Jory

The boy who was now asleep in the bed of the guest quarters of Winterfell was not the boy that he had first seen in the Red Keep. That boy had been pale, with dark shadows under his eyes. Not very bright either.

This boy was very different. He had grown in so many ways. He was a fount of questions about everything now, he read books voraciously and yet he also wanted to find out more and more about the kind of things that his mother prevented him from seeing – like anything to do with horses, dogs, trees, archery, sword-fighting and anything that any of the Starks – particularly Bran and Arya – were doing.

He smiled a little and then schooled his features as Annah emerged from the room and closed the door carefully. She turned to face the corridor – and then she stopped at the sight of him. "Jory Cassel," she said with a slight smile. "How fare you?"

A wittier, brighter man might have made a quip then on the lines that his day was all the brighter for seeing her. But he knew that he was not such a man and so he merely nodded carefully. "Well. And you?"

She smoothed down the front of her dress a little as she walked up to draw level with him. "Tired. 'Tis been a hectic day. Thank you for explaining to his young lordship about the making of arrows."

He chuckled a little. "Think nothing of it. He asked the questions that I would have at his age. He's a clever lad."

"Aye," she replied, smiling. Then her countenance shifted to a more hawkish aspect. "Aye – he is now."

Jory looked at her, concerned. "You said earlier that the Maester had inspected him."

"Indeed, Maester Luwin did. I like that man very much, he speaks nothing but sense. He said that he would tell Lord and Lady Stark that young Robert Arryn was now free of the poison. As we can both see with our own two eyes."

There was something in her tone in those last words that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The problem was that he had no idea why. He contented himself instead with escorting her down the corridor and then along to the next. Then he finally made a connection as a number of comments that she had said in the past suddenly seemed to make sense.

"You suspected that the medicine was bad for the boy, didn't you?"

She shot him a quick look from suddenly narrowed eyes. After a long moment she finally nodded slightly. "I suspected. But that is not the same as knowing. I knew in White Harbour."

"Did Ser Davos's guard knock the jar over, or did you have a hand in it?"

This time the look had a little approval. "I might have had something of a hand in it. How did you know?"

"I suspected. But now I know." He licked his lips nervously, before looking at her. "You are a remarkable woman Annah." Damn it, he was making a mess of this.

Oddly enough she blushed a little at this. "I am just myself," she said, knotting the fingers of both hands together just under her breasts. He forced himself not to look at them – both of them – but to look at her face instead.

"And yet you have… affected so much." Damn it! It was all coming out wrong. "I am glad that you are here," he gabbled. "To see what the lad is now. And… so I can show you my home."

She looked at him again, with eyes that were suddenly so bright. "Your home is a wonderful place. There is so much here and…" She knotted her fingers again. "Lord and Lady Stark have been very kind to me and I-"

"I would like to show you so much more of the North." He flushed. "Your pardon, I did not mean to speak over you, I am just keen to…" he stuttered to a pause as his mind went blank and ran out of words.

"Keen to…?" Annah prompted as she took a hesitant step forwards.

He wanted to take her in his arms and then kiss her thoroughly, even though it might get him slapped, but suddenly they both heard the sound of footsteps. Jory cursed internally as he saw a familiar figure appear at the end of the corridor, turn slowly in their direction and then walk towards them with slow and measured steps. Wait. T'was Lord Stark. Who was walking with his eyes closed?

"M'Lord?" Jory asked hesitantly. "Are you well?"

And then the world turned sideways and seemed to upend itself, because Lord Stark opened his eyes – which were orbs of red fire, or so it seemed. He stared in shock and no little horror, as Annah gasped. He looked at her quickly, but she rallied. She was made of strong stuff, the lady from the Vale.

Lord Stark seemed to stare that them both for a long moment and then directed that red gaze at him. "Jory Cassel." His voice was odd, as if he was speaking at the mouth of a long passageway or tunnel, his words almost echoing. He sounded as if someone was speaking through him, if that was possible. "Saddle Lord Stark's horse."

He stared at the Lord of Winterfell, his mind filled with questions and then nodded abruptly. "Ah – aye my Lord."

Lord Stark turned and then walked away. Jory stared after him and then looked at Annah, who had both hands over her mouth and was quivering with emotion. "I must see to his horse," Jory said hoarsely. "Would you-"

"Fetch Lady Stark? Aye, I will – and right fast." And then she gathered her skirts in one hand, lifted them a little and ran off, showing no small display of speed.

By the time that Jory had finished arranging for the saddling of Lord Stark's horse – and several others, including his own to be on the safe side – Winterfell was starting to stir with urgent activity. Especially when Lord Stark emerged from a doorway from the crypts and startled the life out of anyone who caught sight of his eyes. Jory quickly strode over to join him. What was going on, what magic was at work here? "Your horse is saddled my Lord."

Lord Stark nodded. Then he turned and strode over to the building that housed the kennels, with Jory nervously following. As they entered he noticed that every one of the dogs stared at Lord Stark as if he was the most important think in the world, bar none. The Houndsmaster merely stared at Lord Stark in what looked like awe and shocked fearfulness.

