoy of the Ironborn was said to have scaled the haunted tower in his youth, a sight Naruto would have loved to have seen.

Westerly was Crape Kraken, where a small smattering of thinly forested rolling hills gave way to a coast lined with small fishing villages spread in between giant cliffs that guarded against torrential rains and waves said to be as tall as the Hightower itself. It was said Krakens could be seen in the dead of night lashing their great tentacles against the cliffs, causing great chunks of rock to crash into the sea below. It was here that the Ironborn made their home during their great conquests centuries ago, the winding coast had formed many natural harbors for fleets of raiding ships and the natural abundance of sea-life saw their marauding armies fed long after they'd starved out the local lords.

The cape itself for which the region is named was a tame thing, barely worthy of the name. A gently sloping lump that reached out into the Blazewater. A treasure of pearls and fish was the reward for anyone brave enough to sail out beyond the horizon. However, towering, Icy cold waves, and bone striping winds made short work of the shallow fishing boats that ventured too far from the cape.

To the east was the Greycrann, their border with the Neck, the domain of House Reed. Theirs was a name as storied as the North itself. Honorable men who bore the banner of the black lizard in service to House Stark. Naruto had a lot of respect for the Reed's, their Lord Howland had allowed shared access to the great Forrest in the Greycrann, a forest of sentinels, soldier pines, ironwoods, and firs. Though nowhere near as grand as the Wolfswood to the Northwest, it was still a great boon to have access to its plentiful timber and the meat and skins of its assorted wildlife. That being said, the lack of any meaningful settlements anywhere near the Forest left a lot to be desired. Naruto, however, had plans to rectify that. Lord Bohemund Blackmyre had recently been granted the seat of Castle Greycann, a less than modest holding and west most keep of the Neck. The Blackmyers had been loyal to house Reed since the age of heroes, thousands of years of service had finally been repaid. Lord Bohemund was of a like mind to Naruto in that they both saw the sheer potential of their newfound stations.

The sound of hoofs rushing through the muck drew Naruto's attention to Elric Morland, the young Master-at-arms of Lord Flint. His family had held position as the right hand of the Flints since before they descended from the mountains and founded the cadet branch that Lord Robin belonged to. Jared Morland had many titles before he passed them onto Elric on his death bed. He was Castalian, Quarter Master, and captain of the household guard. Flints Finger was a small holding, barely populated. It didn't require a lavish staff, even if it did Lord Flint would only suffer the servants he had need for. Anything more would be a waste and against his better nature.

"My Lord" The young Morland addressed their Lord. Thick black hair hung low on his shoulders, cheeks flush red from the summer cold. His horse kicked up a spray of mud onto the men holding the rope behind Lord Robin. None complained. Elric had been suspiciously absent this morning, Naruto thought to himself. Maybe an explanation was forthcoming but the young blond was too far away to hear what was about to be said.

As Elric drew closer to his Lord he dismounted his great grey steed with a flourish and held a parchment in front of him as he hurried over. Robins's sharp features narrowed on the outstretched hand, he waited patiently as Naruto watched on, the cold rope firmly between his hands.

"A raven, my Lord" Elric said expectantly. "It's as you suspect" He straightened and his eyes beamed as he stood in front of Lord Flint. The man quickly took the small piece of paper and read it in a hurry. Then he read it again to make sure. Naruto's interest peaked but he dare not disrespect his Lord host with prying questions, especially not in front of others.

"At ease." Lord Flint said after a fashion. The line of ropes grew slack when everyone followed the order. This worried the blond, the pulleys were old, rusted, without the counterbalance of the men holding the weight between them, they might give.

He gave voice to his opinion. "Lord Flint" he sounded small when he addressed his liege "If I may, I caution against leaving the weight suspended" The men behind him groaned knowing what he was alluding to "The pulleys may not hold"

"mhm, back to it then" was Robin's response. The tightening of the ropes was audible, so was the groan of exertion as the men pulled as one.

"Naruto!" Lord Flint yelled. He had not resumed his position on the rope "You're in charge, see to it the day's work is done in full. I will not hear otherwise"

"Yes my Lord, I'll see it done" Naruto bowed his head as he spoke.

Robin looked over to one of the men who had been slurping from an old carved wooden bowl. He was sitting on a long log next to four more men breaking their fasts before joining in the work at hand. The man started when Robin's eyes landed on him, Robin gestured to the rope with a nod of his head and the meek man rushed over and took his place in the line.

Naruto watched as the Lord Flint, muddy from head to toe drew up his cloak that the four men were unknowingly sitting on and threw it about his shoulders as he made his way to his brown Courser, patting the beast twice before mounting it. With a click of his tongue, it galloped up the steep hill leading to the gates of his castle. Elric was quick to follow, he usually had parting words whenever he was fortunate enough to evade hard work, this time there were none. Something serious was afoot.

Naruto had little time to ponder though, there was work yet to be done. He had to lay the flooring of the upper floor of the inn before evenfall. Else, they would be off schedule, Lord Flint would not suffer that and as such and neither would Naruto, this was his grand project and he would see it done.

"Alright, enough gawking" He tried to sound in charge "Marek!" he drew the attention of one of the men standing above them inside the wooden frame "Get on with it will you!" Marek did as he was told. He was the son of a kitchen servant in the castle, a trusty pair of hands, always keen to be of use.

Naruto watched as he reached out and pulled the long bed of wood they'd hoisted up towards himself and with help of the man next to him began to unload them across the beams already in place at the top floor of the inn. Not long now and they would be halfway done with only the roof and outer walls to consider.

Not long now and he would have his centerpiece, the foundation of his vision for Flint's Finger. The red faces of the people around him were a testament to a year of hard work. From the burly men who hauled and pulled and chopped and hammered to the who women cooked and stitched and served.

These people had come when he called, he had promised food and shelter while they worked. And when the work was done they would be given employ in the new regime. Farmers and fishermen were what the north was abundant with. Too abundant, coin didn't flow well beyond the Neck. The Manderlys were the only house wise enough to build a city, to offer services, to give men and women a chance to become something more.

A lifetime of reading tales about prominent people in the south had shown him the steps he needed to take to build something worthwhile, something worthy of the kindness that Lord Flint had shown him. Something the great Lord Paramount Eddard of house Stark would proud of. He hoped.

"What do you think that's all about?" Gar asked behind him.

"None of your concern, breaches" Will offered up

"I told you not to call me that" Gar returned through clenched teeth.

"Well, you did shit your breaches" Will replied quickly "More than once if I remember correctly"A coy small drifted onto his long face "Tell me, breaches, is this mud creeping into my boots, or have you had another of your accidents?" Naruto laughed out loud at that one.

"Spirits!" Gar responded with mock shock " boring Will Longface is making japes at me, the world must be about to end." Will sighed as if he knew what was coming "Let's not forget who was caught taking himself in hand in the moss tower" He said that loud enough for everyone to hear. A scandalous silence gripped the assorted workers, they awaited Will's retort.

"Better myself than Maester Karl's cat" Will's response did not disappoint. Laughter erupted. There were murmurings of an incident between Gar and the half-dead fat tabby. Murmurings Naruto was sure Will had started.

Gar grew an angry shade of red that seemed to crawl up from the collar of his dirty brown shirt to the edges of his awkwardly cropped black hair.

"It would pay you well to stop talking this instant, Garner"

"So you do not deny it?" Came a curious voice from one of the women that were serving hot stew from a giant charred black pot that steamed over a simple wood fire a few yards from their work.

"It was a misunderstanding" Gar's pitiful defense was like a spark that set of an explosion of fitful laughter. Naruto wanted to rein it in and get things back under control, but his own laughter could be heard as loud and as clear as anyone else's. This was a common thing between his two closest friends. Gar would needle at Will, saying whatever he could to get a rise out of the ginger boy, usually the ever stoic lad would not rise to it. Choosing instead to preserve his air calmness over petty squabbles with the ever crafty Garrick. Will usually paid him back with interest during their spars, Garrick had learned early on that Will was calm, not forgiving.

Finally, Naruto regained his composure "Gar, Will, that's enough we have work to do. There will be no supper if these beams aren't laid before the day is out. Now, one of you men come and hold this rope. I'll be up in a moment Marek!" he ended with a shout.

It was a rare thing in any part of Westeros for a lowborn boy of eleven years to be ordering about men and women who dwarfed him age on any project, much less one of this size. The first time Robin had abandoned him to command took him by surprise, half the men at the garrison paid him no heed when he tried to lead them in setting up camp during a training exercise. He had hoped Lord Robin would have made them aware of his new station but he surmised after the fact that it was a test. A test he failed. He had wilted when the second man looked him in the eye then proceeded to lift a skin of wine to his lips.

Soon after, he was given a second chance, this time he made sure that they were aware of his position, official or not. The men fell in line quickly after he tied four of them to the prickly bark of a pine tree to see out the night.

The common folk were a lot easier to corral, so long as he upheld his bargains they seemed eager to break the tedium of life. Most of their time was spent gathering food, he learned early on that if he provided the food they would be willing to work.

