Hey guys, so here is the next chapter of The Lone Wolf.
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or Halo as they belong to their respective owners.
Winterfell
Ned Stark
"Here, drink. You'll feel better." Six handed the waterskin to one of the women, she graciously accepted it with a bow of her head. Some of the riders had doubled up to accommodate the newcomers. They could make out the walls of winterfell as they exited the woflswood, a few guards cheering in response. Lord Stark gave a small smile as he caught sight of his home, eager to see his wife and children.
They passed into the gate as the smallfolk welcomed their lord home, all bowing their heads. Ned dismounted his horse as his wife approached him, a grateful and relieved smile on her lips.
"Welcome home, my love." He smiled and hugged her fiercely, which she returned. Her eyes flickered to the spartan as her smile dropped, Ned sensing her suspicion looked back as the spartan delicately helped the children off their horses. For a man of his abilities, he cared more for the people around him than himself. And that was something Ned could respect.
"The spartan was true to his word, with his help not a single stark man was killed." Ned assured his wife, her eyes widened in realization. Her eyes traveled back to Six before returning to her husband, before she reluctantly nodded.
"Very well, come the children are waiting for you." Catelyn said as she led him away.
Robb was first to give his father a crushing hug in relief, Ned chuckled at the gesture but returned it just as fiercely.
"Welcome home, Father." Robb's voice cracked a little but Ned didn't care. He knew how much his son looked up to him.
"It is good to be home, son. I'm glad you have not been remiss in your duties while I was away."
Ned gave greetings to the rest of his household, his bastard son Jon being the last. It always pained him to see the hate that brewed in catelyns eyes when it came to young Jon. He released his son and watched as jon avoided catelyn's gaze all the same, oh how he wished he could tell him.
"Come, my love. I'm sure a warm meal with your children will do you some good."
Ned smiled at that as she lead him away from the courtyard, he was to ask her wellbeing before Robb barked. "Did the spartan be true to his word?" Robb asked in curiosity. Ned gave a small sigh as he continued on. It would seem the spartan had grown in popularity since embarking with him.
"Aye, and he fought with the strength of the gods on his side." He stopped for a moment as the rest looked for him to explain, "I will tell the rest at supper, but not a moment before." He was tired, and needed a moment to collect himself before being hammered with questions. His children dispersed to their rooms and it was only he and Catelyn in his solar. Having relieved himself of his sword and cloak for a moment, he sat in his chair and gave a sigh as the hard wood seemed to work wonders on his back. Even in those brief moments of reprieve, he could feel catelyn's eyes boring into him.
"I hate it when you leave, though I know you must." He could hear sadness in her voice but also acceptance.
Ned leaned his head up to face her, "I know, Cat. I do not enjoy leaving anymore than you, but it is my responsibility to keep the peace in the North."
Cat sighed and decided to leave it at that, her brows furrowed before speaking once more, "You said the Spartan fought with the strength of the gods?"
Ned looked off to the side for a moment as he could practically see the brutality before him again, "Yes... in mere seconds it was as if he was the Warrior himself. He cut down dozens of bandits as if they were weeds in the grass. Effortlessly." His voice began to drop into a whisper, he could see the effect it had on his wife so he made to reassure her. "When the battle was over he left me to round of the woman and children we had secured. When we made to leave I caught sight of him with one hand slinging a gate as if it were nothing, just to save a little girl who would have died had he not found her." Ned spoke clearly and could see the conflict in her.
Cat shook her head, "Then he is dangerous."
"I understand your concern, but if he wanted to harm us. I have no doubt he would have already, but he hasn't. In fact, he has shown nothing but kindness to those around him. When I asked him what he would like as a reward for his cooperation, the man seemed to be shocked I even offered it to him. You've seen the land he hails from, the horrors he had to face. Yet, here he is... in our home. Only wanting to help the ones who can't help themselves."
