Chapter 35 Luwin

The ironmen came in the hour just before dawn, climbing the high outer wall of Winterfell with ropes and grappling hooks, and then swimming the moat between the walls. They killed the few guards on the main gates and forced the main gate to the inner castle. Before the meager number of defenders could react properly the ironmen had slain or wounded over a dozen and the rest yielded and were gathered in the main courtyard.

Maester Luwin was up earlier than was normal for him, tending to his ravens in the high tower where the rookery was located, feeding them, waiting for the dawn as he had a message he wanted to send to White Harbor, to see if there was any news of the Stark host. Messages he had received from White Harbor recently, telling him of the events at King's Landing, including the death of King Joffrey Baratheon and the proclamation of Stannis Baratheon as the new king. He had also received a raven from King Stannis himself, proclaiming himself king and asking for the Starks to swear him loyalty. An answer to that message would have to wait for the Lord of Winterfell to return.

And that was the trouble. Master Luwin had no idea where the Stark host was at the moment. Lord Manderly had not sent word of where it was now. The last news he had of the northern host was from the Twins, with Lord Eddard writing to tell him Robb had married and they were leaving that very day for Moat Cailin. But that message had arrived well over a week ago. And many things had happened here since then.

Ser Rodrik had returned from the east, dragging Lord Bolton's bastard son Ramsey Snow in chains with him. They had found Lady Hornwood near death, locked in a room in a tower in the Dreadfort and starved, but still alive, barely. If they had come a few days later she might have been dead. When Ser Rodrik and his large group of warriors had approached the Dreadfort they found Ramsey and his boon companions outside the stronghold. Among them was a young foul smelling man known as Reek. They had been chasing some poor half naked girl with a pack of vicious dogs. Ser Rodrik's men saved the girl and demanded Ramsey and his men surrender but they had tried to flee. Ser Rodrik's men had run them to ground, killing Reek and a few others and capturing Ramsey. Ser Rodrik commanded the Dreadfort gates be opened in the name of Lord Stark and after much discussion the castellan opened the gates, the whole time saying Lord Bolton would flay him alive for doing so. Now Lady Hornwood was recovering, and the maester of the Dreadfort said she would live.

And that raised a new set of problems. Ramsey Snow had married Lady Hornwood, by force to be sure, but she had said the words and he had bedded her and it was a legitimate marriage. And he was a son of Roose Bolton, one of Lord Stark's sworn bannermen. Therefore it was uncertain what to do with the Bastard of the Dreadfort. Ser Rodrik wanted to kill him, not only for what he did to Lady Hornwood but for all his past crimes, of which there were many. But Ser Rodrik had kept a cool head and kept Ramsey alive and dragged him back to Winterfell to await Lord Stark's justice.

No sooner had Ser Rodrik returned than word came that Torrhen's Square was under attack by ironmen led by a savage warrior named Dagmar Cleftjaw. Ser Rodrik raised six hundred men from Winterfell and the nearby area and Maester Luwin had sent out ravens to other strongholds to ask for more men. Few were available as much of the strength of the north was still south of Moat Cailin. But Ser Rodrik had marched, more than a week ago now. Maester Luwin had had no word of them since then, and worried on what had become of them. All of this news he had sent by raven to White Harbor, in hopes Lord Manderly would get it and pass it on to Lord Stark when he managed to overcome the ironmen at Moat Cailin.

Now it was time to send one more raven to White Harbor, his last raven for that place, to find out where the northern host was. As he was preparing to write the new message by candlelight, Maester Luwin heard the clash of steel on steel coming from within the castle and then he heard a terrible scream.

He rushed to a nearby open window and saw down below in the main courtyard a Winterfell man being slain by some unknown enemy. Then he saw more men, fighting, and then the few Winterfell guards were yielding and falling to their knees. Although at first shocked by this sight in the gloom of the predawn light, Luwin knew what he must do and do it fast. Without hesitation he turned back to his birds and looked at what he had. There were ravens for most of the major strongholds of the North and other important places like King's Landing, Riverrun, the Eyrie in the Vale, Dragonstone, and even one for as far south as Old Town. But many of those places were no longer friends to Winterfell or were too far away or perhaps unwilling to offer aid. Maester Luwin knew he might have time to scribble just one hasty message, perhaps two, and so he choose carefully. White Harbor he was planning to send a raven to already and White Harbor it had to be. It was not too far away, and still a strong friend to Winterfell, especially now after Ser Rodrik had sorted out the problem with the Hornwood lands and Roose Bolton's bastard was a prisoner in the Winterfell cells.

The small thin parchment he had been writing his previous message on was turned over and he hastily scribbled "Winterfell under attack by unknown enemy. Send aid! Luwin." He rolled it up tight and sealed it with melted wax from his candle and then swiftly attached it to the White Harbor raven. He picked it up and tossed it out the window and off it went into the air. Then, with a feeling of helpless horror, Luwin saw an arrow fly into the sky and clip the raven's left wing. It screamed, and then shuddered and fell in spirals to the courtyard below where one of the attackers stabbed it through with a spear to make sure it was truly dead. Then the rookery door swung open with a loud bang and Luwin knew who the attackers were.

"There will be no more messages sent from Winterfell except ones I send, Maester Luwin," Theon Greyjoy told him. Two large men were with him, both bearded and fierce looking, carrying axes and spears. All three were dressed in leather armor studded with iron discs with the kraken sigil of the Greyjoys embossed in the leather on their chests.

"Theon?" Maester Luwin said in confusion. "What is the meaning of this?"

"I have captured Winterfell in the name of my father King Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands," Theon told him, his eyes seemingly ablaze with the glory of what he had just done. "You will serve me now, Maester Luwin. The Starks are no longer lords of Winterfell. I am."