With deft hands, he began climbing the frame of the construction, quicker than anyone around him could comprehend he pulled and leaped his way up the thirty feet to the beams of wood that needed unloading. There were no looks of surprise, this was not a new thing to the people around him, they had grown accustomed to his feats of strength, speed, and agility. When he reached his destination he began the arduous task of laying the stacks of floorboards that they'd just hauled up. It was going to be a long day.

-0-

It had been a long day. The men and women that had been commissioned for the day had returned to their hut-like homes that spattered loosely around the flatlands under the shadow of the castle on the cliff that he called home. From the tip of the hill, the dim lights of their hearths sparkled like orange stars against the inky blackness of the ground underneath them. The moon had not blessed them with its presence tonight, hidden behind the thick clouds it promised a storm. Maybe one so devastating the moon spirit couldn't bear to watch. It was the talk in these parts that one day the moon would bring the sea inland, and with it, bring all the monsters of the deep to their doorsteps to gobble up all the children who didn't go to bed when told. Or so the stories told. He missed Old Nan dearly whenever he was pulled aside to be told some old crones tale. They didn't sound right coming from any lips but hers.

He had stayed with the last remaining men to clear away the remnants of their day, loose wood and metal nails were best not left lying around. With their task completed he gathered young Will and Gar and began to make his way up the newly built road that ran down from the castle, through the would-be town square, and wound its way down off to Old Stones, the small fishing village at the base of the cliff that housed the castle. It was Naruto's first project to build that road, it had taken nine months and was as crooked and uneven as the jagged rocks that defined this place. It was not perfect but it was progress, he thought as he almost tripped over the misshapen road.

Just up ahead stood the humble Flint's Finger, the steep road that lead to its high gates was slick with melted summer snow and reflected the lights from the high towers of the gates. The road itself seemed to flicker in the distance as they walked along it. It wasn't long before they stood at the base of the castle.

"Ho there!" He shouted

"Whose that then?!" The gate guard shouted back, a tired drawl in his voice, he was coming to the end of his shift in the gatehouse.

"Who the fuck do you think, Mylas!" Gar shouted back, it had been a long day.

"Watch your tone, Breaches!" Mylas was in his late forties, he had served the Flints since he was a boy and was now the leader of the watch, tasked with overseeing the men garrisoned to watch over the battlements of the castle. "You're forty years too early to be giving me lip boy, be wary I don't come there and give you what for!". His voice took on an edge, his tiredness all but forgotten, he hated Gar " I'll never understand why Lord Flint tolerates you scum" he was growing even louder "to be given position among your betters is a blessin' you don't deserve" Naruto could hear him shuffle to the stairs that led down to a door in the giant wooden gates, cursing all the while. "Giving me grief, I've half a mind to give you a good rearing!" he finished as he opened the door in front of them.

The three boys stared at him as he stood at the door, not allowing them any room to pass. He was a stout man, short going by the average height of the other guards. Gar often teased him about being wider than he was tall, his gut protruded even in his thick leathers. Oily gray hair was strewn about his fat head and dark round eyes singled out Gar with an obvious menace to them.

The silence was broken by the boy to Naruto's left "hear that Will, it's your lucky day, the fat man wants to rear you" Gar japed

Mylas' hand twitched into a fist, he'd had enough. His chest swelled as he drew in a gulp of air ready to tear into the boy.

"Calm Mylas" Came a voice behind the man "It would do you well to curb your tongue Garrick" Mylas was quick to give way to the owner of the new voice "most whore-sons would be grateful for a place in the company of a Lord" A tall bearded man with a bald head and piercing green eyes now stood before them "particularly those so unceremoniously abandoned at our gates" He looked down at them with a wry smile. " Now, the three of you see yourselves cleaned before you enter the castle, there's water in the buckets by the armory." He looked at Gar "The water troughs in the kennels would suit you best, I think" He began to walk back into the castle "Naruto, I would have words with you before you treat with Lord Flint. Which reminds me, the Lady Flint has requested you in her study, Willam. See to it you're with her post-haste."

He had disappeared well into the castle forecourt by the time he was finished.

"Dog" Will mentioned as they stepped past a boiling Mylas.

"What?" Gar asked, he had the decency to sound a bit embarrassed by the encounter.

"He was calling you a dog" Will followed smugly "I know you struggle to keep up with Maester Karl."

"Shame his cat had no such luck" Naruto japed through his laughter as they entered the castle proper.

-0-

Washing up was a short affair, the icy water had a refreshing quality to it. It prepared the blond for what was to come. He made sure to remove his muddied cloak and gloves before touching anything inside the castle, lest Maester Karl would have him scrub the main hall again. As they entered the main entrance the three boys went in separate directions, Gar headed off to the servants quarters where he stayed, Will made for the east stairwell that lead, eventually, to the main bedrooms, one of which had been converted into something of a study for the Lady of the castle. Naruto kept true to the end of the hall and then through a doorway into the kitchen.

He walked by the three sets of gigantic braziers that burned brightly along the walls of the modest castle. Long sheets of fabric hung sternly, unmoving from the ceiling, clinging closely to the smooth black pillars that held up the two-story roof. The banners bore the stone hand sigil of house Flint of Flints Finger, a right hand, gray upon a field of white.

Maester Karl, stood ahead of him at the doorway, eyes firmly in the kitchen. Naruto knew he'd be here, the man had habits about him that were seemingly set in stone. Every day he came to the kitchen, stood in the same spot against the cold wall and muttered some prayer or the other to his Southron gods, and then continued on with his day. It was a strange thing but not the only strange habit the man had.

"Maester" The blond greeted as he rounded into the man

"You're filthy" Karl responded with a pointed look and obvious disgust in his voice "Touch nothing"

"Apologies, there's only so much a dirty pale of water can do, your cleanliness" Naruto mocked a curtsy

"More than you seem to be capable of achieving anyway" The older man began walking through the kitchen, ignoring the bustle of servants preparing to serve supper. Naruto walked after him. " I take it construction goes well?"

"As well as to be expected" It was a strange sight for many to see a small boy being consulted in this manner by a maester "given we have no idea what we're actually doing" Naruto finished.

"mmhm" Karl offered " We do what we can" the maester reached out a deft hand as he strode past a table and pilfered a whole chicken before tucking it into the giant brown sleeve of his cloak. He was an unconventional man. The cook who had prepared the bird was horrified to see it missing, his accusation landed on Naruto with a heated look but before he could speak Karl tutted loudly and brought his free hand up against the back of Naruto's head. "I will see him punished" he said to the cook before continuing on. Naruto trailed in his wake, well used to his antics.

"I might actually steal the damn food one of these days if you keep accusing me of it" Naruto said "For someone so concerned with every spec of dirt and grime on my person, you're very happy to have a greasy bird dripping all over your small-clothes under that robe"

"Nonsense" Karl retorted "Howland makes a remarkably dry chicken" they began up a flight of steep winding stairs "Besides, I wear no small-clothes"

Naruto eyed him wearily "Best stay away from the kennels then, the dogs might be in the mood for a greasy sausage"

"Greasy or otherwise my sausage is not of your concern" He drew the small bird from his long hanging sleeve and began tearing into it with a poised appreciation " I received a raven today". He spoke through quick bites "Lord Manderly is willing to pay handsomely for sole access to the granite deposits at Broken Crag, he requested we construct a road connecting to the King's Road, for easy transport of goods" They arrived on the first floor and began heading down the long poorly lit corridor that lead to the Maester's study.

"Welcome news" The blond replied somewhat tentatively

"Lord Blackmyre has allocated a portion of the Graycann forest for our stewardship, I will have the maps presented shortly." Karl continued " He has stressed, however, that given the sheer size of his domain and the very few men he has to maintain it, it would be in our best interest to see to it that his borders are properly secured."

"So if we want access to the promised resources we have to police the entirety of the Greycann, while he hides behind his walls and collects his allocation of our proceeds" Naruto surmised "Not only that but we have no infrastructure or holdings anywhere near the forest"

"Indeed" The maester replied . By the time they arrived at his humble quarters there was naught left of the chicken but bones. His was a squat room with an attached study that smelled of old parchment and strange oils. He had adorned his space with fabrics that seemingly hung from every wall, they hung over windows and draped across the top of his doorways, his floor was covered in soft rugs painted in vibrant stitching of exotic colors. Above all else it was immaculate, a place for everything and everything in its place, Karl liked to say. Yet, It all seemed so out of place in the starkness of the castle around it.

"I also have news of a more domestic nature" he interrupted the blonds thoughts "As requested, I've had men dispatched to our most populated villages to take a census, they will have returned before your trip has ended"

"I have no trip planned, there's far too much work to be done here" the blond moved over to a window and inhaled the salty sea air, it played a decadent dance on his senses as it mixed with the strange burning oils that wafted thin smoke through the room. No wonder the maester burned them without end. " 'sides, why are you telling me all of this anyway. This seems news for Lord Robin, not his squire"

"you consider yourself a squire?" Karl inquired, genuinely curious

"Lord Robin brought me here to be his squire, I wouldn't dare overstep" Naruto answered as he drew up and sat on the sill of the window. His tiny feet dangling below him.

The man regarded him for a second "You've been here for a year, yes?" he asked a moment later

"Yes" the blonds answer sounded like a question

"in that time how much squiring have you done?" Karl asked as he began to pour a pungent blue liquid from an ornate jug on his mantlepiece.