"The last pen is to be restored to how it once was," Lord Stark boomed as he pointed at the pen facing the doors. "Tear down the wooden partitions. Bring in straw. This place was built to house larger creatures. It shall house them again." And then he turned on his heel and left.

The Houndsmaster stared after him in bafflement. "They've always been t'same size. Same layout. Stone walls wi' wooden partitions in them. Have been for as long as I can remember."

Jory looked at the stalls thoughtfully. "Then why wooden partitions inside stone walls? M'Lord Stark is right. These were built for larger creatures. Bigger mastiffs perhaps? Anyway – do as his Lordship said."

As he darted out to find Lord Stark he could see that the gathering crowd of man and woman had been joined by some important additions. Lady Stark looked as if she had hurriedly dressed and was standing there with her hands clutching each other under her breasts. Her hair was undone and she looked terrified. Next to her stood Annah, who looked at him with what looked like relief. And then to Lady Starks' right was young Robb Stark. He looked as if he had dressed in a hurry and was watching his father with worry. Theon Greyjoy was to one side, as was Jon Snow and as Jory looked at them he could see Domeric Bolton and Maester Luwin join the party.

As for Lord Stark – well, he was just standing there, that strange red fire glowing in his eyes. As he seemed to catch sight of the others he turned to them. "Worry not," he said in that strange voice. "We mean no harm. But the compact must be made again, the old alliance must be reforged. And you know naught about it." Whereupon he strode to his horse and mounted it.

Jory ran to his own horse and clambered into the saddle. He could see his uncle striding towards him clutching a burning brand and he waved at him. "Uncle! Give me your brand!"

Ser Rodrik, who looked as if his sideburns were standing on end, nodded at him and then passed the brand over. "Jory, what in the name of the Old Gods is going on?"

"I think Ser Rodrik that the Old Gods are speaking through my father," said a voice to one side and he both looked to see that Robb Stark had followed their lead and mounted a horse. "Brands! We need brands!"

As flaming brands were brought Jory looked over the group. Lord Stark was sitting there in his saddle, motionless. Robb Stark and Jon Snow were talking quietly to Theon Greyjoy, their horses close together and then Domeric Bolton danced his horse skilfully up to them and join the conversation. All nodded once and then took brands themselves, as did three guards.

Feeling a hand on his knee he looked down and to his right to see that Annah was there. "Jory Cassel, where are you going?"

"I must follow Lord Stark."

"Then do so. But bring yourself back safely Jory Cassel." She licked her lips nervously. "We have a conversation to complete."

Jory looked at her and then nodded with a smile – and then he heard Lord Stark bellow a single word. "RIDE!" And then they were off, trotting through the gates and out into the dark.

The moon was starting to rise and that as well as their brands gave just enough light to ride by. Just. Jory squinted at the road ahead of them and then wondered what they were doing out here, in the dead of night.

To make matters worse after a while Lord Stark turned off the road and started riding towards the Wolfswood. He led them all and he had no brand at all – but he seemed to know exactly where they were going. How he was controlling his horse in such darkness Jory had not the least idea.

When they entered the trees he started to really worry. There were branches all over the place and all it would have taken would be one in the wrong place, at the wrong time, to hurt someone or even knock them out of their saddle. But Lord Stark seemed to know every twist and turn of their route, seemed to know exactly what was in front of them.

On they rode and after a while Jory started to notice something. They were riding on an old road. It was a badly overgrown one that had not seen a hoof for many a long century, but there was just enough light to see that it had been a road once. But to where?

He had his answer when eventually Lord Stark slowed and then raised a hand in the old gesture to stop. Jory thanked the Old Gods as he dismounted, before detailing two of the guards to hold the reins of the others as they also dismounted.

When he looked back at Lord Stark he could see that he was standing by his motionless horse. Young Lord Robb was worriedly staring at him and swapped a concerned look with Jory.

"It's a Godswood!" The words came from Theon Greyjoy of all people, who was staring into the darkness ahead of them. He had extinguished his brand and was peering ahead at the dark void in front of them all.

Lord Stark walked forwards slowly into the clearing and as the others walked with him Jory saw that the Squidling was right. It was a Godswood. And unless he missed his guess an ancient one even by the standards of Winterfell. The Heart Tree was a huge and gnarled – not misshapen, just vast and strong. And there was a moss-covered boulder in front of it, about as high as his waist and two arm-lengths long, with what looked like something carved on its size.

"I've hunted in these woods all my life," he heard Robb Stark say in a shocked voice. "But never have I ever seen any sign of this place."

"You would not," Lord Stark said, still in that terrible voice. "This place is a special one." He walked towards the boulder and then stood between it and the Heart Tree, before turning and placing a hand on both. "We are Starks," he said in a suddenly intent voice. "WE have come again. To honour the pact and forge it anew. Come. You are summoned."