"Theon, how can you do this? Lord Stark raised you like his own son. He…"

"Eddard Stark is no longer Lord Stark," Theon retorted as he interrupted him, the fire still in his eyes. "He is a traitor. And I am no son of Eddard Stark. The Starks killed my brothers. They tore down the walls of Pyke and forced my father to bend the knee to Robert Baratheon and send me here as a hostage. Now we have come to take our revenge. The North belongs to us."

"The Stark army will soon be at Moat Cailin and then it will come here," Luwin told him.

"We hold the Moat, old man," said one of the ironmen with Theon.

"And the northern host marches on it as we speak," Luwin told them, uncertain of this but sure it must happen soon if not already. "There are over ten thousand men. How many have you at the Moat?"

"Bigger armies than that have broken themselves on the Moat," Theon said. "You told me that yourself in my lessons here within these walls."

"Yes, I did. Theon, you must…"

"Must?" Theon shouted and glared at him. "Enough of your opinions, Maester Luwin. You will serve me or you will die."

Maester Luwin sighed. "I will serve you. I am a maester of the Citadel, bound by oath to serve the lord of Winterfell. If it is you, then I will serve."

"Good," Theon replied, some of the anger leaving him. "Your first duty is to gather the people of Winterfell in the great hall."

"Where are Bran and Rickon?" Luwin asked with fear in his heart.

"Asleep still I suppose," Theon said with a grin. "But not for long."

"If you harm them…"

"Do you take me for a fool, old man?" Theon said in renewed rising anger. "No harm will come to anyone else as long as all do as I say. Any resistance will be put down with steel. I'll wake up the Stark boys. They will know who their new lord is. Then you will tell Bran he is to proclaim me lord of Winterfell in front of the people."

"Theon, I beg of you, please…Lord…I mean…Eddard Stark…he will never forgive this. He will hunt you to the end of your days. You must know this."

Theon grunted. "If he can get here. And if he does I can hold Winterfell with a few hundred men until my father sends reinforcements. The Starks won't sit outside these walls when winter comes or they will freeze and starve. Then they will bend the knee. Or die. Now, old man, are you going to do as I bid or should I add your body to those we have already slain?"

"I will serve," Maester Luwin told his new lord. Then he looked at the door the men blocked and waited and they stepped aside and he went into the castle corridor. In thirty minutes he had sent word through the castle and the outside town and soon the great hall was crowded, mostly with women, children, old men, and the few guards who had yielded. There was Old Nan, and Ser Rodrik's daughter Beth Cassel, Farlen the hound master, and Mikken the smith, and many others. Many were sleepy-eyed and some were angry, none more so than Mikken, who looked like he wanted to use his strong hands to strangle every ironman. That was trouble waiting to happen. Luwin walked over to him.

"Control your anger, my friend, or it will be the end of you."

Mikken glared at him. "How can you just stand there, maester, and not want to kill them all? Especially Theon Turncoat!"

"I am angry as well, but I know that this will not last long," Luwin told him calmly. "I have had a raven. Lord Stark and ten thousand men are north of Moat Cailin and will be here in less than a week." It was a lie, or maybe it was the truth by now, but Luwin had to tell him something to give him hope and to calm him, even a little bit.

Mikken looked at him in surprise. "Aye? For certain?"

"Yes. Now stay quiet and stay alive. Winterfell still has need of you when these ironmen are defeated."

Mikken nodded. "I will do as you say. But I do not like it."

"Nor I, but we must be patient until Lord Stark returns."

Many people were afraid and were whispering and wondering what was happening. Around them stood the heavily armed ironmen, and Luwin counted at least twenty of them. How many did they have? he wondered. Were there more outside? Or was this it? How had so few men taken the greatest castle in the North?

Among the crowd were the two Frey boys and the Reed children, roused from their beds and sleepy-eyed like most of the others. "The sea has come to Winterfell," Jojen said quietly to Maester Luwin after he walked over to them and stood by his side.

"Alebelly is dead," Meera said next and Luwin stared at her with a questioning look. "I saw them drag his body into the courtyard." All Luwin could think was that what the boy Jojen said would come to pass was coming true.

Gage the cook and Osha and the other kitchen workers came into the hall from the entrance leading to the kitchens. They must have been up early preparing breakfast, Luwin guessed. Osha saw Luwin and sidled up to him. "Now what, old man?"

"Now we have a new master of Winterfell," he told her. "Theon Greyjoy. You do remember him, yes?"

"Aye," she said, her eyes narrowing. "He's the one who helped captured me in the woods."

"Yes. Be careful what you say or do around these men. They kill over the slightest perceived insult or even if they dislike how you look at them."

She grunted. "I'm afraid of no man."

"Osha…these men are ruthless killers. Lord Stark's army is but a few days ride from here and will soon save us."

"You said Lord Stark will most likely kill me."

"Perhaps. If you wish to escape, I can show you a way."

"Maybe I'd like to stay to see how this new lord treats me. Maybe he will make me one of his warriors."

"There are few women warriors in the ironmen fleets. If you join them, then Lord Stark will surely cut your head off if you are still here when he arrives."

She was about to reply when one of the ironmen came up to Luwin. "Come, old man, the prince wants you in the cripple's bedchambers."

Luwin found Theon in Bran's room, Bran still in his bed, his eyes full of anger. "Maester Luwin," Theon began. "Tell him to do what I command or more people will die. I will be in the great hall."

Theon left with his two burly men and Luwin sat on Bran's bed. "Is it true?" Bran asked. "Has Theon taken Winterfell?"

"Yes."

"Why does he hate us?"

"He is doing his father's bidding," Luwin told Bran. "There is much history between the Starks and Greyjoys, not all of it good. Theon was a hostage here for almost ten years."

"Father treated him like a son."

"True, but still he was a hostage," Luwin said. "Now let's put all this aside for later. You must do what he says."

"No," Bran said defiantly. "I will not yield Winterfell."

Luwin sighed. "Bran…theses are ironmen. They will kill us all and burn Winterfell and the town and it will not bother them in the least bit."

"Where is Father's army?"