"I… " the blond began. He wasn't sure how to answer. He did whatever Lord Flint asked him to do, he had cleaned the stables, washed the kennels, trained with the new recruits into the household guard, and helped decide on the allocation of manpower. Not strictly within the realms of a squire but he served dutifully all the same.

"The men, they call you Lord Naruto don't they?" the maester sounded half distracted as he swirled what had to be wine in a silver chalice with odd scribblings about its rim. "The dog boy practically screams it from the battlements"

"in jest" Naruto was quick to interject. An edge had appeared in his tone. "I've pleaded for them to stop"

"did you try tying them to trees?" the maester fixed him with a look, his green eyes grew icy in the dimly lit room " I hear that works wonders for our men at arms"

"I act with the authority granted me by Lord Robin and if you bear contention with my position then you're welcomed to take it up with him" Naruto locked eyes with the older man and parroted words he'd said more times than he could remember over the past year. He had received no complaints from the household guard, in-fact they seemed to respect his leadership more with each passing moon.

"Perhaps I will" he replied after a beat " But I reckon you enjoy the sound of it, " Lord Uzumaki"" He mocked "Sounds ghastly. An Essosi name in the Andal tongue with an Andal title, no less. Maybe you should have it changed. Have you thought to?"

"No. I haven't" Naruto said "Why did you bring me here, Karl"

"To give you a report of course" the man drew up and walked over to the corner of the room and began to rummage through a large box "Lord Robin has the final say but let's not play games, these are your initiatives" He drew out a metal chain with multiple links of seemingly different metals and brought it over his neck. Karl rarely wore his maesters links. "now tell me, what's your opinion on the Manderly situation, what shall we do, my Lord Uzumaki?"

Naruto paused

"Come now, this isn't the time to lose your nerve, we've always spoken frankly amongst ourselves, no? "

"Given that we have what he wants and the profits he stands to make in trade, I say we accept the coin and demand fifteen percent of the output from the quarry. We'll build the road and see to its security." He waited for the mans response.

"A good motion, My Lord" Karl said without any thought. "Tell me, did you just think of that or was that an excerpt from your book?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed

"Don't be coy, I've seen you scratching away in your little tome. Writing, reading, scheming, plotting." He teased.

"What of it, I have many thoughts and many thoughts need many pages"

"Ah, common cause at last" The maester almost jumped in mock joy.

"is that so?"

" You see, I too have many thoughts, more than you I'm sure, and I am also writing them into a book. Less a list of fanciful projects and more a tale of caution."

"Exciting, and who, pray tell, is this masterwork about" Naruto said dryly

"exciting it is, and you wouldn't know him. He's a sticky, mucky, scheming lowborn rat with visions of a station that far outreaches his grubby little arms" the maester was particularly venomous today

"if I may assume then?" the blond asked not paying to much attention to the veiled insult

"Assume away" Karl waved a lazy hand at him, urging him to speak.

"Is it safe to reason that this protagonist of yours has found his way to the court of some far away Lord?"

"Not at all, our very own Lord Flint in fact"

"Ah, I see. And this hero, as you'd describe him I'm sure, he must be very special indeed if the vaunted Maester Karl has deigned to chronicle his glory"

"Glory? This is a tale of woe dear boy. A winding, boring, meandering thing that offers little more than the kindling it's written on. Mind you, if something…unfortunate were to happen to the good Lord Flint" he paused "it would make for such succulent narrative liquor I doubt I'd be able to contain myself."

Anyone else and Naruto would have cried treason but Karl had a well-known dark humor about him " Well contain you must great maestre, remember, you're not wearing any undergarments. Besides I'd take kindly to the notion of you not speaking such treason, not even in jest. I have no designs to do anything but serve my Lord to my fullest ability. You were right before, an Essosi name doesn't suit a western title. "

He leapt from his seat and slunk, not unlike Karl was prone to do, towards a hanging scroll that had somehow unraveled on the center table "Now, maestre?" he put a finger to his chin and seemingly chewed on the word " has a very eastern tint to it" he looked dangerously at the man seated across from him. "don't you think?"

The man smiled darkly at Naruto and for a second neither said anything. Karl had to know there was a hidden meaning behind his words.

It was a game, of sorts. A game in which Naruto used words he scarcely knew the meaning of and spoke with an air of pompousness that would have brought bile to his mouth a year ago. It was an odd thing they did, Karl would invite the young boy into a conversation that was more a trading of barbs and snipes, each trying to undermine the other. Karl would propose a notion, an idea, or an event and demand the blonde's opinion, then proceed to ridicule everything from his accent to his body language. As such the young man began to mimic as much of the maesters characteristics as possible whenever they spoke. Words like, protagonist, masterwork, and riveting were as foreign to him as the odd liquid that Karl drank on occasion, the one that stained his lips in that awful murky blue.

When he had first arrived in the service of Lord Flint he would have sworn the man hated him, but in time he realized what was happening. These chats, reports and to the uninitiated, conversations, were little more than games. Karl wanted to see how Naruto would handle himself at court. He would offer up words, words like "meandering" that Naruto had no idea what they meant, and then needle the blond for their meaning a few days later. He would propose scenarios about lords and ladies at King's Landing and puzzle the blond on the opportunities missed by his metaphoric characters.

Karl broke first "I think its time you spoke with Lord Flint " He said as a small smile danced across his lips "he'll be eager to share news of this trip you don't have planned"

"By your leave then" the blond responded with a sloppy bow before exiting the room into the dark hallway.

-0-

Will I

Will was tired, more tired than he ever remembered being. Morning training was always intense with Naruto, he was up at the crack of dawn and was seemingly an unending fountain of energy. Will Garner was not the same. To do a full day's work after training was exhausting. The mornings here were beautiful though, but he never had time to enjoy them. The rigid routines set in motion on his arrival to his new home had left little in the way of free time. Lord Robin believed in strict discipline and filled every waking moment with one task or the other. Naruto was the same lately. Working himself to the bone, seemingly to prove a point.

Will knew him better than anyone, Naruto felt undeserving of his new position. They had been scooped up and dropped into the world of Lords and Ladies, service and servants. They had to follow routines and set conduct. It was all a bit much at times. This was the world they had dreamed of, he reminded himself, their fantasies of knighthood and adventure were closer than ever, a few years of service here and they could afford to visit an open tourney.

That had been the plan when they first arrived but things had changed. Lord Robin had taken a peculiar interest in his blond didn't take a genius to realize that Naruto was no squire and Will was no page. He was sure Naruto hadn't realized it yet, so caught up in service he failed to see that he was being groomed for something greater than carrying banners and dressing horses. Well, maybe he would be carrying banners, but whose was the question.

Will had many thoughts on what was seemingly in their future, none that he would share, not yet anyway. Best not to think of that now. He rounded the final corner that led to a large room that housed the study of one Lady Dacey Flint. Born into House Glenmore of the Rills, she was some distant cousin lucky enough to be invited to a feast that was also attended by Lord Robin. As the servants whisper it, Lord Robin stood no chance against her. He was entranced the moment he laid eyes on her jet black hair and misty blue eyes. That she was a foot and some shorter than most women and had a bookish, out of sorts way about her mattered little.

With his youth and impetuousness guiding his actions, he married her before the wierwood at Rillwater Crossing within days of their meeting. Rumor was, he had taken her maidenhood that first night and did was proper at the first opportunity.

Will knocked sharply on the old wooden door of the lady's study, he waited a second for her response, and as always it came muffled and meek.

"Enter" Lady Flint chimed. Before Will was even through the door she was upon him. "Come, come" she said in her sharp yet ever-cheerful way. "You're covered in filth, Willam. Here let me "She reached for a piece of cloth that sat on top of a pile of books on one of the many tables that littered the room, all of them covered in thick tomes and sprawling scrolls.

"Please, there's no need to fuss my Lady" Will pleaded.

Lady Flint was hearing none of it, with a lick she moistened the edge of the cloth and began to wipe away the remnants of mud on his pale, freckled cheeks. He drew back slightly, a bit put off by her actions. That didn't stop her "stay still will you, you're almost clean" when she was finished, she stood back and took him in with an appraising look.

"There. Handsome as ever" she said with a warm smile. Will reddened at the praise. " Isn't he handsome Hilda" she spoke to a figure moving around in the adjoined room off to the back.

"aaaww", Hilda swooned as she poked her head through the doorway into the main room "you are growing so well Will, the spit of your father" she spoke happily but there was a longing behind her words "Now" she chirped in the direction of Lady Flint " If we could only get him to smile, the maidens would line up from here to Dorne for a chance at courting him".

Will stayed silent but Lady Flint gave voice to his thoughts

"You speak as if he's some princess in her tower awaiting a gallant knight" her words did little to hide her demur laughter

"Wouldn't that be a jest" Hilda laughed openly at the thought "Mind you, I have heard tell of a Lady Knight, Brin they cal her, from the Stormlands. Fredrick says she's seven feet tall with hands so big they could crush a man's head"

"Brienne" Lady flint corrected " Brienne of Tarth. And she's no knight, not yet anyway. Besides, I'll not have him marry some Southron lady. She'd take him away" She continued "No" she grabbed his hands in hers "It's best he stay in the North where he'll be close. I can already think of a few girls of a similar age that would be delighted to.."

