NOTE: Hi!
So... apparently publishing day is now in the middle of the month because I can't help myself from absolutely wanting to have many chapters in advance in case of apocalyptic accidents. Call it paranoïa. Go ahead.

ANYWAY I... like this one? Yeah, I think I do. I mean there's uncle Benjen in it! And I love uncle Benjen. I was so sad we saw so little of it in season 1. And yes I do not talk about the other times he appears in the show because like many things in the last seasons... he deserved better.
So yeah! Me likey!

Also, did you notice what I did last chapter? Me rearranging the timeline to push my little Kyria into it? I was so proud of myself on this one. But anyway, I hope you will like this chapter and my version of Uncle Benjen. You will notice that he has much more screen time here xD There are a couple of scenes that were cut from the original work, mainly because the chapter was already far too long, but I always liked the idea of it so I pushed them back it because fuck it. This stuff is already taking far more time than expected so what a couple of chapters more will that do? xD
I hope you like it!

CHAPTER 12: The Ranger

The first week of the Seventh month of the year 297 a.c

Winterfell

Kyria Stark

She was still bleeding when the family gathered in the yard to welcome their uncle Benjen.

Kyria was slowly getting used to the uncomfortable feeling of having blood dripping down her from time to time. Who knew growing up would be so painful and disgusting? Her chest felt heavy and compressed inside her dress. The sides of her corset pressed her torso. She should ask for another one made. Or lace it less tightly. It was as if her body decided to age two years in two days. Her muscles aching from growing pain, her chest heavy, her hips wider. She felt like she was getting fat and the pain from her course barely allowed her to eat anything! And let's not talk about the rest of it. Like... no.

Will her silhouette go back to what it was before once the bleeding is over? She had no idea. Kyria had never been especially vain or anything of the sort but she was worried...If her body decided to change every month from now on this was going to be very annoying very fast.

She didn't really want to ask Septa Mordane or Mother about these things. True, they were the most knowledgeable women of her acquaintance on the subject, but after that conversation with her mother and the tiring morning that followed... she didn't really want to go through that again. And she didn't want to have Sansa following her again all around the keep, begging for details about the great adventure of becoming a woman. Part of her was still tempted to share the more gruesome details with the naïve twittering little bird, just to see her face when confronted with the reality of life as opposed to the conception she had of it. Mother had said it was the courses talking. That she might be more susceptible during this… trial. That would explain the crankiness.

But Mother also warned her to act like a true lady and refrain from sharing her experience with her sisters. Kyria thought it quite short-sighted, for at least that would allow them to prepare themselves for the inevitable fatality of their conditions. But it was true that refraining from shocking poor Sansa's fragile sensibilities meant avoiding her grudge. And that girl had a long memory. A true Northerner whether she liked it or not.

She brushed off Sansa's questions with half-truths and approximations. Which annoyed the girl, but the magic word "private" finally allowed some peace.

To Kyria's utter amusement, both Jon and Robb tried very hard not to look at her all day. Ther blushing faces ducked between their shoulders, they suffered their daily meetings at the Library Tower in an embarrassing silence that almost cracked her up. Poorboys.

Their avoidance and general awkwardness almost made her forget why the past days had been so troubled for her. That is until Father announced Uncle Benjen's imminent arrival. The sudden reminder of Jon's decision and the repercussions it had on their family erased all memories of the events that followed her first course. Soon enough both boys were back to their usual moody selves, displayed around the table the three of them had elected as their own inside the Library Tower.

For the first time, Kyria was not the most enthusiastic of the three regarding their study sessions. Robb, faced with the reality of Jon's imminent disappearance from their sessions and the resulting first steps in the real world their brother was about to make, had him almost obsessed with the idea of arming him with everything they could. Academically speaking.

They were still locked up in the room when they learned of uncle Benjen's imminent arrival. Jon couldn't have left the room quickly enough and he actually flew out by the window.