Luwin grinned. "Close. No more than a week's march away. Then these ironmen will be defeated or they will run away. No one will judge you harshly if you yield the castle for just one week. You are the Lord of Winterfell while Robb and your father are gone. You must protect your people."

Bran seemed to think on this and then reached up for the iron bar hanging above his bed and pulled himself up. "I need to get dressed," he said and Luwin nodded and soon they had him in his best clothes. Luwin looked for Hodor but the big stable boy was not about. A large ironman was waiting in the corridor. "Prince Theon told me to take the cripple," he said.

"I'm not a cripple," Bran said in defiance.

The ironman grunted, but said nothing and came into the room and picked up Bran easily in his strong arms. Out in the hall Rickon was standing with a sleepy look on his face. He started asking many questions and Bran and Luwin told him what they could as they walked down to the great hall.

Inside things had changed. Theon was now sitting on the high seat of Lord Stark at the head table, with his men in front of him, brandishing their weapons, confronting the people. Next to Theon was a young lad carrying a flagon of wine, pouring some for the new lord of Winterfell. That must be his squire, Luwin thought. Hodor was there now also, sitting in the far back, with a bloody nose, and he was sobbing. Old Nan was comforting him with quiet whispers. Luwin felt a flash of anger, at these men who came here and killed these peaceful people and beat a simple minded stable boy and threatened to kill the rest. But he forced himself to remain calm. He had to maintain order if there were to be no more deaths.

In a few moments it was all over. Bran yielded Winterfell to Prince Theon and his men. He told the people to remain calm and no one else would be hurt. No one said a word in protest and Luwin supposed his words to Mikken had spread quickly. But there was anger in many eyes and more than a few were sobbing. Prince Theon then ordered a breakfast feast for his men and told the rest of the people to go back to their homes or work and soon the people were moving off to do their duties for their new lord.

Maester Luwin spent the rest of the morning treating wounded from the battle. Hayhead, one of the Winterfell guards, had been badly wounded and Luwin knew he would not survive. Luwin gave him milk of the poppy for his pain and let him be. A few others had minor wounds that he applied boiled wine and poultices to so as to prevent corruption. Then he stitched them up with catgut. Two women in the town had been raped by ironmen and Luwin did what he could for their injuries and to ease their anguish, giving both dreamwine so they could at least sleep for a while.

After he finished treating the women he went to look at the dead men in the courtyard. He counted nine dead, including Alebelly. There were two Silent Sisters who lived in the town and always took care of the dead of Winterfell and they were there now, preparing the bodies as some family members stood nearby weeping. Mikken came up to him, his eyes full of anger again.

"They drown the septon," he told Luwin and pointed to the well at the side of the courtyard. Luwin looked down and there was the septon of Winterfell, in his robes, dead in the water.

"An offering to their Drowned God, they said," Mikken spat.

"May he be the last," Luwin said with a weary sigh. "Get some men and fish him out and give him to the sisters."

"Maester…we have more men than they do… I counted not even but thirty of them. We have…"

"More men...but no strong warriors," Luwin told him. "I do not doubt your bravery, my friend, but we have no weapons except hammers and kitchen knives and they have armor, axes, spears, dirks, and bows. Many will die and we may still not prevail. Be patient. Soon, ten thousand men will be outside these walls."

"When Robb and Lord Stark get hold of him, Theon Greyjoy will wish he had never been born," Mikken said with a growl.

Just then an ironman approached and Luwin was summoned to the great hall. Theon and many of his men were still feasting and drinking, the squire pouring ale and wine for them. The new Lord of Winterfell called Luwin to the head table.

"Wex," Theon said to the boy. "A plate for the maester and a cup of wine. Maester, please sit."

Luwin hesitated, did not want to sit with him but knew he must to make the transition of power go more easily. He sat next to Theon and the boy brought him a plate and cup and Luwin took some bread and bacon and some wine. He was hungry and ate and drank some, listening to the talk of the ironmen for a bit, mostly about their bragging about who swam the moat and climbed the walls and so on. He noticed the boy Wex never spoke, not even to say "yes, my lord" when Theon gave him a command. Theon noticed Luwin looking at Wex.

"He's a mute," Theon said. "A bastard son of one of the Botleys. They told me he can't talk, or read or write either, but he listens well and understands and is a good lad."

Maester Luwin nodded. "Such an affliction may be caused by a deformation of the vocal box when born or perhaps some trauma in his youth."

Theon shrugged. "It matters not, he will never talk." Then he changed the subject. "Maester Luwin, do you have ravens for Pyke and Deepwood Motte?"

"Yes, my lord," Luwin answered. "You wish to send messages?"

"Aye," Theon told him, using the northern way to say 'yes' from habit and his years of forced service in the north. "I will write and seal them myself. After we eat."

After a moment Luwin decided to brooch a delicate subject. "My lord…there has been some rape."

Theon's eyes narrowed. "Is that so? How many?"

"Two town's women."

"Did they say who it was?"

"They are not certain. Or they are afraid to point fingers."

Theon grunted. "I will put a stop to that."

"Thank you, my lord."

"See, Maester? We can get along. Just make sure the people stay in line. I have locked the armory and will put a guard on it. All swords and other weapons have been taken from the smithy as well. Now, where is the new steward, the man who took over from Poole?"

"I will summon him, but I know the counts of all."

"How much food is there?"

"Enough for a five year winter, if it's rationed wisely."

That pleased Theon. "Good. And what of the gold and silver?"

"My lord?"

"The treasure vault. I will see it. After the messages."

The messages were sent and then Luwin and the steward opened the treasure vault of Winterfell, deep under the main castle in a corridor they lit with torches. The new steward took a set of heavy keys and opened the three locks on the doors and then swung them opened. Luwin had rarely been here. As a servant of the Citadel he had no wealth of his own. He served a house until his death and all was provided for him by the house. Maesters did not grow rich, or at least they were not supposed to. But not all served major houses, and some took payment for their skills to pay for their own food and clothing.