She was cut off by Will clearing his throat, more to remind her that he was present than anything else. They often did this, the Lady and her servant seemed to drift in and out of fantasy, as if life was some tale from some book. Knights and secrets and political marriages saving the realm. She honestly reminded him of Naruto when he used to spend more time in his daydreams than reality. But reality cut his dreams short and Will would do the same here.

"I'm flattered my Lady, but I think I'm too young for talks of marriage, I'd do well to focus on my work for your Lord husband for the time being."

"Oh" she countered as Hilda walked back into the room at the back to continue with whatever she was doing before he came in "and what work is that ?"

"The work of a page" Will offered

"Sit, sit" she said as she moved back to the plush and worn red leather chair he usually found her in while she read. He did as he was told and sat across from her in a similar char that was made for her husband, but the almost pristine soft leather of it told him Lord Flint rarely visited this room. "You need not remind me of your station Will. I asked about your work. Tell me." She said kindly, truly curious.

"Well, right now we're working on the new town square" Will said.

" And how is that coming along?" she asked.

So Will told her, he told of the work on the Inn, how they had hoisted and hauled all morning and spent most of evenfall hammering in floorboards two stories above the ground. He spoke of plans and ambitions and the next phases and she listened intently. He knew she was already aware of ff this, it was happening on her doorstep but a part of him was glad she asked, a part of him was glad for the way she listened and nodded and smiled and seemed so awestruck by his every achievement.

She treated Naruto favorably of course but she reserved these moments and conversations only for him. She would ask and he would tell. It was nice to have someone all to himself again, most people looked right through him when Naruto was around and for a time he told himself that he didn't care, he lied to himself that he preferred the shadow of the blond but that was only partly true. Deep down Will wanted to be that irreplaceable treasure that made another's life worth living. He didn't need a whole village to adore him, just one person. Like his mother had.

Everyone needed to be special to someone, he thought.

-0-

Naruto II

Naruto stood with his hands behind his back, fingers folded together, as he observed Lord Robin. Much like Naruto, he wore a simple grey tunic above brown trousers and functional boiled leather boots. There wasn't stock in frivolity in their corner of Westeros. The older man had wisps of grey in his short brown hair that he would occasionally run a hand through it as he read the document on the large desk in front of him.

The Solar of Flints Finger was a familiar sight to the Blond. This is where his lord did most of his administration. It was a large circular room at the top of the Pebble tower overlooking the lapping waves of Blazewater Bay far down below. It was lightly decorated, a utilitarian space with only what Lord Flint needed. There were no ornaments save for a lone book on a pedestal, it was a thick brown thing with no title. Naruto had never asked the story behind it, though his curiosity burned every time he entered the room.

Lord Flint finally looked up from the document that had captured his attention and sighed heavily, his thick calloused hand scrapped across his thin scruffy beard and made a scratching sound that filled the room in the dense silence.

"How went the day?" he asked

"Well" Naruto responded, "we stayed later than predicted but we are now slightly ahead of schedule"

"Good" was his response "though, I fear upcoming events will slow our venture some"

"The maester mentioned a trip" The blond said straightening slightly as he spoke

"At ease boy" Robin interjected, he gestured to Naruto's rigid stance with his short arms folded behind his back "The good maester would do well to hold his tongue" Robin continued " I wanted to share that information personally. " he paused slightly "There's been a development in a matter of the utmost importance"

Naruto was curious now, Robin never spoke to him about truly important matters.

"I'm here to serve, my Lord" He responded

"Good, we will be traveling to Winterfell in two days. Lord Stark has called a council of his banners."

There was an audible "eep" of astonishment that resounded through the room. Lord Robin quirked an eyebrow at him. Naruto could barely contain himself at the news. It was bound to happen sooner or later but still, his heart leapt in his chest and he felt light and tingly inside his head.

The silence had gone on too long now. Naruto cleared his throat in an effort to salvage some of what little respect he could from his Lord.

"You've rejected the last two invitations to councils at Winterfell, what's changed, my Lord?" Naruto asked bluntly after a beat. He was always curious as to why Robin stayed away from the other noble houses.

"Do not concern yourself with my motivations" Robin admonished " Your focus will be not making a fool of yourself. Your name has traveled across the North and it would suit you well to make an appearance"

" As you say, my Lord"

"I'll leave it to you to inform Willam" he paused "I take it you will want to bring Garwick along as well?"

"If it pleases"

"It doesn't. But I won't deprive you your companion. If he is to travel with us, you will see him fed, prepared, and set to task at all times. I will not have idle hands"

"Understood, my Lord"

"Did the maester inform you of the situation at Barrowtown?" Robin asked as he began to write again.

"No, what's happened?"

Lord Flint didn't answer, instead, he threw a small rolled up piece of paper at the blond who plucked it from the air in a smooth motion. Naruto's eyes widened as he read the document, it was no doubt delivered by raven so it had to be recent.

"We should do something!" Naruto almost yelled

"What can we do?" Robin asked as he leaned back in his chair and fixed the blond with a steady look.

"We could ride to their aid as you did for me last year"

"An imperious march, that's your suggestion?"

"I would be honored to.."

"You will do nothing" Robin cut him off " We, will do nothing"

Naruto was floored. They needed aid it was the right thing to do.

"Listen" Robin said before the blond could plead his case "I was hoping for a different reaction from you." He sighed tiredly and rubbed a hand over his face. "The Dustin's have more men than us, men enough to nip this most recent incursion in the bud. They have chosen not to. They have allowed these brigands to fester like a wound for the better part of five years." He grew stern as he spoke. " What I was hoping you'd see in this is how close these raids are getting to our own lands"

"If we stop them before they get further south, then we won't need to worry about them."

"Naruto, we must always secure our own borders before riding off to secure someone else's." He stared the blond down for a moment before his eyes softened a tad "It's lost on you now, but one day when the time comes you'll understand"

"I hope so" Naruto whispered in response. "So what will we do?"

"You know what we should do. We've discussed this very scenario at length. What orders would you give in my stead?"

Naruto flushed red, it was one thing to give council on civil projects like the inn or simple trade matters but to be asked for his opinion in martial matters was another thing entirely. Yet, Lord Robin looked on expectantly. "We…we should" Naruto dug deep in his memory for that particular lesson "We should levy fifty men under Mylas and send them to the Half Tower. That way they'll be close enough to our border with the Neck to see any attack from two days away. "

"As simple as that?" Robin asked when he was finished

"Yes?" was the boy's unsure answer. Robin's ire was evident at Naruto's response "Yes!" he corrected.

"Good." Robin said with a nod "It's almost time for supper. Go, eat, you must be hungry. But before you do, set some of the guard to bring a portion of the surplus crop and salted meat to Handela at the orphanage. I haven't heard from her in a while, it would be good to see her supplied before we set off North."

"I'll see it done. By your leave, my Lord." The older man waved him away and with a quick bow, Naruto was out of the room, narrowly avoiding maester Karl as he entered.

-0-

Robin I

Robin watched after Naruto as he left his solar. So much had changed since his arrival that Lord Flint could scarcely recall life before the hustle and bustle the young man brought everywhere he went. He attracted people in a strange way, the boy Garrick was a prime example. A fever-ridden whoreson who was dropped at their doorstep by a passing trader six moons ago, he now clung to Naruto with a feverish loyalty.

Robin was kind enough to see him treated to health but Naruto had pleaded to keep the boy, he had uses, Naruto claimed, everyone had a place. Everyone deserved a place. The fool had softened Robins's heart some, he had to admit. But he was once again proven right, Garrick had proved a capable addition to his staff, the boy was eager, quick-witted and good with his hands. Even though he was a tad unrefined. The incident with the cat being a glaring reminder of that.

Even the good maester had fallen under the blond's sway, Karl had entered his service some years ago and took kindly to no one he didn't owe reverence to. He suffered little in the way of pleasantries and was a serpent with a tongue that could carve the stone from a man in a breath. Even the most hardened of minds fractured when Karl levied his arguments. Yet, Naruto had broken through his scaly exterior and found something close to human. Since he arrived Karl had taken him under his wing, much like Robin had. But where Robin taught him stewardship, the proper management of manpower, and all things needed to keep a domain in order, Karl taught him the infernal ways of the Southron nobility. Endless maneuvering and posturing with honeyed insults and barbed compliments.

It drew his ire just thinking about it. But Karl had pleaded his case and as long as it didn't interfere with his actual training, Robin was willing to grant the boon. Hopefully, it would help in the battles to come. For the real wars were fought well before the first swords were drawn. Robin had fought in his share of battles, in his younger years he fought wildlings and bandits and six years ago he rode south to fight in Roberts rebellion. Yes, he was very capable with a sword but he had lost the war of politics and it had cost him dearly. So very dearly that he had brought in a maester from the south to scheme and maneuver on his behalf.

"My Lord" Karl greeted as he entered the solar, tearing Robin from his thoughts.

"Measter, please sit" he gestured to a chair at the other end of his table.