Uncle Benjen arrived with the quiet summer snow. Soft white drops melted on his black cloak and black hair. His long face was broken by a wide smile. A smile that seemed to grow even wider when a very excited Bran ran right to his arms. His laugh boomed through the walls of the yard. Every servant around shivered as a wide wave of relief ran them through. The Stark was whole.

It was strange. Kyria hadn't realized how used she had become to her life, even with the missing memories, until Benjen arrived. A completely unknown man, she had barely heard about and had never seen before. But someone everyone around was familiar with. She felt like she had been brought back to those first weeks where everyone knew her but she didn't.

Little Rickon wrapped himself around Benjen's leg and Father welcomed his brother warmly. And all she could think about was how isolated she felt. Lonely in her confusion.

It was like studying the dynamics of the family from the outside. How loved Benjen Stark was in Winterfell. How important the Stark were to the people living under this roof. How they were looked up, admired, protected.

Jon stayed silent, behind them all, listening with a very surprising show of patience to Theon's babbling. Robb puffed his chest when Benjen finally came close enough to welcome him.

Arya was the only one besides Kyria herself who didn't seem to share everyone's enthusiasm. She still hasn't forgiven Jon for his decision and her anger ran deep. Jon did try to make amends. But that girl was nothing if not stubborn.

Kyria wasn't unaware of the irony of the little girl who now refused to even look at Jon when not a month prior she was throwing a tantrum because Kyria was monopolizing his attention. Or so she said. This was not an observation she cared much to say out loud. She had a preservation instinct after all.

Finally, Benjen freed himself from his nephews and stopped in front of her. She looked up, startled. He smiled kindly as he had for everyone else. She took a moment to contemplate the oddness of such an open smile in a face that resembled her father's so much. Odd.

He didn't have to talk for her to know. He was aware of her difference. Of her accident. He knew this was her first time meeting him. It had been a while since she had to be reintroduced to a member of her family.

"Ah, there she is. I imagine you don't remember me now do you?"

... Well yes.

How odd. Coming from anyone else she would have been annoyed. Hurt even maybe. But from him… there was something in the tone of his voice, the angle of his head, the twist of his smile. She didn't feel offended.

Confused, Kyrias shyly nodded her head. Benjen smiled. Suddenly remembering her manners, the girl bowed politely.

"Uncle Benjen."

He laughed again. He did look like Father a great deal. As she observed him up close, she noticed how he also looked like Jon. The jet black hair where Father's were brown. The lighted eyes, more like Jon's. For a single moment, it occurred to Kyria how little Jon actually looked like Father. Thinner, smaller, the structure of his face different. Compared to Uncle Benjen the differences seemed to jump to her. That thought escaped her grasp as quickly as it came to it.

Uncle Benjen didn't hug her like the rest of her siblings. Nor did she mind. He smiled and cupped her hand in his bowing like the Lord he could have been. His pompous "My Lady" made little Rickon giggle in Mother's arms. He kind of looked awkward doing it in an endearing way.

The little boy's happy claps sounded the end of their little reunion and without any more delay, they reached the great hall.

The Stark feasted the return of their beloved Uncle and brother that night. With a fervor rare enough at this time of the year to be noticeable by anyone coming close to Wintertown. Kyria deeply enjoyed this feast. I had nothing to do with anything she had attended to so far. Any sibling name day included.

She did notice her uncle spending a good portion of the evening talking quietly with Jon. They were talking of the Watch for sure. But how? Was he trying to dissuade Jon? Or encourage him? She was dying to know. But Robb made sure she stayed right where she was.

Killjoy.

The feast lasted later than what Kyria was used to. The morning sun found her sleepy and groggy. She blinked slowly at her plate, food being of little importance to her in her state of sleepiness. She was shaken out of it by the crashing sound of Bran's head falling into his plate.

"Bran!" Shrieked Mother.

The boys laughed. Arya was louder than anyone else, mercilessly teasing her little brother while Sansa tried to wash off the food from Bran's face.