The treasure vault was stacked with chests and many fine items the Stark family had gathered over thousands of years of rule in the north. Gold and silver and copper there was a plenty. Many of the coins had been minted in days gone by, with various Targaryen kings names stamped on them, and even older coins from when the Starks were Kings in the North. There were also plenty of jewels and gems, swords, and armor, cups and plates, and other fine items, things given to the Starks or taken in battle or collected by various household members over the centuries.

Luwin looked at Theon and saw his eyes gleaming with greed in the light of the torches and the glitter that came from the wealth of the room. "I have always wanted to see this room," he said in awe.

"Theon…"

"Prince Theon," Theon snapped at him.

"Yes, my lord. Prince Theon. What is your intention?"

Theon stepped towards an open chest and rubbed his fingers lightly along a pile of gold coins stamped with the name of the Mad King Aerys. He picked one up.

"Do you know House Greyjoy's words, Maester?"

"We do not sow."

"Aye. We do not sow. We do not farm or work in the mines or hew in the forests. We take what we want, we pay the iron price. When I returned to Pyke to ask for my father's ships to help Robb against the Lannisters do you know what he said to me? He called me soft, said the Starks had turned me soft. He said I came home wearing skirts and gold chains I had paid coin for. He scorned me and mocked me. We are iron born and we pay the iron price, he said. Well, I have paid the iron price. I have taken Winterfell. And this is all mine now."

"Yes, my lord. It is all yours to do with as you wish," Luwin told him. He looked at the steward, a younger man named Samson, younger by many years than his predecessor, but good at his work with sums and ledgers. He stood there behind Theon, holding his keys and a torch held high, and shook his head in disgust.

"For now it stays here," Theon said. "When my sister comes, some of her men will take much of it away."

"Your sister, my lord?"

"Asha is at Deepwood Motte with almost one thousand men," Theon told him. "She will soon send half her force here. With over five hundred men I will hold Winterfell all winter."

"My lord…the Stark host will be here before your sister and her men. Deepwood Motte is more than a week's ride away through the Wolfswoods."

Theon grunted. "Thank you for your wise counsel, old man. The Starks are not getting past Moat Cailin so easy." Theon dropped the coin and then turned and walked away. "Lock it," he said as he left.

After that things ran mostly as they had before. Life was carried on as normally as possible. The people did their work and the ironmen guarded the gates and walls, but they were so very few, as the people soon discovered. Less than thirty of them had taken Winterfell. More grumbling about attacking the ironmen came from Mikken and others but Luwin put a stop to it, he hoped. Bran and Rickon and the other children were given free reign of the castle but no one was allowed out the inner wall gates. Theon warned the town's folk that if anyone went missing he would kill the rest of their family. Luwin and the Stark boys were forced to dine with Theon in the evenings and listen to him go on about the glory he and his men would reap back in the Iron Islands and how they would sing songs of them in the future.

On the second day in the morning Theon visited the Bastard of the Dreadfort in his cell. "What was his crime?" Theon asked Luwin.

"Many," Luwin said. "Most recently he forcible married Lady Hornwood and took her lands as his. Then he near starved her to death."

Ramsey Snow glared at Luwin with his pale grey eyes that were so like his father's. "She was an old woman who would have died soon anyways, and with no strong heir. I did her house a favor." Then he looked at Theon. "Prince Theon, free me and I will be your man. I know these lands, I know the people. I can go back to the Dreadfort and bring six hundred men to your side in a week."

Luwin could see Theon thinking on this and knew he had to forestall it. "Ramsey, your father and the Starks will soon be here. What do you think Lord Bolton will do to you if you raise his men to fight against his liege lord?"

Ramsey snorted and licked his thick lips. "They are my men now, not his. They are loyal to me."

Theon laughed. "You think much of yourself…Lord Snow."

Ramsey bristled. "I'm a Bolton," he said in a soft and dangerous voice.

"Never trust this one, my lord," Luwin told Theon. "He will help you and then stab you in the back. And six hundred men are not enough. Lord Stark and Lord Bolton and Lord Umber and the rest have twenty times that number. And they will be here before he returns. He just wants to escape to be free from Lord Stark and his father's justice."

Theon laughed again but this time he did the unexpected and Luwin cursed himself for speaking so much. "Is that so? If I let you go Lord Snow, that will vex Eddard Stark? I like the idea of that." Theon turned to one of his men, who was standing nearby. "Let him out. Give him food and a sword and let him through the Hunter's Gate."

"I am forever grateful, my Prince," Ramsey said, but Luwin knew it was not sincere.

"Prince Theon, my lord, this is a mistake," Luwin pleaded. "He is a dangerous man who will cause more trouble if released."

"Trouble for the Starks, outside these walls, not for me," Theon said. He turned to his man with the keys. "Open it."

Ramsay grinned with delight as the key was turned and his cell door opened. He glared at Luwin. "Some day, old maester, I'll be back. To flay your hide."

"Lord Stark will hunt you like the dog you are," Luwin said in return, not flinching from those pale eyes.

Ramsey grunted and then was led away and was gone from the castle thirty minutes later. Luwin had a bad feeling that they had not heard the last of the Bastard of the Dreadfort.

Nothing more dramatic happened in the next few days. The ironmen settled in and began to patrol the castle's inner walls, sleeping in an empty barracks when off duty. Theon took to Lord Stark's bedchambers and had a different girl from the town in his bed each night, all of them young and willingly coming to his bed it seemed to Luwin. They were too young to realize that Prince Theon would soon be fled or dead. Theon even asked him about Meera, about how old she was, and if she was a maid. Luwin advised him to leave her be, as she was a hostage to Howland Reed's future goodwill and it would not do to spoil her. Theon reluctantly agreed.

One day some merchants approached the town with wares for sale and they and their cargoes were seized and held prisoner inside the castle. No word got out that Winterfell had fallen as far as Luwin knew.