Karl was wearing his intricate maesters links, a chain of many different metals. Each signifying his mastery of a different subject; Warcraft, herblore, healing, numbers, and the many other disciplines one would have to learn before being ordained a measter of the citadel.

"Thank you, My Lord"

He fiddled with the thing as he took his seat on the plush leather chair, Karl was obviously unused to wearing it. As it was told a measter was to never remove their links but Robin had scarcely seen the man with them on. Not that he cared, most northerners had little time for the eccentricities that crawled up the King's road. Karl tucked his hands into the oversized sleeves of his thick brown cloak and looked around the room.

"How went your chat with the boy?" Robin asked, locking eyes with the maester. The man was one of few people who never averted their gaze from his. His green eyes had a steel to them, a defiance.

"It went as most chats do in the north, unfortunately" he began "mostly grunting and the occasional call for an ax to avenge some dishonor or the other" He pulled a hand from his sleeve. It contained a small wineskin.

"You think this is the time for wine?"

" 'tis always the time for wine, my Lord Flint" Robin sighed "lest I die of boredom in my exile"

"Exile or no Karl, you will conduct yourself better"

"I do apologize, your excellence" he withdrew the skin from his lips and prostrated himself lazily "may i please partake in this excellent vintage of wine in your excellent company"

Robin knew the man was well into his cups by now, not that he truly minded. It did, however, make him a chore to speak with.

"your talk, Karl. With the boy" Robin said forcefully "How was it?"

Karl sighed deeply, and brought a hand to his thick black beard, stroking it delicately.

"He has a sharp mind, sharp enough to play the game." Robin nodded him along "If the game were played by the mentally handicapped" Karl chuckled to himself, a whiny, sharp noise that lasted longer than it would were he sober.

"Do you think it's too soon?" Robin asked, ignoring the man's antics "Is he ready for what comes next?"

"Ready, not ready" Karl stood, turned, and faced up to the high windows of the solar "its arbitrary in the end. He will succeed or he will fail, readiness is a luxury rarely offered to those of us in extraordinary circumstances. Though" he began with some light in his tone " he has improved dramatically, his play with words and seeking the second meaning in things, is impressive."

"Good" Robin said flatly "The world will bear down on him in Winterfell, it would bode us all ill if he is swayed away by her"

"If I may, my Lord"

"Now you find respect?"

"Respectfully then, Robin" The maester didn't miss a step "The boy can hold his own, it is you I worry for" Robins brown eyes hardened " You've never been able to fight the war of words. You Northmen see politicking and intrigue as beneath you. Which is why you were so woefully and roundly defeated last you battled. I fear in a matter of seconds you'll be declaring honor and retribution, undoing years of my hard work."

Robin stayed silent, he had been outmaneuvered in the past and there was no honor in the game they were playing now. No, none at all but there were things greater than honor at stake now. If the good maester could succeed where he failed, he would do as he was told.

" You need not fret Karl, I will stay the course."

"Good, the wheels are turning my friend, trust in me and the boy, we'll see you through"

-0-

Naruto I

Naruto was right, there was a storm coming. He could taste it on the air, salty tones of stinging rain and notes of crisp lightning played on his taste buds. He was laughed away when he told Gar that he could always taste an upcoming storm. Now he kept it to himself, but he was never wrong.

A part of him knew it was more than that, it wasn't just a taste anymore it was a smell, a feel. It stung at his nose and danced across his skin in arcs that made the fine blond hair on his arms stand on end. It was odd at times, being so different from everyone around him. Everyone stared and whispered at first. Spirits! Gods! They would gasp when he so much as wiped his ass. It wasn't his fault he could do the things he did. It wasn't his fault he could do things they couldn't. truth be told he was glad for it. his gifts, as he called them had saved Will and Hilda all those moons ago. He was truly grateful to whatever god, old or new that had granted him this power. Every day he found out something new, some new oddity only he could do.

At this very moment, he sat, perched against the slick sea-swept stone of the Finger. The battlements of the Pebble Tower reached into the inky heavens above him and the roar of the Blazewater crashed below him. He could feel the spray of the salty water against his tan skin. Yet, he felt no fear here, suspended as he was hundreds of meters above the water below and a dozen or so meters below the tower above. He looked down on the cawing birds below him, seagulls, they hung in the air against the wind, Splotches of black ink against the murky blue tapestry of the water under them.

His back and the soles of his feet were firmly pressed against the black stone walls of his home and in his hands he held his father's sword, Thunder he called it. He wasn't sure why but it hummed deeply when he called it that. Only he could feel it though. It was a lump of metal in any hands but his. When he held it, the blade came alive. It spoke to him, in its own way. A hum of approval, a hum of displeasure. The intricate writing would sometimes glow when the blond grew angry. That was a sight, even the good maester was left in stupor when it did that. Eastern mummery he had called it.

He had thought long and hard about his conversation with Lord Robin, the recurring thought in his head was the tragedy happening across the Saltspear. As he sat there all manner of brigand and bandit were tearing into the north. The report he had read in the solar earlier spoke of the fourth estate in as many days that had been put to the torch by dirty, muddy men like Glen and Mod. Men who took everything from him. It brought ash to his mouth to think about the Garner estate, so he never did.

The ache and pain of it all had settled like a stone in his stomach and he feared if he dwelt on it too long, if he stood still long enough, that stone of hardened suffering would sink him. Sink him deep. There was a medicine for the sickness infecting the north, he knew it. He had delivered a dose of it that fateful night in the blood and snow. But there wasn't enough to go around, not many Lords willing to do their duty and stamp out the marauding sick who brought with them a plague of flame and death.

Maybe things would change after his trip to Winterfell, maybe a solution would be found. If not, he would press the issue himself. Somehow.

"Winterfell" Naruto whispered to himself as he looked on out to sea. The murky coastline of the Rills curved on in front of him, hugging tight to the northern shore of the Saltspear to the northeast and winding into the stony shore to his northwest.

Everything was going to change when he went north, he could feel it. Winterfell would change him and he would never be here again, not as this version of himself anyway. It would be good to see Lord Stark again, he thought.

"Eddard Stark" He said aloud with no one to hear him. It was not a well-kept secret that Naruto idolized the man. Whether it was old Nan's tales or the almost mythical station he held in the hearts of his people Naruto wasn't sure but the idea of holding court with the Starks filled him with an excitement that threatened to burst his heart from his chest.

It also filled him with a sense of dread. what if he didn't measure up, what if he was just some pup playing above his station. Would the man even remember him? No, of course he would. How many boys can claim to have killed hardened brigands in open combat. Well, Will could, but that was beside the point. He leaned his head back and smiled at the sky above him, nothing would be the same after this trip.

"Winterfell" he whispered.

-0-

Will II

Will left the small study of Lady Flint feeling lighter than he had in days. Their talks were a balm to his soul at times. She doted on him, which was strange, but she listened in a way no one else did. He knew why and that made him sad for her but a selfish part of him was happy to receive her affections in place of those who had refused it.

"Will, wait" came from behind him, it was Hilda. Will turned over his shoulder to regard her with an expectant look. "Help me with these" she said and held out a sack of what had to be books. He held out his hands and with some effort, she placed the sack between them, before reaching back into the room and adding another sack on top of what he already had. He caught a quick glimpse of the Lady Flint through the crack in the open door, she was asleep in her chair, a blanket strewn about her from neck to heel, no doubt Hilda's doing. He had left her not a moment ago, seemingly wide awake, was their conversation that draining to her?

With an "oomph" Will received the final few books she had procured from the study. He couldn't see over the mass of smelly old paper so had to crane his neck to look around it to see where he was going.

"To the library, young Will" Hilda commanded, a chipperness in her tone that Will was happy to hear. It had not been an easy year for her. The scar that ran along the right side of her face was testimony to that. It was an ugly thing that ran from her brow to her ear. Luckily it faded more everyday and her natural beauty did a lot to steal one's gaze away from it.

Will began to walk towards the Library.

"I'm not a pack animal you know," he said in protest.

"Pack animals don't complain" she responded "what you are, young man, is a beast of burden" she responded too quickly for his liking.

"That's not funny, it wasn't funny when Naruto said it, and it's not funny now"

"oh loosen up Will, it's only a jape" she ambled next to him, keeping pace with his slow deliberate steps as he tried to balance the tower of recently read books in his hands. " It's how he shows he cares, you know. The japes."

"I know" Will responded evenly.

"How is he?" she asked after a fashion " I barely see him. Always rushing off to this or that. No time for Hilda anymore" There it was again, the longing in her voice. " He used to follow me around that old mill like a suckling babe." her laugh was dry and without much mirth " You brooding behind him as he tried to peak up my skirt" Will could see the stern look that she was giving him, stern even with the smile on her lips. He said nothing, though the reddening of his cheeks betrayed him. She laughed, this time it was real. He smiled at the sight.

"He misses them" Will answered her question as they got to the library "terribly" he continued as she opened the door to the large musky room. The candles burned dimly in the corners of the room. It was rarely used but looked a lot like Lady Flint's study. That was no accident, this was her favorite room in the castle. She used to visit often but the rotting old tomes were bad for her health, apparently. So now she moved to a smaller room for her reading, with the same rotting old tomes. It was a strange compromise but not one for Will to comment on.