Cat seemed to digest the words Ned had spoken to her, her eyes drifting to the floor. It was true that he did not fully trust the spartan, but he knew no harm would come to him or his family. She looked to him once more, "Then I will trust you, my love. Perhaps we should feast the spartan for his actions, it is truly remarkable not a single stark man was harmed in the battle."
Ned agreed with her, "Aye, we should. I'll have Maester Luwin start the preparations for tonight, but for now I would like to sit and enjoy a moment with my wife." He smiled at her as he rested on the bed and was soon joined by Catelyn, he could afford an hours rest.
"So I heard you were the hero once again?" Mathis said as he leaned against a wooden post, chewing on an apple.
"You heard wrong if that's what was said, I only prevented the loss of lives. Nothing more." Six remarked as he continued to help the nurses, whether it be giving water to the woman or bandaging the children. He did his part.
Mathis shrugged and took another chunk of the apple, "Lord Stark's holding a feast tonight in honor of your actions, you may not be from the North but we don't forget acts such as that. The north remembers." He spoke through mouthfuls of apple.
Six finally stood to his height as he left the nurses to their duties, he had done all he could and now he needed to return to his quarters. Mathis followed by as he tossed the apple core into a basket. "What does that mean, exactly? I've heard it once from Lord Starks' son, but you've said it just now." Six inquired as they both traversed a set of stairs.
"It's a saying we Northmen keep close to heart, we are a hardy but loyal to our own people. We keep to ourselves and don't trust outsiders, unless of course they prove to be trustworthy. When we say, 'the north remembers', we mean that we do not forget. Whether it be good or bad, we never forget." Mathis explained to him.
In a way Six could respect that, he himself was rather suspicious of people and their motives. "Hmm, a good saying I must say, we spartans have one as well."
Mathis quirked his brow, "What would that be?"
"Spartans never die." Six spoke, the words flowed from his mouth as the words of his people came through. Mathis seemed to tense at those words for reasons he did not know. Six decided to make his exit as he passed the now frozen stark guard, he passed numerous maids and cooks running amok. He opened the door to his quarters and engaged the lock. Now that he had his privacy once more, he disengaged the locks on his helmet and gave a small sigh of satisfaction as the cold air filled his lungs.
Setting the helmet aside he unlatched the clamps holding his chest plate in place, the armor itself much too heavy for a regular human to lift. He was not used to being out of his armor but he had to make an impression on the rest of the northmen at the feast. Show he was willing to go out of his comfort zone now that he was staying in Winterfell. One of the maids had already laid out a large set of clothes for him, a brown leather jerkin with breeches. Olive green boots that looked about his size and a grey wolf fur cloak on the table.
The seamstresses had apparently done their homework on his measurements as the jerkin fit snugly onto his massive form. Breeches could have been bigger but not enough for discomfort. He finished putting the green colored boots on before attending to the cloak, it took him a few tries to get the latches connected but he got it nonetheless. As he stared at his reflection in the mirror he could not help but chuckle to himself at how ridiculous this was, a spartan in breeches. As if he needed any other indication that he was a long way from home. Home... what was home to him.
He reached into one of the many pouches on his chest plate on the floor, and recovered his dog tags. Secured them around his neck before departing to the smith, he still needed to request a warhammer that Lord Stark had granted him. He paid the guards no mind as this was the first time they seen him out of armor, though in their defense he was only a few inches smaller in height without it. His eyes scanning the courtyard for the forge as he brushed past a few smallfolk doing their duties before the feast. The sun was nearing its descent into the horizon as the grey skies began to darken.
Six approached the forge and was greeted by a bulk of a man nearing the end of his prime, greying beard that reached his chest and hair tied in a bun. He was currently hammering on a chest piece of armor, "You're Mikken I take it." The man stopped his work and slowly looked at the man.
Mikken shouldered the hammer in his left hand, "Aye, and who are you stranger?" The cautious and accusatory tone not forgotten on Six.