As the days passed no news came from Pyke or Deepwood Motte or Torrehen's Square and Theon grew more restless and paranoid. He was at the rookery each morning at dawn with Luwin waiting for ravens and none came. Then, on the sixth day after Winterfell had fallen, a raven came flying in just after they were about to leave the rookery to break their fast. It was from White Harbor and the message was very short.

"Moat Cailin fell many days past. Stark host on the Kingsroad, soon to be at Winterfell, a week at the latest. Lord Manderly."

Theon snatched the message from his hand and read and his eyes grew wide and then Luwin knew he was afraid. "It is over, my lord," Luwin told him. "The northern host will soon be here to throw you out of Winterfell."

Theon recovered from his brief fright and snorted. "And what wise counsel do you advise, maester?" He said it in a sarcastic manner, and he knew Luwin was no friend of his.

"Leave while you can. You may just make your ships and your islands if you hurry."

Theon paced in the rookery and stared out the windows to the great castle. "The first time I saw Winterfell," he began to say. "I was very impressed. I…" but then he stopped speaking. There was a shout from the walls and then the inner wall gate on the main courtyard was opening.

"Someone is coming," Theon said and then he rushed out of the rookery and Luwin followed him. It was a single rider, a bearded man in leather armor with the kraken sigil on his chest. He climbed off his horse and stood before Theon, talking as Luwin puffed up behind Theon.

"…and these cursed northmen broke our ranks and most fled," he was saying.

"And Dagmar?" Theon asked.

"He lives, leading our few remaining men back to the ships. He sent me to warn you and I had to ride hard to get around those northmen. There is also word from Deepwood Motte. Your sister has taken it. But it is more than a week's ride from here. No help will come from there. She sent a message for you."

The man handed over a small raven scroll message to Theon and he quickly broke the wax seal and read. As he read he grew angry. He torn the message in two and then four and threw the pieces into the mud of the courtyard. "Come," Theon said to the rider. "Eat and drink and rest. We have much to talk on."

Theon led him away into the great hall and did not even glance at Luwin. The maester looked around and then seeing no ironmen about he bent to the ground and picked up the scattered remains of the letter. He hurried to his chambers and put the letter together and read.

"Brother. What folly led you to take Winterfell? We are sea folk, and Winterfell is too far from the sea. The northmen are returning home. You cannot hold Winterfell and I can send no men. Don't die there in the green lands, so far from the salt and rocks. Come to Deepwood Motte. Take what was taken from us ten years ago and burn the rest. Asha."

"Take what was taken from us ten years ago," Luwin said aloud and then he knew what it meant and he was afraid. As he thought on this a knock came to his door.

"Come," he said. It was the children, coming for their daily lessons, which did not stop even with the ironmen in the castle. Meera and Jojen, the Walder cousins, Rickon, and Bran, carried by Hodor, filed into his chambers.

"Time for school," said Big Walder with undisguised dislike.

"No…not today," Luwin said quickly. "You Frey boys are excused. Go play, do as you wish, but there will be no lessons for you today."

The two Walders cheered and did not even question him and soon took off.

"I want to play, too!" said Rickon, looking ready to bolt at any second.

"No!" Luwin said quickly. "I…I need you to stay here. I need to think for a moment."

"What's wrong?" Bran asked.

"The wolf is coming," said Jojen and Luwin could only nod.

He looked at Bran and Rickon and smiled. "Your father and mother and Robb and Sansa and Arya are coming home."

Rickon cheered and Bran grinned but then his grin fell. "There will be a battle."

"No…I think not," Luwin said. "I am trying to convince Theon to leave before they get here. But…"

"He will not go alone," Jojen said.

"I am afraid he won't," Luwin said. "He will take Bran and Rickon as hostages, for his safe passage to the Iron Islands."

"Then they must escape, now!" Meera said.

"Yes," Luwin said. "And you as well. Hodor…go to the kitchens, find Osha, bring her here."

"Hodor," said the big stable boy and he left right away.

"How can we escape?" Bran asked.

"There are secret ways," Luwin told them. "One in the crypts below and one in the godswood. Passages built many centuries ago for the lord of Winterfell to escape if overwhelmed by enemies. They lead to tunnels that come up far from the castle. The one in the godswood emerges in the Wolfswood. You will take that one."

"You are coming with us?" Bran asked.

"I think not. My duty is to Winterfell and its people. Osha will lead you. She is wise in the ways of the wild."

"So are we," Meera said and Luwin nodded.

"Yes. That is good." As they talked on what to do and what to take Hodor returned with Osha in tow.

"What is happening, old man?" she asked right away. "The ironmen are all in the great hall and having loud arguments."

"About what?"

"Whether to stay or go," she said. "The Starks are near?"

"Yes. And these children are leaving before the ironmen can whisk them away as hostages. I want you to guide them."

"Where?" she asked.

"To the Stark army on the Kingsroad." Osha blanched when he said this.

"Lord Robb knows me for an enemy."

"You do this service for the Starks and you will be their friend for life."

She hesitated and then spoke. "Tell me what to do."

He quickly explained about the passages and where they were. For a long hour they discussed it all and made their plans. They would leave tonight, if they had the chance.

But night came and there was no chance. Theon was growing more paranoid. Apparently he still wanted to stay, said he could hold Winterfell if he had strong men to help him. Glory and riches for all he told them, but his men grumbled and said they should leave, now. Theon placed guards on Rickon's and Bran's doors and there was no chance to escape that night.

The next morning Luwin was rudely awaken by one of the ironmen and dragged before Theon, sitting in Lord Stark's bed chamber in his night clothes, a naked wide eyed girl Luwin did not know under the fur blankets on the bed, the boy called Wex standing nearby.

"This is the thanks I get for treating you people nicely!" Theon ranted.

"What has happened?" Luwin asked.