"Oh" Hilda said, melancholy took her features and subdued them into dull contemplation.

"he hides behind his work, keeping himself busy so he doesn't have to stop and deal with it."

"Wise Will Garner" said as she began to remove the books from his hands. "That's, what we should be calling you. You're not so young anymore, you'll be fourteen in a few moons."

Will moved over and dropped the remaining books on a dusty table. She came over to open the sack and began to remove them one by one. He was as tall as her now and looked her directly in the eye as she spoke again.

"what about you?" she asked

"What about me?" he countered

"No games Will, how are you?" she was stern, it had been a long time since Hilda was stern with him.

"I…I move forward" he replied and couldn't help but notice the frown on her face. "Don't worry Hilda. I'll be fine"

"You know, I never worry about you Will" she said smiling softly as she spoke "Even when you were a babe, you were so unsteady on your little feet. You would fall over and scrape your knee or bump your head and it terrified your parents. But you never cried, not once. You would simply get up, dust yourself off and continue on." She placed her hands on his shoulders and drew him into a hug.

"I don't worry about you, Will. But that doesn't mean you should bear your burdens alone." She released her hug and smiled at him. "Now run along, I'm sure your little friends are waiting for you somewhere"

-0-

Naruto II

Naruto had crawled his way up the side of the tower and found a seat atop the west walls overlooking Old Stones, the fishing village at the base of the cliff that supported the castle. It all looked so small from where he sat, dim flickering lights along the coast gleamed up at him. The silvery wash of water crashing against the shore brought a rhythmic din to his ears, out at sea the last of the fisherman rowed in for the night, the lanterns affixed to their boats swung lazily in the distance. He truly loved it here, there was something about this vast empty place that had settled in his heart.

A smile drifted on to his face as he rubbed an oiled cloth across Thunder's illustrious blade, a dull ring accompanying his dutiful motions. In the corner of his eye he caught movement. Three figures huddled together in the darkness on the far side of the Wall, they spoke in hushed whispers and drunken laughter. Two men and a woman he surmised. Even in the darkness he could see them clearly and knew exactly who they were. Naruto shook his head. Typical, he thought before they dashed off into an open door on battlements. Naruto knew why, not that he cared.

He could hear voices in the courtyard below him, familiar voices having a familiar argument as they drew closer to the walls.

"Yes, but he could wield two blades, Will. two!"

"Oh, come now. You know as well I do that the weight of the blades would make it hard for him to be truly precise with either"

"Not if he's trained with them" was the response. They were visible now. Walking up the steep stairs that led to his seat atop the wall.

"He'll have needed shorter blades then, to maintain balance."

"No, we know he didn't. Dawn's said to be a regular old longsword"

"But we don't know that he used Dawn and another sword at the same time"

"It only makes sense that he did though"

"You've not the sense to even have the idea that he did"

"You've no idea that he didn't"

They were standing in front of him now. Will and Gar, both dressed in brown leather doublets covering padded gray tunics made of quilted wool. Will had let his hair grow out, a mop of fiery red that hung on his shoulders in contrast to the short dark crop of Gar's crown.

Will huffed and shook his head. "Settle an argument for us" He looked at Naruto and folded his arms over his chest. "Do you think a man can wield two swords as well as he could wield one?"

Gar looked on expectantly.

Naruto tried to be diplomatic " Well it depends on the man"

"Arthur Dayne, Sword of the Morning." Gar offered up quickly

"And it depends on the swords" Naruto continued. "It's hard for any man to be as effective with two long swords, it's hard to really get your weight into your swings. You have to fight from behind your blades"

That confused Gar

"Its impossible to guard with two longswords, Gar" Will supplied " You can only really hope to parry. Your wrists will snap if you're not quick enough to adjust at the last minute"

"Fine, but he's the sword of the morning though, the greatest swordsman in Westeros" Gar was adamant

"Was the greatest" A new voice entered the conversation. A decidedly deeper voice. "I hear Eddard Stark lopped off his head in single combat" Elric was adjusting the ties of his breaches as he ambled over to them awkwardly, a stray gust of wind picked up his long black hair and blew it wistfully across his sharp features. He had strong high cheekbones that were always flushed a blushing red.

Naruto looked beyond him to the doorway he had just emerged from,the one he had spied him and two others entering earlier. They too were shambling along the wall, giggling at each other.

Elric noticed his attentions and winked an eye at him.

"I bet you're wondering which of them I had" He said as he drew a chair from the shadow of the parapets to the side of the blond and took a seat. Will and Gar had done the same.

"No, not at all" Naruto answered quickly.

"The boy!" Gar offered excitedly "Always knew you were a sword swallower. That being said, I'd like to hear the story of it. In detail"

Will made a face at them, all scrunched up and disgusted. Naruto laughed quietly .

"What of it?" Gar shrugged at the redhead."Not much cunt to be had in this town. I need the stimulation" He was shameless

"What happened to Maggie?" Will asked, arching his brow

"Poxy Maggie!" Naruto almost shouted at the scandal "oh, Gar" he looked almost pained as he shook his head at his friend. "You're not long for this world my friend"

Elric laughed out loud "Well sometimes a man has to risk it"

"All lies, vicious lies I tell you. She's as clean as a suckling babe" Gar said.

"Not the best imagery, mate" Naruto added

"A truth all the same" Gar retorted

"The only truth here is that you're now ridden with the pox." Naruto teased "I hear your manhood blackens like a frostbitten toe. Then it just pops off!" He made a plop sound with his mouth to accentuate his point.

"I'm fine" Gar protested "Never better, in fact, my old boy has had a new lease on life"

"Yes" said Elric "We all heard about you and the cat"

"If Maggie didn't give you the pox, I'm sure the cat did" Naruto chimed

There was a round of laughter followed by an easy silence as they looked out over the fishing village below. It was quiet, eerily so. The only sound was the whipping wind as the storm over the horizon grew closer, he could see it in the clouds now.

"So what did the measter want?" asked Will after a fashion

"He was obviously giving him another of his lessons. Teaching him to talk all fancy like" Gar added an air prestige when he said the last part.

"We were going over the construction is all"

"I hope so, I can't stand all that double talk and those high blooded words. You ask me, if a man has something t'say he should say it plain an' easy understood. So as we all know what he's on about"

"Thats why no one asks you. No one ever asks you" Will chimed

"Theres a power in words boys. Never forget that. A thousand wars have been started and ended with a honeyed word in the right ear." Elric offered to the younger boys.

"I'll choose my sword over a fancy tongue any day" Gar was adamant

"The wrong word at court in Winterfell will see you with little choice in the matter" Naruto supplied

"Winterfell? whats Winterfell got to with any of it?"

"We're going. Theres to be a meeting of the bannermen. Lord Flint's taking me along and I'm taking the two of you"

"Gods. You're having me on you bastard" Gar was in disbelief "Theres no way" He whispered the last part and Naruto was thankful he wasn't the only one awed by the occasion. "Do you think I'll be welcome, you know , being a…a whoreson and all?"

"It doesn't matter how you came into the world, Gar. What matters is what you do with your time in it" Naruto said

"That sounded impressive in your head didn't it?" Will asked

"And what of it?" Naruto challenged back. He turned to Gar "You're my sword are you not, you swore me an oath. Where I go you go, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember" Gar said with some amusement at the memory

"Good. We leave in a few days."

Will had remained calm and quiet. Naruto knew he was processing what he had just heard, he was never one to show his emotions but the wry smile on his lips betrayed his elation.

Another silence settled over them as the information truly sunk in. It was broken eagerly by Elric. "So?" he asked "which one do you think I had?"

Will rolled his green eyes and Naruto sighed at the mans antics. He almost gagged when Elric ran an ungloved hand under Gar's nose and the young man sniffed it up with an eagerness.

"Is that the boy?" Gar asked, recoiling away from the finger.

"No, the girl, but not the hole you'd think" Elric said laughing while he spoke.

"Others take the both of you" Will swore before Gar broke into laughter.

"Oh, calm down Garner. I don't see why you care so much. Its not like it was Hilda." The air grew still. The only sound heard was the tightening of Naruto's gloves as his fingers grew closed into a fist.

"I beg pardon?" Naruto asked as Will turned slowly towards the Captain of the Guard. "You'd do well to remember where japes end, Elric"

"You know they get funny 'bout their Hilda, Elric. Best you apologize. Ale. Ale's always a good way of apologizing" Said Gar as he refused to even look at the icy blue stare that Naruto leveled at the man.

"Oh, be calm. The both of you." Elric said with some edge to his voice. He was still their superior. Even still, he reached into his long, fur collared leather robe and withdrew a thick skin that reeked of strong northern ale. " A peace offering" he handed it to the eager Gar. "Now, lets not ruin the night. Theres a storm coming and I'm going to be good and pickled long before it gets here"

Naruto looked at Will and gave him a gesture with his head, the redhead was instantly soothed. He quickly took the offered skin and gingerly brought it to his lips, Will never liked putting his mouth where Gar had been.