The words made him want to run in whatever direction Lord Stark commanded, to ride against whatever foes. He could see that the words had the same effect on the others. Young Lord Robb seemed to stand taller, with his hand on the pommel of his sword, as did Jon Snow and Domeric Bolton. Theon Greyjoy looked as if he was quivering with anticipation.

They stood there in the clearing for a long moment – and then he heard the sound of the undergrowth being pushed to one side and the whisper of old dead leaves being trodden on. What was coming?

After a moment he got his answer. A massive form emerged from the undergrowth, almost the size of a small pony but far more furry. A direwolf. It was a direwolf. Jory fought down the urge to piss himself in terror. But… this was a direwolf that just stood there and stared at Lord Stark for a long moment, before padding over to then stand by him. This was not what he had heard that they did. And there was something about the girth of the beast that puzzled him – until he realised that it was a bitch heavy with pups. This was a direwolf that would soon need a midwife, so to speak.

Lord Stark was staring at the direwolf, which was in turn staring back. And then he raised the hand that had been on the Heart Tree and placed it gently on the forehead of the direwolf. "The pact is renewed," Lord Stark said in that intent voice again. "Protection for protection. As it was in the old days. Because of the old days. No Stark shall ever harm a direwolf. It is sworn."

For a moment, a heartbeat, Jory could have sworn that red light flared between Lord Stark's fingers, but then it was gone, if it had ever existed. And then he turned and faced his son. "Robert Stark – this must be done when the time is right. You will know. We must ride now. To Winterfell."

As he strode off to his horse the direwolf followed him and much to Jory's astonishment the horses did not instantly panic as the creature approached. As they mounted the direwolf moved to the side of Lord Stark's horse and then as they trotted off back the way that they had came the creature stayed there, loping along by the side of the remarkably unconcerned horse.

By the time that they finally broke out of the forest and up towards the road that led back to Winterfell he could see the first tell-tale streaks of light that meant that dawn was not too far away and he stifled a yawn. And then a realisation struck him, not long before they reached the road.

"Lord Robb – permission to ride ahead and tell the guards not to loose arrows at the direwolf?"

There was a slightly startled pause and then a shouted response. "Do so, Jory – ride!"

He kicked at the ribs of his horse with both heels and then galloped ahead of the others, taking advantage of the growing light. Yes, dawn was coming and he could soon see the towers of Winterfell. As he approached the Westgate he heard the calls of the guards and he waved a hand at them as the gates groaned open.

"Lord Stark approaches," he bellowed as he reined in his horse in the courtyard beyond the gates. "And his party includes a direwolf. Do not attack it! Send word to all the guards – do not attack the direwolf!"

Various confused mutterings greeted this, but men trotted off to the walls and into the gatehouse. Jory dismounted and then looked around. He could see Lady Stark and a group of others approaching him. Annah was one of them, along with a rather bleary-eyed young Bran Stark. Not far behind them was a scurrying and equally bleary-eyed Sansa Stark. And there was also the huge bulk of GreatJon Umber. who looked highly annoyed at not having gone along with them.

"Jory Cassel, where is my husband and my son?" Lady Stark called out with fear in her voice.

"They are all coming, M'Lady – I rode on ahead to tell the guards not to panic at the sight of their new companion."

"What companion?" Bran Stark piped up, looking intrigued.

Jory hesitated and then said: "A direwolf M'Lady."

Something happened to Lady Stark's face at that word. Shock came first, and then fear, as if this was something that she knew might happen but had hoped would not. And then something else. Calculation.

Hearing the sound of horses they all turned to face the gateway and as Lord Stark rode through a great mutter went up from the assembled men and women as they saw the huge form of the direwolf. It wasn't until the others also then rode through that Lady Stark's face seemed to lose some of its rictus of fear.

"By all the Gods," she muttered. "That animal is huge. Is it safe?"

Lord Stark seemed to hear and then turned his head towards her. "It is safe. It is protected here. The old alliance is renewed, the Pact reforged. There must always be a direwolf in the home of any Stark. You have forgotten much, all of you."

Bran had turned white at the sight of the red fire in his father's eyes, but then seemed to rally. He tilted his head to one side. "Who are you?"

Lord Stark regarded him gravely. "Your ancestor, boy. I was called Edric, in a time long past."

"Where is Father?"

"He is here still. He did not know about this. The Old Gods woke me for this task and soon I will sleep again." He turned to the direwolf and then gestured at the building that held the kennels. "Go. Sleep. Prepare."

The direwolf huffed at this and then licked his extended hand, before turning and padding through the door. Gazing in Jory could see that it was circling about in the straw, pressing it down, before slumping down and then appearing to go to sleep.

Lord Stark seemed to look about Winterfell one more time and then he turned to Robb Stark. "The tower must be made ready," he said. "They move in the North. All of them." And then the red fire in his eyes went out, as if it had been snuffed out.

There was a pause whilst everyone stared at Lord Stark, who was rubbing at his eyes tiredly – and then he stopped and looked about, as startled as Jory had ever seen him look. "What are you all looking at?" Then he looked down at his clothes. "And how did I get here?"

Jory winced a little. This would take some explaining.