"Mikken is gone!" Theon shouted. "He stole a horse from the stables and beat a guard near to death at the Hunter's Gate and escaped!"

"I…I warned him to remain here," Luwin said quickly. "He has always been headstrong, you know this to be true, my lord."

"Who helped him?" Theon demanded. "Someone must have helped him at the stables. Hodor? It was Hodor, wasn't it?"

"Hodor is a simple boy, my lord. You know he would do as Mikken asked. He cannot be blamed for this if he helped Mikken."

Theon ranted and raved for a short while more and then told Luwin to go check for ravens. There were none and when he reported this to Theon he had calmed somewhat.

"I sent three men after Mikken. They will soon bring his head back."

"Yes, my lord. I will tell the apprentice smith he is now in charge."

"Good. I want a crown made."

"A crown, my lord?"

"A crowd befitting a prince. See to it."

"Yes, my lord," Luwin said without hint of emotion, although he thought this was another folly. He told the apprentice smith, who scratched his head and said he did not have the skill for such work but would try.

Later that day the three ironmen returned, without Mikken's head, and again Theon was furious, but fortunately he did not take out his anger on any of the people. That night again there was no chance to escape. Now Luwin knew it would have to be in the daytime or not at all.

During the lunch hour, as many were busy cooking, serving, and feasting, Maester Luwin took three backpacks filled with food and clothes to the godswood. No one paid him much mind, and no one was guarding the gate to the godswood. It was shut tight, with Shaggydog and Summer inside, kept apart for the safety of all in the castle. Bran had no more bad dreams about Jaime Lannister, but he still dreamed of being inside Summer and told Luwin the direwolves were surviving on the squirrels that ventured inside the godswood. Luwin was cautious and took a large smoked ham from the storage lockers and as soon as he entered the godswood the two direwolves were growling before him. He flung the ham at them and they fell on it and consumed it with ravenous delight.

Luwin found the place on the outer walls were the secret passage was located and stored the three backpacks in the nearby brush. He then waited, resting after the burden of carrying the heavy backpacks alone. First, came the Reed children, and they both slipped on their backpacks and waited with him. Luwin also handed Meera a knife he manage to take from the kitchens. Then came Osha, and she had also taken two knives from the kitchens. She also put on a backpack. Finally, Rickon and Bran, carried by Hodor, came into the godswood. Summer and Shaggydog howled and cried as they saw their two owners for the first time in many days. Rickon ran and played with Shaggydog and it took all of Luwin's control not to shout at him to be quieter.

Luwin opened the secret door in the wall by pressing on a nearby stone. The open archway led to a set of narrow stairs leading down.

"What will we find?" Osha asked him as he handed her a lit lantern.

"The stairs go down about thirty feet," Luwin told her. "Then a stone lined passage. At the end it will just be a dirt tunnel. It comes up near a stream in the Wolfswood. Then you must circle to the north, and then go east until you find the Kingsroad. Come south and you will soon find the Stark army.

"What do I tell Lord Stark?"

"All you know."

"He still might kill me. Why should I do this?"

Luwin sighed. "If you want peace with the Starks, this is the only way to redeem yourself."

She hesitated and then Bran looked at her. "Please, Osha. I will tell my father all you have done for us."

"I once tried to harm you, little lord."

"But you didn't."

"We have no time for this," Meera said in fear. "We must go!"

"Yes," her brother added. "Quickly!"

"Where are the Walders?" Rickon asked.

"They are in no danger," Luwin told them. "I will protect them. Now go." Theon paid the Frey boys no mind and did not even think of the Twins as a potential enemy or friend. Also, Luwin did not trust the Frey boys not to make some stupid mistake and give the game away. "I will see you in few days."

With swift goodbyes they entered the arched doorway and went down the stairs, with Osha and her lamp in the lead, followed by Rickon and the two direwolves, and then Meera and Jojen. Hodor could not enter with Bran on his back so he had to carry him in his arms. Bran took one last look at Luwin.

"What will you tell Theon?"

"Let me worry about that. Now go, my lord."

Bran smiled. "Be safe." And Luwin's breath caught in his throat and he could only nod. A child he had brought into the world telling him to be safe while he went into danger. Luwin felt such strong emotions at that moment he just smiled once more and could not speak. Then they were gone and he sealed the door up. As he turned to leave the godswood, three ironmen led by Theon and followed by his squire Wex entered by the gate.

"What are you doing here?" Theon demanded at once.

"Sometimes I come here because it is peaceful, my lord," Luwin said, remaining calm.

"It's too peaceful, now" Theon retorted. "Not ten minutes ago those direwolves raised such a racket. Now they are quiet. Where are they?" Theon looked around warily.

"Somewhere in here, my lord. I fed them some ham. They had not been fed properly in a week. That is why they howled."

Theon nodded. "Very well. Come. And don't come back. We have no spare food for them. Let them starve and we will be rid of them for good."

"Yes, my lord."

Three hours later Theon knew that Bran and Rickon and the others were gone. Luwin was sitting in the great hall with him, once more trying and failing to advise Theon to leave, when one of the Frey boys, Big Walder, entered and said he could not find Rickon.

"He must be in his room," Luwin said to him, silently wishing he had sent him and his cousin with the others now.

"No, I checked there."

Theon looked at him in anger. "Go away, boy. We are busy."

Big Walder spoke back. "I'm just saying he's disappeared, my lord. Bran, too. And the frogmen. I can't find any of them."

Theon now stared at him. "Since when?"

"Lunchtime I saw them last, in here."

"They must be studying or playing in some other part of the castle," Luwin said in a calm tone.

Now Theon glared at him, stood and went at brisk pace out of the great hall. He yelled for his men and soon had them searching the castle high and low. An hour passed and they could not find them. Theon had his men drag Luwin to the godswood.

"They did not leave by any gate. I know you helped them leave from here somehow. Tell me how they did it," Theon demanded. He pulled out his dagger. "Or I will gut you right here."