The whole thing, while very funny, had the advantage of waking up everyone still snoozing over their plate. After all, there was no going back to bed for anyone. And no excuse. Mother was furious. Bran was supposed to be asleep last night. For him to be so sleepy, he had to have disobeyed. Which was a bad idea. Especially if you were found out by Mother herself. They were going to be watched like misbehaving pups all day now.

It took less than an hour to get on her nerves. By the end of their last lessons, Kyria had enough of her mother's hawk-like gaze and cold remarks and went to seek refuge in the quietest place of the Keep.

The Library Tower.

The door was barely closed, and she all but threw herself on the soft carpet right in front of the hearth. Frost padded around on his comically big paws, sniffing nervously at her hands, then nudged himself a comfortable position in her lap. She was pushed on her back by the growing size of her companion whose brain hadn't caught up with the rest of his body yet. But his warmth at least numbed the pain a little bit.

Her peace was short-lived

"Well hello there."

Kyria blinked. Uncle Benjen sat on the seat pushed in a corner, silent as a shadow.

"What have we here?" he asked softly, his glinting eyes falling on Frost's head. She stroked it mechanically.

"It's Frost," she said awkwardly.

Benjen smiled.

"A fitting name for such a creature. And who is Frost?"

"My Direwolf."

His eyes lightened.

"Ah, yes. Your father warned me about those. You all have one now don't you?"

She nodded slowly.

"And where did you find them? Direwolves South of the Wall is far from common."

She shrugged shyly.

"Robb says they found their mother killed by a stag. They were days old. Bran asked Father to have them and Jon convinced Father it was meant to be. There was one for each of us, even Jon. They brought them back and now they are ours and we are theirs."

Benjen hummed.

Frost raised his head, snigging curiously in Benjen's direction. The man kept watching the pup with obvious fascination. Frost sneezed. Then nudged his head back against her stomach. His tail waved once. Huh. Acceptance she supposed. Or tolerance at least.

"Old Nan said it was a sign of the Gods for our family." Kyria felt compelled to add.

"Yes, I would assume she has opinions on the subject."

Kyria smiled. Old Nan had opinions on a lot of subjects.

"Still…" added Benjen, "I can't help but wonder why such a creature would come so far South? Direwolves are only found North of the Wall now. Had for centuries. And there aren't many places where she could have passed. We would have seen her had she tried Castle Black"

"There are other castles around the way aren't there?"

"Yes, abandoned ones. But the entrance had been sealed for most of them."

"It was?"

Benjen nodded. Though he took his time to do so. Maybe he wasn't sure? She had read the Watch had been in decline for centuries…

"Who knows how she managed that. Or why." concluded her uncle.

Kyria couldn't answer. As much as she loved Frost, the questions that his and his siblings' presence at Winterfell asked left her with a sour taste in her mouth.

The conversation died slowly, each party contemplating what had been said and what was left unsaid. Kyria had questions on the tip of her tongue. She felt unusually shy around the tall Ranger.

But in the end, her curiosity won her out.

"Uncle Benjen… did-" she bit her lip, "Did Jon tell you why he wanted to take the Black?"

Uncle Benjen's steel eyes looked up from his hands.

"He did."

The subject was tough. She wondered if he tried to dissuade Jon from going along with his plan. Which made her think…

"Why did you do it?"

Benjen blinked.

"What?"

"The watch… What made you go there?"

His face morphed into something pensive. He took his time to answer. And Kyria wondered if she shouldn't have kept this question for herself.

"You know… I don't think any of you ever asked me this question."

Kyria's face twisted in her surprise. He offered her a crooked smile in return.

"I think the first time I was truly interested in the Watch was during the tourney of Harrenhall."

"The one where-"

"Yes." His answer was short, dismissive. Kyria pressed her lips.

She expected silence, but he carried on.

"There was a Travelling Crow, right before the tourney. He rejoiced in such an assembly and the prospect of potentially joining recruits was enough to put a smile on his face for the time of his presence among us."