Six stepped forward handing a scroll that Lord Stark had given him on the journey to winterfell, "Six, but spartan will do as well." Mikken took the scroll and began to read the contents. He seemed to look at Six once more in confusion before huffing to himself and handing it back to Six.
"I see Lord Starks granted you permission to commision your own weapon, a warhammer is a fine choice. We have the materials to do so, but I should warn you it will take a fortnite to forge it. You have any preferences as to how you want it to look?" Mikken asked as he rummaged through some old diagrams.
"I need it to be heavy enough for no man but me to wield in combat, I don't know much about forging but I will offer assistance should you need it." Six explained to the smith, he handed him a scroll with his etchings of how he wanted it to look.
Mikken stared at the spartan before him incredulously then back to the diagram before nodding slowly, "Aye, I'll notify the guards should I need any help."
Six nodded to the smith before departing to the ramparts, in his first few days in winterfell he would come up there to think. He still did but this was the first without his armor, the barren fields covered in snow and the occasional carriage travelling from the castle seemed to calm him. He enjoyed the small amount of silence he was granted, this place... was so strange to him. The people around him were spared the horrors of the covenant and he couldn't be more grateful. He could not imagine the carnage should that ever happen, the planet would fall instantly. There was no doubt of that in his mind, but so far he had not seen one sign of them. His thoughts were interrupted by the boisterous laughter coming from the great hall, it seemed the feast was nearing its start.
He left the battlement and made his way to the great hall, the voices and music becoming louder. The smell of various meats and ale filling his nose as he pushed into the clearing, the tables now aligned to accommodate the many guests. He looked to the high table and saw Lord Stark and his family seating themselves. The chatter seemed to die down as Lord Stark had the serving girls bring bread and salt. He watched as all in attendance at the offering with vigor, he could smell butter having been melted into it as the serving girl approached him. He thanked her before too honoring the Northern tradition, she curtsied before moving onto the next one.
Ned stood to his feet as the girls left the hall, "Thank you all for joining us, friends. For the North is now safer than it was a day ago." Men cheered in response raising their tankards, "The bandits haunting the Wolfswood have been destroyed and shall terrorize our people no more. The deaths of those slain in the ambush have been brought justice, may the gods embrace them in the afterlife. But, let us not forget the efforts of one who risked his life to give us the element of surprise we needed, and ensured no man died when the attack began." Ned seemed to stare straight through Noble Six, the rest of the men in the hall following their lords eyes.
Six stepped forward into the center of the crowd as they continued to stare at him. Most having never seen him without his armor, let alone his face. Muttering of his age began before a look from their lord silenced them. Now standing in front of the high table as he had done a week prior, the Lord of winterfell raised his cup to him. "Spartan, for your help in stopping the reaping of the bandits and aiding of the hostages. Along with putting your own life on the line to draw their attention so no soldiers life would be taken, I thank you. The North thanks you. Is there anything at all that you would ask of me?"
Six nodded his head while stepping closer, "I was only doing my duty, Lord Stark. With that being said... I would like to continue fighting for you. I'm not only a soldier, but a spartan. If you would allow me, I will fight your enemies, protect your family and those in this castle with my life."
Ned seemed shocked at the words spoken towards him, but a small smile began to grow on his face. "Very well, I would be glad to accept you into our ranks. Now, let us drink." Ned raised his cup high and so did the others in the room, save Six. "To the Spartan in the North." The men banged on the tables before downing their drinks, Lord Stark signaled the feast to begin and music started playing.
Six was motioned to join Lord Stark at the high table, a seat at the end laid empty for him. He seated himself beside the young lad Jon snow, his plate was filled with venison and various other meats. A cup of ale was poured for him as well.
"They say you lead the assault on the fort?" Robb said from the other side of the table.
Six looked to the future lord, "Your father was in command, all I did was create a diversion to get the attention on me. After that, Lord Stark and his men came in with their cavalry and finished them off."
Arya seemed interested as well, "I heard you took on more than a dozen bandits with a war hammer, all by yourself. Smashed the jaw off one as well!"