-0-

The days had flown by, it was hard to recall what they'd done with the hours that had lead up to now. They stood in the forecourt of the castle, readying their horses and making the final checks on their equipment before setting off for Winterfell. The muddy court was a hive of activity, in a far corner the resident blacksmiths, Harry the elder, his son Harry and grandson Harry the younger hammered away the last imperfections in a quartet of horse shoes. The heavy dings resounded across the enclosed space. Howland and a handful of servant were bringing out food from the kitchen and divvying it up between the household guard that would be traveling with them. Those that had loved ones among the staff were saying their goodbyes and those that didn't busied themselves briskly. Fifteen men had been chosen by Lord Robin, he stood above them all on a balcony held up by broad wooden stilts. There was an unreadable look on his face as he gave final orders to the good Maester and disappeared into the castle, no doubt on his way down to get their journey started.

Naruto raised a gloved hand to fasten the clasp of his cloak. It was a simple thing of hare skin with a thick gray fur coating and silky black fur about the collar. It used to be Robins, when he was a boy. The bottom of it dragged on the floor as he was walked but he would grow into it. With Thunder strapped to his back and his shield and bow readily stashed on his horse, he was ready. The beast clacked its shoe against the floor as he sat it. He patted its fiery orange mane and soothed it with a whisper.

Ember, he had called him. A fine courser, fast and strong. He had been a gift from house Ryswell from the lands across the Saltspear to the north. Lord Flint already had a steed so he gave the fiery horse to Naruto to break in. It didn't take him long to fall in love with the beast. No one rode Ember but him, no one saddled Ember but him and thats how he preferred it.

Directly in Front of him Will and Gar had also mounted and were awaiting their orders. They exchanged words and then made their way to the gate, with Gar laughing all the while. Elric had been busy, he had arranged the guard, supplies and all the other bit and pieces they'd need for their trip. Naruto oft forgot that the lazy man was actually capable when he wanted to be.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon when Lord Flint had appeared from the castle. He quickly mounted his sturdy brown courser and without a word, made for the portcullis that lead out into the blue blackness of the early morning.

As one , the mounted household guard followed in the wake of their Lord. They filed out of the castle and Naruto had to soothe his fiery Ember as the loud clunk of the portcullis closing behind them almost set him into a gallop.

Will and Gar drew up to flank him when the road was wide enough, after they had left the empty town outside the castle gates. It was early, too early for the bakers and the smiths. Fishermen were probably only now raising to break their fasts, it would be a while yet before the din of activity brought this place to life. It was a strange thought that a few months ago this village was empty. Built by the Flints in the time of their grandfathers, grandfathers, this small place was meant to help them see out the worst winters. Once it had served its purpose the people left. Only a handful ever returning to help maintain the old wooden hovels when Lord Flint commissioned it. Most of the people here lived along the coast or in the far flung farms that hugged the loose smattering of arable land across the territory. Naruto would see that all changed soon enough.

-0-

It was a three full days before they found themselves on the king's Road. They had to pass along the Fever River that fed into the Saltspear that now lay towards the west. Moat Cailin was just to the south. Naruto remembered their brief trip through the ruined keep a year and some ago when he had been brought to the Finger. It was still an aerie unforgiving place, there was nothing near the ruined castle but for bogs and crags and heavy mist that made it difficult to see more than a few paces ahead of him. He was glad to be out of there.

Now ember trotted beneath him as he rode along an old worn path just off the main highway. He stifled a yawn with his gloved had, ignoring the oily smell of his leather gloves as he covered his mouth.

"Alright lads, this is far enough, I think." He said to the two men trotting next to him. He was leading the scouting party tasked with making sure their campsite was secure. Both men drew up on their chargers and began to turn around. There was a chill in the air that made the men cling a bit tighter to their cloaks than usual. They were grateful to be going to the fire and so was he. He hadn't eaten all day, the dried meat in his bag was being reserved for the journey back home. He was more than happy to slum in with the rest of the guard and eat the slop that Edmund dished out. For now, anyway. Around them were short, stumpy, rolling hills covered in misty green grass that stretched for days in each direction. These were the Barrowlands, graveyard of kings. Or so it was said.

"Thank fuck, I'm starvin'" Olan said to his left

"Teaches you to pack better rations" his other companion said

"Rations were packed good, you prick. We don't usually scout out this far from camp. It's been hours, they probably think we've been killed."

"You can be a craven or you can be an ass, Olan. You can't be both, not under my command" Naruto said with steel. He was right though, the blond had taken them further than normal from the camp. They had trudged over barrows and hills and through brackens and ferns as they weaved a lazy circle around the camp behind them.

"I'm no craven, boy. I don't see the sense in coming this far out from the camp is all" Olan responded with some venom. Naruto didn't care though.

"There's sense enough to it" The blond said as he lazily trotted up towards the man. When he was close enough so that only Olan could here he said "We're being followed, you oaf. I was hoping that they would play their hand if we gave them an easy enough target" He spoke quickly and hushed but his features betrayed only a calmness. A calmness told the other man to maintain his secret.

Olan to his credit nodded before slowly moving his right hand into his black furs and resting it onto the hilt of his longsword. Tom, the other guard with him was much cannier, he had figured something was amiss very early on. Naruto would give him credit for that later.

Seeing as there would-be assailants had decided to stick to their hiding spots in the short hills and tall barrows, Naruto would have to be forceful. He wasn't sure of their number or if they had reinforcement. Nor was he certain of what exactly was going on at the camp, but he knew what he would do. He would do as Robin taught him.

"You boys wait here" He said loudly "I need a piss" he made lingering eye contact with Tom as he rode into a thin strip of trees that snaked along the Fever River and extended well into the misty Barrowlands. When he was just out of sight he dismounted and approached the thick bark of an old ash tree and reached into his breaches. As he predicted the moment he dropped his guard they were upon him.

The whistle of an ax in-flight split the air around him as it sailed past his head. With a deft hand he plucked it from its flight, just before it dug into his horse and sent it back from where it came. In an instant it buried itself into a shrub with a wet thud. An old gray man in a dirty leather coat tumbled out of the other side of the bush with the ax glistening from his chest. Two more burst from the forest around but Naruto remained calm. He placed a hand on the Jewelled hilt of his Thunder and spoke.

"You will yield" he said with authority "or I will cut you down"

They were hooded, stinking, muddy leathers draped around them gave them a look of wraiths in the night. Deep sullen shadows were cast where their faces were supposed to be. In their hands they also held axes. They moved to surround him but Naruto wouldn't give them a chance to. In a silver flash he drew Thunder and was upon them. Clearing the distance between him and the nearest assailant he ducked low and swung upwards. His gleaming blade made an angry red slash against the mans chest, he cried out in anguish and was silenced by a hearty kick to midsection.

Naruto spun quickly to parry an ax swung across him, he had to move with the momentum of the blade. Sparks lit up the damp tree line as bits of the ax were chipped off by his sword. The figure swung again and again. It was a two-handed, double-sided ax with a long black wrapped handle that extend some five feet from its blades. It was a cumbersome thing and its wielder seemed to struggle to keep his balance as he put his entire weight behind his heavy swings. It wasn't a moment later that the third man joined in.

He carried the same weapon and struggled just the same to keep the rusted thing in check. Naruto easily weaved in between them and lashed out with a stomp into one of their knees, there was a pop and a scream but when the blond spun out of the reach of his second attacker he also spun Thunder. Its slick blade came down on the back of the screaming mans head. A clean cut, the top of his head slid off in a slow squelch as his body hit the floor in a meaty thud.

The third man looked on and his body language betrayed his terror.

"I yield! I yield!" He said, dropping his ax and holding his hands up in surrender. Naruto eyed him wearily before lowering his blade. Blood dripped from its edge in rhythmic droplets, a welcome chorus. "Turn around" he commanded. The man did as he was told. "Who are you?"

"I'm nobody ser. Where just passing travelers. We was hungry ser. Didn't mean no harm, I swears it."

"Your man threw an ax at my head. You meant harm" Naruto heard commotion coming from where he had left Tom and Olan "Lie to me again and I'll have your sword hand"

Just behind him the first man he had cut down began to rise from the mossy ground. The angry red wound on his chest wasn't as deep as Naruto had thought. The mans hood had fallen off, blood dripped from his lips into a scruffy brown beard. Naruto didn't even turn to face him but he could hear the mans movements, he could feel it through some extra sense that the man was reaching for a dagger in his leathers. The scruffy man charged hoping to get him in the back. At the last second Naruto leapt up and backward, flipping in mid air he landed behind his opponent with a silent crouch. Seeing his opening he lashed out and stabbed clean through the man in front of him. He fell forward and slid off the end of his blade.

The man who had surrendered had used the distraction to reach for his ax and tried to cut through the blond as he watched the gruesome sight in front of him. Naruto arched back as far as he could and watched the dull gray of the weapon glide across him an inch at most from his nose. He drew up, steadied himself, and pulled Thunder into a ready stance, both hands on the hilt as he held the heirloom blade upright against his body.

He charged forward and swung out with his blade, the man parried with a heavy clack that threw him off balance. Naruto got in close and allowed no more betrayals by hacking deep into the mans shoulder. with his strength and Thunder's edge he almost cleaved the dirty man in two. He withdrew his blade and made for Ember. As quick as he could he rode out into the open, hoping that his two charges had managed to stay safe.