Luwin stared at him. "You were going to take them to the Iron Islands."

"I was," Theon admitted.

"I could not allow that. I've sent them away."

The ironmen bristled and shouted for Theon to kill Luwin. "How did they escape?" Theon asked.

"If you must kill me, then kill me," Luwin said in a stern tone. "I will never betray House Stark to you."

"Let me do it," said the one they called Black Lorren and others also clamored for the chance until Theon silenced them.

"No. Bring someone else. Bring Old Nan. Bring Beth Cassel. Bring Farlen, and Gage and the other cooks and the kitchen workers and the steward. Bring them all. And we will kill them one by one until he tells us how they escaped."

His men moved to carry out his orders but Luwin let out a resigned sigh, hoping that four hours head start was enough for Osha and the others.

"I will tell you," he said to Theon. The new lord of Winterfell stopped his men and Luwin took to them the wall and opened the secret passage. He explained where it went. Theon cursed him and then looked to his men.

"Right. You three come with me. Wex, you as well. Black Lorren, you have the command here until I return."

"We need horses and hounds," said one of the men Theon picked to go with him.

"Horses cannot go in there but hounds can," Theon said and a man was sent to summon Farlen and his hounds. Thirty minutes later they were set to enter the tunnel. Theon was the last to enter and he took one last look at Black Lorren.

"If I am not back in two days, burn it. Burn it all and make for the sea."

Black Lorren laughed. "It will be a pleasure."

Then Theon entered the doorway and went down the stairs and Luwin closed the door. As he turned back a heavy hand smashed him across the mouth and blinding pain engulfed him as he collapsed to the ground.

"That's for betraying us," Black Lorren said. "And this is because I just don't like you." Then Luwin felt a sharp stab of pain in his stomach and felt more white hot pain roil up from below. "I've pricked your bowels, old man. Being a maester you know what that means. A slow death, in great pain."

Luwin gasped in agony and felt the world spinning. As he lay there, the ironmen ignored him and discussed what to do.

"We should burn it now and leave and bugger Prince Theon," said one.

"His father would gut us all if we leave him behind," said Black Lorren.

"King Balon has no love for him," spat another.

"You want to take that chance?" Black Lorren's voice said. "No? I thought not. We wait two days. The first sign of any enemies we go, through this tunnel, Theon or no Theon. But not before we burn it. And not before we get some treasure."

Then Luwin passed out and heard no more.

A long time later he awoke. His jaw ached and his mouth had blood in it. The pain in his guts was less, but it was still there, a dull throbbing. He held his hands over the wound and felt the blood congealing. It was not loss of blood he worried about, but corruption, as the bowels carried foulness that could destroy a man's inside. But it took time, days sometimes. He had medicine in his chambers. Milk of the poppy would dull the pain. Other medicines might save him, if he got them in time. But how much time had already passed? It was night. The first day. Or had one day passed? He was not sure. And his head was pounding. He reached up and felt his forehead and felt feverish. That was not good. He needed water, at least to cool himself. He could not drink it, as it would cause further damage down below.

He knew he had to get to the pool by the massive weirwood tree with its almost human like face carved into its trunk. But he also thought on what the ironmen had said, about escape, through the secret door. He hoped none of them noticed how he opened it, pressing on a certain stone. He hoped they would all get killed by the Starks when they came at last.

He dragged himself along the ground and the first move was such agony he laid there for almost an hour before making the second. He wanted to scream for help but if anyone helped him the ironmen would kill them for certain. He grunted and cried and let out gasps as he slowly dragged himself to the pool. He finally reached it as dawn's rosy fingers came over the walls and hit the trees of the godswood.

Luwin buried his head in the cool refreshing waters and took but a small sip to moisten his mouth and then he spit it out with the blood that had been in his mouth. He felt two teeth were very loose, but they did not come out. He ripped some cloth from his robes and soaked them in water and washed his wound as best he could. Then he slowly dragged himself to the weirwood and propped himself up and took some comfort in its shade.

For the rest of the day he drifted in and out of consciousness, hoping for an end to his agony, but none came. If he had a knife he would slit his wrists or his throat but he had no blade. No nearby rock was large enough to beat his head in and he knew he would be unconscious before he could kill himself anyway. No, he would have to suffer before the gods came to take him to his final rest. And he also knew he had to stay alive until Lord Eddard or someone else came and he told them what had happened to Bran and Rickon.

It rained a bit later that day. Luwin was mostly protected from the rain by the leaves of the weirwood. The rain that got through brought him some relief from his dehydration. As the day continued it rained more and for a while a real downpour came, but it let up by nightfall.

As he drifted in a sea of pain and fear, Luwin's mind went back over his life and all that had happened to him, the good and the bad, and he knew most of the good had been here in this castle. The best had been birthing and helping raise the Stark children and he unwittingly smiled as he thought on all of them and he thanked the gods that they were all safe. He even thought on Jon Snow and hoped he was well. He knew the boy had had a hard life, under the baleful glare of Lady Stark, but his father had raised him right and he grew into a good man. A man who had no place in the world but the Night's Watch and the Wall, and that was a pity.

He also thought on Theon Greyjoy and why he had come to what he was now. Pride, Luwin knew, his pride had been hurt when he returned to Pyke and his father had scorned him. He was trying to make up for lost years, trying to win his father's favor, as many sons over many eons had tried. If he found Bran and Rickon he would take them to his father, as hostages, as he was once taken. Then the Starks would have to stay their hand, negotiate, and perhaps there would never be peace. Save them Osha, he begged aloud in a moment of delirium. "Save them!" he tried to shout but he could not and passed out again.

When he awoke it was dark and he smelled smoke. He also heard voices.

"Fuck! How does it open?"

"How the fuck should I know?" growled another voice. "You were the one that killed the old maester. Only he knows how to open it."

"Is he dead?" the first voice asked and Luwin now knew that was Black Lorren.

He heard footsteps approach and he controlled his breathing. "He's gone down to the Drowned God," said another voice after a moment.