Frost whined, unhappy to be bothered as she moved to sit closer to her uncle, wrapped in his tale.

"I loved his stories. I think no one was more fascinated than I was. The thing this man had seen… the stories he shared. It suddenly made the world sound so much bigger. I wanted to see it with my own eyes. Live what he lived. Be him."

Kyria nodded, absorbed by the words falling out of his mouth.

"Is it when you decided to do it?"

Uncle Benjen's face did something that triggered Kyria's instinct. He was startled by her question, like it pulled him out of the fondness of the memory right into another one. One he didn't like to remember. She knew that expression well enough for having witnessed it often on her father's face.

She chose to remain silent. Her question was still burning in the air between them, and although she did want to know his answer, she didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Or, well, more than he already seemed to be.

After a little while, he talked again.

"A lot of things happened at Harrenhal. Even more, things happened after."

The Rebellion.

"When your father was fighting against the Targaryens, I had to be the Stark in Winterfell. I had to guard our home, protect it, and wait. The hardest part was waiting."

He didn't say more about this time of his life and Kyria didn't ask. But she understood what he kept silent. She was building the timeline of the Rebellion for her family inside her head. How he must have been the one to receive his big sister's bones when Father sent them home. How he must have been the one to ask for her statue to be made in the crypts. She wondered how old he was then. She knew he joined the watch young. How hard has it been for him… The Rebellion must have been the cement that solidified his decision to join the Watch.

"When everything was over and Ned came back with his family and-" He briefly closed his eyes. What was he thinking about? "I couldn't stay anymore. So I did what I thought about all those months ago at Harrenhal. I joined the Watch."

Kyria lowered her gaze pensively. The tale sounded oddly empty. No, not empty. Lacking maybe? Uncle Benjen sounded like he was brushing over something.

Maybe it was only her impression. Her need to have a more complex explanation over such a life-changing choice. Something more dramatic, more heartbreaking she could later use as an argument against Jon's own decision. She felt wrong thinking that. How little consideration did she have for her family history to think her uncle's story wasn't heartbreaking enough. Did she need even more death? More drama?

Her mind was blank. There was nothing she could say that would have been enough to convince Jon. She had known that before but hearing Uncle Benjen's story somehow solidified this belief.

"Don't you miss home? Sometimes?" she tried.

Benjen smiled.

"Winterfell will always be home. But this is not my place anymore. It hadn't been in a long time. I have no place, no purpose here. Not like I do at Castle Black."

Kyria nodded. It made sense. Somehow it sounded a lot like what she expected to happen to her when her father would finally choose a match for her. It was something she knew was coming and most of the time she tried not to think too much about it.

But, as her Septa so skillfully said, a daughter's fate was to serve her father's designs.

For now no discussion had even started between anyone on that particular subject so Kyria tried not to think too much about it. But she wasn't ignorant. She knew it would come sooner or later. Especially now that she was thoughtfully bleeding under her skirt like the disgusting human being she apparently was.

Yes, she was still processing the horror of her feminine condition and the hardships it entailed. It was a difficult process.

Uncle Benjen chose a book on one of the shelves and Kyria took it as the dismissing it was and, despite the burning curiosity still very present inside her, she wisely respected her uncle's desire for silence and went back to her own reading. Frost snuffed around her and rumbled a purring satisfied noise from the back of his throat that resonated within Kyria's bones.

Kyria was deep in her reading. She barely noticed the squeaking of the door slowly opening. Or the little fit padding around the old wood of the library. Though it became quite hard to miss when a giggling little mass threw itself at her. Frost's head moved out just on time as the squeaking little intruder wiggled his way into his sister's laps.

"Rickon!"

"Kyria!" chirped the child happily.

Frost growled, annoyed, and moved to be on the other side. Rickon ignored the pup, smiling wildly at his sister with all the strength of his little teeth.

"What are you doing here little bug?"

The boy looked offended.

"'Am no bug!"

"Aren't you?"

