Ch9. Winterfell 1

Thomas, Bellatrix, and Irene entered Winterfell, this time Bellatrix applied a slight illusion on them to appear like unassuming peasants.

The castle was every bit as marvelous as it was old. The people didn't even realize what treasure they sat on. The walls were steeped in magic, coming from an unnatural source, most likely the Godswood of Winterfell. The magic was old, faded, but still working. Bella reasoned it is some form of warding that doesn't provide repelling, offensive, or restricting effects and instead fortifies the walls, making them tougher, more durable.

That in itself was not as interesting as the fact the people living in Winterfell were more attuned to magic. Even Bella was baffled how many could be considered 'squibs', and even then for no other reason than they never learned how to focus their energy.

When Thomas told them the more north they go, the more magically attuned people they would meet, both girls gained interest in the area north of the wall.

As they entered the castle, Irene quickly separated from Thomas and Bella, heading into the Godswood. She needed new staff and these magically-conductive 'sacred' trees would have to suffice for now.

Bellatrix and Thomas wandered around the walls, inspecting the wards while Bellatrix tried to explain the basics of warding and why such a crude method of warding works even thousands of years later without anyone maintaining it.

Thomas learned a lot from her and as they followed the trail, they saw an entrance made of stone, guarded by two men. Curiously, quite a magical signature was coming out of there and Bellatrix was too curious for her own good.

She disillusioned them and calmly walked right through the guards, not batting an eyelash. Thomas, as astonished as he was at her nonchalant attitude, tried to do the same, as sneakily as possible, in the least not comforted by the fact he was invisible.

Long tunnels of underground crypts greeted the duo and Thomas realized they entered the Crypt of Winterfell. They traversed the cold, damp place as Bella took a sudden turn to the left, Thomas resignedly following her since he could not yet feel the flow of magic.

The time flew by and before they knew it, they spent an entire hour traversing the underground tunnels.

"Ugh, this is no longer a crypt. Instead, it is a freaking labyrinth!" Thomas pointed out indignantly.

"Well, you said they have a history spanning a few thousands of years. Of course, their tombs will be huge." Bellatrix gently rebuked him but concentrated on relishing the feeling from their intertwined fingers and on navigating through the tunnels based on her magic senses.

As Thomas started to grow more and more impatient, Bella suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Here we are." She said and turned towards a stone statue.

Thomas frowned and looked for anything telling him who it is when Bella threw another offhand comment.

"This is the oldest statue in this crypt. That means it contains the oldest corpse."

Thomas widened his eyes. If what she said was true, then the grave in front of him belonged to Bran the Builder! That would mean...

Before his train of thoughts could carry him further, Bella's swift Bombarda Maxima ripped the statue apart and opened the crypt wide.

"Was that really necessary?" Thomas deadpanned, coughing slightly due to dust.

"No, but it was fun!" Bella exclaimed happily and started observing the things in the now opened crypt.

Thomas also took a peak and reached his hand towards an old looking book only for Bella's hand to grip his tightly.

"Do not touch it, honey." She weakly said. "These books are already dust that keeps its form in the book only due to magical residue. Let me try..."

She pointed her wand on the ancient book.

"Reparo." Her eyebrow scrunched. "Reparo." Her eyes twitched. "REPARO!" And finally, a satisfied smile spread through her face as she picked the book up, swinging it open in the middle and raising an eyebrow.

"Ah, it is a magic tome." She flicked through the pages, at times with interest, and sometimes with mocking eye-roll. "Mildly interesting." She concluded and put the book into her expanded pouch.

Bellatrix repeated the process with every book she found there as Thomas spotted a sword handle with an intricate decorative hilt, depicting a howling wolf. Pulling it out, an elegant cross-shaped broadsword with a ripple pattern signifying the sword is of the Valyrian steel appeared.

"Whoa, it is an enchanted blade! These were really rare in my day and age." Bellatrix gushed, her eyes sparkling, as she spotted the sword. "Hmm, let me see... Ah, it has some kind of fire spell inside of it supported by... no runes? It is in the materials? A special style of magical fire used to make it, then? Hmm? Ah... Dragonfire, I see. Possible..." Bella pondered as she cast examination spell after examination spell on the sword.

The more she examined the sword, the more deadpan Thomas's stare became. People here know Valyrian steel is of upper quality but don't have any idea of why or even how to craft it. Yet, Bella, an otherworlder, just identified it without any problem. Thomas really understood the need to quicken his magic training...

They gathered the magic tomes and the sword into their expanded pouches and spent the next hour trying to find a way out.

As they neared the exit, suddenly a female voice screamed at them.

"Who are you and what are you doing here!"

Both abruptly turned around and saw... younger Catelyn Stark glaring at them threateningly. A realization dawned on Thomas's face while Bella tilted her head.

"This is the crypt of the Stark family! You should not have come here, thieves!" She shrieked, not noticing Bella pointing her wand at her.

Red bolt impacted her in the middle of her chest as Bella cast a Body-binding curse at her. It was a modified stunner so Catelyn could still talk but after realizing what just happened, she just looked at the two supposed thieves in terror. She, after all, just witnessed magic!

Bella stepped closer to her, and when she was near, she put her boot on Catelyn's chest, putting slight pressure on her.

"Now, now. What should I do with you, girl? Hmm, Thomas? Should I kill her? Torture her? Wipe her memories?" Bellatrix rubbed her temple with the tip of her wand as he threateningly smiled at Catelyn.

Thomas blinked, completely baffled, and said.

"I want to actually ask her something since she delivered herself to us." Squatting next to Caletyn's prone form he gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. I am interested in where your husband is though. The town is quite quiet, and vacant. I suppose Greyjoy's are rebelling?"

Catelyn, no matter how frightened, was a stubborn woman of the highest order. She did not answer. Unfortunately for her, Bellatrix lacked Thomas's patience and a quite potent Truth Charm was enough to make her talk."

"M-my hu-husband, ... i-is ret-returning f-f-from the re-re-re-re-re-rebe-re-." Catelyn's eyes wide, she desperately used her entire willfulness to combat the Charm. Only now did she accept that magic is truly a vile thing if it can make her reveal her secrets! This encounter strengthened her anti-magic views enormously as her belief in the Faith of the Seven soared, hoping for a miracle to strike down the evil witch in front of her.

"Ah, so the rebellion is over already, then, I see. Good girl." Thomas patted her head gratefully while tears streamed down her cheeks as no miracle was delivered.

"Let's go Bella." He stood up and started walking away.

"But what about her memories?" Bella looked between Catelyn and Thomas, her lips pouting.

"No need. She is harmless. Let's go." He waved at her and offered her his hand which made her pretty much hop to him like an obedient rabid and forget about the still stunned Lady Stark.

As they neared the exit, Thomas suddenly turned to Bella with a questioning look.

"How long will your body-bind last again?"

"Hm?" Bella adorably tilted her head, her fifteen-years-old form infinitely enhancing her cuteness. "Six hours? Give or take."

Meaning ten...

"Ah." Thomas sighed and looked back in the direction of Lady Stark but then shrugged uncaringly. "Whatever."

They exited the crypt, disillusioned, the spoils of their adventure proudly stashed in the pouch.