"Fuck!" said another one. "What now?"

"The Hunter's Gate and the Wolfswood," said Black Lorren. "Every man for himself. Saddle as many horses for us as we need and send the rest out to help provide cover. Scatter and make for the western shore and pray we find a ship to take us home."

"What about the gold?"

"Bugger it," Black Lorren said. "You carry it if you want. I ride light."

"And the people?" another voice asked.

"Bugger them, too," Black Lorren replied. "You can stay and kill them if you want. Most like they'll kill you first. It will be dawn soon. We go now or never, and piss on Theon Greyjoy and his folly. I hope the Starks find him and skin him alive. Let's go."

"What is dead may never die," said one quietly and the rest repeated it and then they left.

The smoke continued and Luwin knew the castle and maybe the town was burning. He saw the glow of fires above the walls of the godswood. Dawn soon came and then he saw black smoke rising above the walls. If the fire got in here he knew he was going to die in more agony than he was already in.

A long time later he heard footsteps approach and then a cry of anguish and people were running and then he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a voice he thought he would never hear again.

"Maester Luwin!" Sansa Stark cried in fear and he opened his eyes and before him swam a vision of loveliness, with the auburn hair of the Tullys and the strong features of a northern lady.

"Sansa," he gasped and then he heard another voice.

"He's alive!" said Arya Stark and then she spoke to someone else. "Gendry, get my father and mother! Quick! And tell them to bring the army maester!"

Then he saw Arya and she had short hair and dirt on her face and he smiled at her and she had tears in her eyes. "Don't cry, my child," he said in a bare whisper.

"What happened?" Sansa asked in worry.

"Where are Bran and Rickon?" Arya asked next.

"Safe," he said and then more feet came running and soon Eddard and Catelyn Stark were there. Eddard's grim face was filled with sadness and fear as he looked from Luwin's face to his wound. Catelyn was shouting for a maester, who came running a moment later. The black haired army maester Luwin knew. He had been a maester for White Harbor for a time, and Luwin knew he had traveled south with the army.

"We will help you," Catelyn was saying, as she held his bloody hand. "You are strong. You will live."

"I fear not, my lady. My wound is mortal," said Luwin in a bare whisper and Sansa cried and so did Arya. A big lad with black hair was behind her, a hand on her shoulder. Arya turned and buried her face in his chest and he held her tight as sobs racked her body.

The maester opened Luwin's robes and looked at his wound and shook his head. "How long ago?"

"Two days, I think," said Luwin after a moment.

"It is too late," said the maester to Eddard Stark. "He is lucky to have lived this long." Not so lucky, Luwin thought. He would never wish such pain on anyone, not even Theon Greyjoy.

"I knew you were coming home," he gasped to Eddard. "I had to wait, to tell you."

"We are home," said Eddard Stark. "What Theon Greyjoy left to us at least. My friend, where are Bran and Rickon?"

"Safe…I sent them away, with Hodor, and the Reed children and...and Osha. They did not find you?"

"No," said Catelyn Stark, her face tight and her lips trembling. "We have not seen them."

"He needs milk of the poppy," said the maester.

"Not yet," said Luwin, even as more pain coursed through him. "I must tell all I know."

As the army maester left to get his medicines, Luwin spoke. And in small bits, with gasps of pain, he told them it all. At once Eddard stood and shouted commands to unseen nearby men, and he commanded them to find Robb and send patrols to the Wolfswood and the Kingsroad and to kill the ironmen but spare Theon Greyjoy for his justice. And above all he told them to find Bran and Rickon and the others and bring them back to Winterfell. More men he sent into the tunnel after Luwin told them how to open it. And then by the time it was done the army maester had returned with the milk of the poppy.

"This much will be fatal," the army maester told him as he held a large cup of the milky white substance.

Luwin smiled. "I am already dead. Thank you my friend. I command you to be maester of Winterfell now."

"The Citadel in Old Town decides that," said the army maester.

"You will take over until a decision arrives," Eddard told him. "And I will recommend you."

The army maester nodded. "As you command, my lord. I have more people to look after. By your leave."

Eddard Stark bid him go help those in need, and after another sad look at Luwin, the army maester handed the cup to Eddard and left them. Now Luwin was alone with the Starks and the black haired lad holding Arya. Eddard turned to the lad.

"Gendry, take the girls away."

"Yes, my lord," said Gendry and Sansa cried once more and begged Luwin not to die and held Luwin's hand tight.

"It is my time, child, do not worry. I will soon be at peace."

And then her mother pulled her away. Arya flung herself at Luwin and hugged him and then kissed his cheek once and looked at him, her eyes pools of tears. "Thank you for teaching me about the stars."

"May the gods look after you both," said Luwin to Arya and Sansa and then the big lad named Gendry led them away, both sobbing as he wrapped his two big arms around their shoulders.

"It is time," Eddard said to him, his grim face full of sadness.

Catelyn Stark's composure failed her at last and she sobbed. "I…I have no words to thank you for all you have done for me and this family."

"It is enough to know all your children are well, my lady. Find them, save them."

"You have already done that, my friend," Eddard said and then Luwin nodded once, and Eddard Stark raised the cup of milk of the poppy to his lips and he drank deeply. He coughed once and then it went down, and as it filled his throat and stomach and bowels he felt renewed pain and then in a moment it was gone and a wonderful dullness crept over his body and his innards, and then he let out a long sigh and felt himself slipping away. He saw their faces once more and said his last words.

"May the gods protect your family through all your days," he whispered and then his head went back and Catelyn Stark wept in loud gasps and her husband held her tight. The last thing Maester Luwin saw in this mortal world was the blue sky and the red leaves of the weirwood and the branches of the massive tree, and then he looked on the human face carved in the trunk, and wondered how strangely human it truly was. Then blackness came to his eyes and he saw and felt no more and the gods took him to his final resting place in the heavens.