He vigorously shook his wild curls.

"Am wolf!"

Kyria smiled. Of course.

"Very well then, how are you today mister wolf?"

He giggled again.

"I'm very well malady! And you? You with Uncle Benjen?"

"Yes, I am."

"What are you doing?"

She waved her book.

"Reading. Would you like to try?"

The shaking was even more violent this time. His little face twisted in a disgusted grimace.

"I don't like reading."

Of course, he didn't. She could imagine the struggle for a wild little thing like him to have to stay put long enough for Maester Luwin to teach him anything.

"Oh really?"

"Nuhun!" he denied again.

From his place in his chair, Benjen snickered in his book.

"Well, that's a shame."

The little boy cocked his head. Blinked, and was promptly distracted by Frost's still pouting snout.

"Hellow Frost! Have you seen Shaggy?"

"Woof."

Benjen snorted louder, not that she could fault him, it was entertaining.

"You're looking for Shaggy?"

Rickon nodded.

"Maester Luwin said Shaggy was not allowed in the lesson." pouted the little boy.

"Well that's a sensible opinion," nodded Kyria seriously, "wolves can't learn how to read can they?"

"They can't?"

"No, they can't, little wolfling."

He nodded slowly. Pensive. It lasted a second.

"Shaggy! When I came out of lesson Shaggy was gone!"

"I see."

"Have you seen it Kyria?"

"No, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Oh…"

The little boy looked down disappointed. He was adorable.

"Maybe I could help you looking for him?" she proposed, "I am sure Frost would be delighted to sniff him out for you."

Frost woofed again, which was good enough for little Rickon. He took her hand in both his and started pulling. And pulling. And pulling.

"What are you doing, Mister Wolf?"

"You said you help!"

Oh, dear.

"Aye, I did. But we have to think about where we are going to look before going don't you think?"

"Ha? But we are going to lose him!"

"Are we? So you know where he is!"

He pouted.

"I don't know. But he could change his hiding place! And then we couldn't find him! Like when we play hide and seek and Robb moves in the middle of the game!"

"Uhun." she nodded. "Where is he then?"

"Hm… outside!"

He vigorously pointed at the door behind him.

"Outside? Why were you looking for him in the library then?"

At this point, Uncle Benjen had abandoned all pretense of reading his book and was watching them with keen interest.

The little boy paused to think.

"... I forgot."

She had to bite her lip to stop the laugh from escaping. He wouldn't have liked her mocking him, as adorable as he was.

"Well tell me then, what were you thinking about? Maybe Shaggy guided you?"

The little boy seemed to think about it. He shrugged and nudged her leg with the tip of his shoe. For a boy so young, Rickon was sometimes very hard to read. He looked like he had something he wished to ask her, but for some reason, seemed to hesitate. With indulgence, Kyria pulled him back to her arms and nested him against her as she lay back down, her head resting against Frost's belly. Her little brother wiggled in her arms and looked at Benjen.

"Kyria… why is Jon leaving?"

Benjen lost his smile. Ah. That conversation then.

"Jon is… well Jon is leaving with Uncle Benjen."

Rickon shifted again. His head shifted again, to look at their uncle.

"You taking my Jon?"

She looked too, choosing to let him drag himself out of this mess. Petty? Maybe a little.

"I'm not taking anyone Rickon, Jon simply wants to join me to the Wall." explained the man patiently, "It is his choice."

Rickon shifted in her arms.

"But he will come back?" he asked after a while, "Mama said we had to train Shaggy and Greywind and she'll want Ghost to train too."

Kyria smiled.

"I don't know little pup, maybe he will, maybe not. You know, when you are at the wall you can't do what you want. You have responsibilities."

"Responsbities?"

Oh, dear. Too many syllables for his young tongue.

"Yes, because he'd have to protect the Realm from whatever would threaten it from the other side of the Wall. Maester Luwin must have explained it to him, didn't he?" asked Kyria, taking pity on her uncle's awkward explanation.