Six took a bite of his food before answering, he could hear Lady Catelyn scolding her daughter for her question. Saying it was unladylike, Six scoffed at that. If only she could have heard the way Kat spoke of the covenant, that name seemed to drop the mood for him as he started staring at the candle in front of him.
Subconsciously rubbing the dog tags that dangled on around his neck. His fingers gliding over the engraved metal as if in a trance, his thoughts were interrupted by another question. This one from Jon snow, "Are there more of you? Spartans I mean?" Jon asked innocently enough.
The rest of the table seemed to want to know the answer as well. Six closed his eyes as a flash of his team was in front him, the only time he truly felt like he had belonged somewhere. Shaking his head facing him, "No... not anymore." He said with sadness in his voice for the first time.
"What happened to them?" Bran asked, speaking up for the first time.
"War." Was all he said, they did not need to know the horrors of his realm.
"Forgive my children, spartan-" Lady Catelyn started.
Six waved his hand in a dismissive manner, "Its fine, they couldn't have known." Catelyn gave a small nod as thanks before returning to her supper.
Theon seemed to want the next question as he gave a yellow smile his way, "Have you found a lass to warm your bed yet, spartan? I know a wild one that could turn your mood." Theon japed before being smacked in the back of the head by Ned.
Six didn't respond, only stared at the greyjoy boy until the glare seemed to much for him to handle as he downed the mug of ale and began eyeing up the serving girls. The rest of the stark family began conversing amongst themselves, all except the one beside him. Jon seemed to be picking at his food with distaste, it did not escape the glares Catelyn had been giving the young man. A question had been burning in his mind since he had learned Jons name, snow instead of stark. "Why is your last name Snow?" Six asked as he cut into the meat and took a bite.
Jon seemed to darken at the question, "Why do you ask?"
Six simply looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "When I was introduced to you, Lord Stark introduced you as his son. Yet your name isn't Stark, if I'm to stay in winterfell I would at least like to know the family I will be protecting. So, I ask again why is your name Snow?"
Jon looked away for a brief moment as his expression turned frustrated, "Bastards in the north carry the name snow, Lord Stark is my father yes. But, Lady Stark is not my mother."
Six raised his eyebrows in surprise, "So I take it bastards are not exactly looked greatly upon."
Jon snorted at that before drinking some ale, "No, they are not."
Six scoffed at that leaning back in his chair before staring jon down, "So bastards are judged by the consequences of those that sired them?"
Jon merely nodded his head, "Aye, I love my father no matter what. My siblings all love me and treat me fairly, though I regret that Sansa has taken after her mother."
"That's a shame, but you'll find no ill treatment from me, Jon. You have my word on that." Six replied as Jon seemed to give a grateful smile in return. "Lord Stark?" Ned jerked his head to his newly acquired man.
"Yes, Spartan?"
"I would like to start drilling the guards first thing in the morning, they are too lax in their posts and are vastly out of shape. I will not have that while under your command, if you'll permit me first thing in the morning I will assess them and begin conditioning them." Six stated matter of factly.
Ned seemed shocked for a brief moment before nodding, "Very well, but I'll have Jory accompany you as well. Should you require anything else I'll be in my Solar for the day."
Six nodded before standing to his feet and bid them farewell and left the great hall, he would need some rest before running the guards into the dirt. He was already devising a schedule for the guards that should work well, while not hindering their duties for the remainder of the day. He came upon his room and entered it quickly, shedding his clothes till he was in just his breeches. He laid on the furs before staring at the ceiling of the stone room. A final thought coming to him before drifting off, 'This...is going to be interesting.'
Alright guys, there's the next chapter of the Lone Wolf. I know that the updates aren't exactly coming out quick but I end up rewriting chapters at least 3-4 times before publishing. Not to mention the research that comes into play, editing etc. So the first 4 chapters are done and now we can get started into the the first part of this story and boy are you guys in for a treat. Until next time... DEUCES!