What he saw sunk that hope thoroughly. Tom was batting away at hooded figure in front of him. There a was deep gash in his shoulder and his left arm hung limp by his side. But Gods bless him he fought on, his longsword arching in tired swings at a man who nimbly stepped in and out of his reach. He didn't have an ax like the others, he carried a sword in one hand and a dagger in the other. a dagger that disappeared into Tom's side with ease when he over extended and created an opening.

Naruto leaped from Ember mid-stride and plowed into the mans side with his shoulder. He felt the sharp snap of ribs as the air left the brigands lungs. The force of his charge had sent them careening across the slick ground. The man grabbed at him as they tumbled over each other, Naruto pushed his hand away and repaid him with a sharp elbow to the face that sent blood spraying from his mouth as they came to a stop. Naruto jumped to his feet instantly, and leapt unto the downed man with a flurry of fists. Heavy blows rained down on his enemy until he felt a decided crack and the man went limp under him.

He rose up slower this time and took stock of his surroundings, Tom was face first on the floor, a murky crimson pool forming beneath him. Olan was nowhere to be seen but the carcass of his horse lay splayed on the hard frozen floor, an ax deep in its side.

His knuckles dripped thick blood through the torn leather of his gloves. He wasn't sure whose blood it was but he had no time to consider. He could feel Thunder humming in glee at his side. More, he felt it say, More. He would oblige. With a flash it was free from its scabbard. Who was next. There was one other in front of him, shorter than the others, more slender too. They held a thin blade in their hands and watched Naruto silently, unmoving. This one's cloak was different than the others, it had a high collar that circled their neck, around the hood and reached up to just under where their mouth would be. He had been calling them wraiths in his mind but this one embodied the title. Even their hands were hidden in the darkness provided by their all-encompassing cloak. The others were aspects of this one, he could feel it, this was truly, The Wraith.

"Come" They said with finality after a few moments had passed. Their voice was muffled as they spoke into their collar and retrieved a thin blade from the confines of the robe.

Questions burned on the tip of Naruto's tongue but, More, Thunder demanded and his mind was made blank by the order.

"More" he whispered and steadied himself. The Wraith looked on. They were different from the others, there was a calmness, an assuredness that gave the blond pause. Naruto breathed deep and began his approach. Thunder held tight in his blood slick hands. When he was a sword length away he tested with a quick short slash that was quickly parried and replied with a barrage of rapid precise strikes. Naruto blocked and dodged the first few swings but was forced to dance away eventually. There were no openings, The Wraiths swordplay would be worthy of praise where they not trying to kill him.

They danced for a few seconds before Naruto saw an opening, he lunged in a straight stab at the shoulder. A stab that was weaved around and repaid with a vicious slash cleaved across Naruto's own shoulder. He was quick enough to hop backward out of thier reach and avoid the follow-up.

Now his opponent pressed at him. Naruto was ready and in a flash of sparks they engaged. He blocked the first strike, parried the second and with a rapid riposte dug at the Wraith's midsection with the point of his blade. He got naught but boiled leather as they leapt back at that precise moment. They watched Naruto wearily, heavy hood hiding their features from the blond.

They were both more cautious this time. Heavy swings from Naruto drove at the wraith, each parried and blocked by the thin blade that swiped through the air in silver arcs. Naruto was forced to duck under a counter aimed at his head, but as his head went down a knee came up to meet it. Crunching pain blinded him for a moment as he staggered backward and had to defend while retreating. The wraith was relentless, hacking at him, driving him back into the tree line. The speed of their swings increasing every passing second. Naruto struggled to keep up. His every move had to be precise to keep his attacker at bay. His opponent's thin blade streaked at him from his left and Naruto quickly parried it but was caught completely cold by the snap kick that followed.

The air left him as he flew like an arrow, colliding back first into a thick oak. The tall tree shook from its core to its highest rafters, discarding spiny leaves that drifted down in lazy swaying arcs.

In his mouth he could taste the blood that poured freely from his nose and lips. He felt outclassed. The figure standing across from him was taking all he had and repaying him with interest. Any mistake could be his last.

"Come" The wraith said.

More, Thunder demanded.

Naruto obliged. He was no craven. If he died today then so be it. He was a warrior and this would be a good death. But The wraith would have to earn his life.

He steeled himself and ignored the throbbing in his back as he charged in at his enemy. Their thin blade lashed out but Naruto pivoted at the last moment and spun left under its edge. A leg lashed out just as before and that was his chance. He punched it away with his sword hand then got as close as he could, right into his foe's guard and sprung up as hard and fast as he could, his knee collided with the chin of the Wraith sending their head careening back, all the way to the floor. With a dull thud his enemy's head impacted itself in the frozen dirt and for a moment they were still. Naruto thought to press his advantage and bury his sword in their chest as they lay there, dazed. But thought better of it as the cloaked figure quickly drew up to their feet. As they righted, the all engrossing hood, heavy with mud, slipped slowly from their head.

Naruto looked intently as The Wraith moved from the abstract to the real. He could have only guessed at who or what he was fighting up until now. Now he could see it all. Her face was bare for all to see. Pale in the moonlight with muted purple hair that clung tightly to her sharp features. Her eyes were the color of honey mead with a sickly sweetness about them. She had a piercing in her bottom lip, a small round metal stud that leaked dark blood.

Normally he would be remiss to fight a woman. It wasn't very becoming of a would-be knight. But this was different, she was no damsel, no delicate flower in need of rescuing. She was a warrior like him and he would give her a warrior's death.

He approached again, were both wielding with one handed stances now. She swung at him with her blade and when he attempted to parry she pulled back and swung a sharp right hook at his head with her off hand. He spotted the feint however and used his smaller frame to get under her arm and deliver a savage blow to her liver that sent her stumbling back with a wince.

He was on her again before she could compose herself. Thunder split the air with a loud crack as it clashed against her thin blade and drove her into the ground behind her guard. She rolled off to the side when she had the chance and slashed at his shoulder, he moved deftly to parry and reply with a hearty riposte that cut a line down her sword arm. This time she retreated further.

"Come" He said this time. Confidence filled him. He had drawn blood. This was no shadow in the night, just a person. The strongest and fastest person he'd ever met but a person all the same.

The Wraith obliged with vigor. Faster and faster she lashed out. Her blade sought his head, his heart and every vital point she could imagine. She grew more aggressive in her attacks. Her face was drawn in angry scowl as he evaded her with deft turns and last second parries. She was furious now. Maybe she didn't like to bleed, he thought. She was going to be very disappointed tonight.

He had been patient, waiting for an opening and when it came he took it. She overextended in her pursuit of him, he had stayed at the very end of her sword. Thunder's edge lanced easily across her leg, drawing a cry from between her clenched jaws. Before she could draw away Naruto pushed into her guard once again. she was a head taller than him so he had to get rid of her reach advantage by getting closer. That meant he could not use his sword. No matter. Neither could she. He pressed his shoulder into her chest and threw a heavy blow into her ribs with his off hand and relished when her body folded over his small fist. Her sword hand came over his shoulder but he was too close, she had no range of motion to affect an attack. Another blow followed, she wheezed and tried to move away but as she did, he drew his blade across her chest. A parting gift. This time her leathers did little against the gleaming edge of the singing blade.

She hunched over on one knee and clutched at the wound that spread from her right breast to her left shoulder. Her cloak was stained with crimson life that leaked down her frame and formed into clouds of red as it stained patches of wool that were sewn into it. She eyed him with all the venom she could muster, seeing her like this calmed him a little. He caught his breath and cleared his mind. The rumble of Thunder in the back of his mind had faded, it was seemingly satiated.

"Who are you?" he asked between sucking breathes

There was no answer.

"You're definitely not some lowly bandit" She looked up at him. Now that he could really take her in, she was a beautiful creature. High, sharp cheekbones led down to a soft jawline. Her lips, delicate and thin, were painted a rich blue that contrasted well with her dewy, honey-colored eyes. He blushed at his observations. Did she notice, he asked himself.

"You're strong, you're quick…" Then it dawned on him "You're like me" He went silent for a moment as a hundred questions came to him with a quickness.

"No, I'm nothing like you, demon! " She said finally. There was spite and hate in her voice as bloody spittle flew from her thin lips.

That took Naruto aback. Maybe he was naive to expect anything else but the word demon was unexpected.

"Demon? I assure you, my lady, I'm quite human" He gestured to the dark red blood dripping down his shoulder.

She eyed him in silence for a moment and when he made to approach her she threw a circular object to the floor. It exploded in a thick cloud of white smoke that stung at the blonds eyes and covered everything around him, a white wall. He could hear her mount Tom's horse and sighed in relief when she galloped off into the distance. The thick smoke lasted surprisingly long but once it faded the blond could really see the carnage of the last few minutes. There were bodies scattered around him. The smell of blood filled his senses.

"I beg pardon m'lord" He heard a voice to his left "Now that you're done with her. If you'd be so kind, get me the fuck out of here!" It was Tom. He was stained in his own blood, holding his hand to his side as red liquid poured freely between his fingers.

-0-