He was clearly not used to talking to children so young.

"The Wall was built by Bran!"

Kyria barked a loud laugh. She tried to control herself but the picture of her little brother being as old as the Wall itself was hilarious. Benjen's loud laugh swallowed her own.

"No, Rickon, Bran didn't build the wall." smiled the man.

"Liar! Maester Luwin said Brandon Stark built the wall! Brandon Stark is Bran!"

The Ranger laughed a little more, and Kyria couldn't deny the logic behind his reasoning.

"No Darling, it's not Bran who built the wall. He is too young."

"But Maester Luwin said it!"

"Aye, Bran the Builder made the Wall."

The little boy nodded.

"Bran the Builder was the first King of Winter, the founder of our family, and the first known Stark. He lived many many years ago. Way before our Bran was even born."

Rickon blinked slowly.

"But why is he called Bran like Bran?"

"Brandon is a common name in our family Rickon," explained Uncle Benjen, "It is the first Stark's name. It's Brandon the Builder that made Winterfell. In his honor, it is tradition to name a child after him. It happens in almost every generation of Starks."

"Generation?"

Kyria stroked his head. Again, too many syllables, maybe Robb was right when he called her pompous?

"Every family." she explained, "Like we are a family, and before us, Father had his family too, with his siblings."

The little boy slowly nodded and fortunately didn't ask more.

"So Bran the builder was there before you? And Robb?"

"Exactly."

"And Mother? And Father? And Uncle Benjen?"

"Yes little pup," smiled Benjen.

Rickon opened his mouth in silent concentration. It was hard for him to imagine a world before his birth.

"They have the same name then?"

"Exactly."

Rickon wiggled so he could look at her.

"You're smart Kyria!"

She smiled.

"Why thank you mister wolf! You're smart too!"

He displayed his wide mouth and missing teeth in a blinding grin. Not a heartbeat later, they were interrupted by one of the handmaidens who quietly demanded their presence in the hall for the family dinner Mother had insisted upon.

Rickon was disappointed to miss the opportunity to look for his wolf, but with some soft convincing from his sister, accepted to go with them. Only if Kyria promised to go looking for Shaggy later. Kyria doubted the pup would miss his meal but promised none less.

"My Lady," smiled uncle Benjen charmingly.

She accepted the offered hand with a shy smile and let the man nest her fingers in the crook of his elbow. His gentleman denamor only lasted a moment and was soon replaced by the awkward look of a man unused to feminine company, even of his own niece, but it was funny enough to rip a giggle from her throat. Her other hand was immediately claimed by the little lord on her heels. Rickon looked very proud of himself.

Father's grunt at the sight of them arriving together was merely the cherry on top of the cake that was the day. The way Bran briefly eyed Arya at the sight of his beloved uncle holding his sister's arm bubbled another quick laugh out of Kyria's mouth.

"No way!" protested Arya with a nasty growl.

Poor Bran was very disappointed.

TBC

NOTE: So? What do you think?

As I said, I added the library scene between Benjen and Kyria because I loved it. The idea of them bonding is appealing to me, especially as she has no memories of him and might not have the occasion to do so later. Or will she? (muahahahahahah)
Anyway, noticed how I also took the time to add a little more world-building in here? Am I having fun creating my little layout for the rest of the story? Yes. Should I try harder to work on books 1 and 2 instead of building an even more complicated world and adding more work to myself? Also yes. What can I say, I have no self-control.
Isn't Rickon the cutest thought?! Just for him, I love that chapter. Cute little fluffy baby stark 3
The most observant around you might have noticed another story popping in my profile. It is because I started publishing part of a story I had in my drawer for close to two years now? I had the chapters laying around for so long and I was kind of seak of seeing it without it being published so I just thought... meh, couldn't hurt. So from now on the GOT chapters will appear in the middle of the month and the other story's chapters at the end. Voilà!
Hoped yo liked it! Kudos and comments are my fuel don't be shy, feed me!

See you soon!