Vol. 1 Chapter 2 - M.O.T.O.G-System (2)

297 A.C. Kingdom of the North, Near Winter-Fell…

PovEddardStark

Those were not the eyes of a lying man, I just stared into…. Mere moments before decapitating the head that beheld them, the lost and lifeless eyes of the deserter, who deserted and fled from his punishment and exile at the Night's-Watch….

The dying man had no need to lie, for he surely knew his head would soon be swiftly cleaved from his shoulders and the rest of his torso, the moment my ancestral-blade, a two-handed broad-sword forged from Valyrian-Steel named Ice, decapitating him leaving him as only a freshly made corpse….

The air of winter approaches, the winds stir with more bite as the days pass, winter is coming and the pack must be ready….

"Halt! State your purpose stranger!" A shout rang out, as I look up and notice my ward, Theon Greyjoy aiming a notched arrow on his bow, at one of the largest dark-armored men I've ever seen, who is carrying the largest metal sword my eyes have ever laid sight to on his back….

"Careful where you point that little Lordling, for if the large Dire-Wolf mother who just birthed a litter, who is currently stalking you just on the edge of the tree-line there, doesn't kill you I just may for having the balls to aim a fucking bow at me…." The Behemoth of a metal-humanoid man spoke, saying to my ward…

Causing me to shout "Theon, lower that bow!" I snarled and barked out at Theon….

Before continuing "Forgive my ward, Stranger for you do make an intimidating-sight…. I am Lord and Warden of the North, Lord Eddard of the House-Stark, I ask your name…."

The armored-knight relaxed visibly, as Theon obeyed my order and lowered his bow, whilst still holding it pointed down without relaxing his current stance all the way….

Still on guard, even as the dark heavily-armored warrior relaxed his stance and turned his sight to look me in the eyes…. With cold eyes, far too cold to be on a face as young as the unhelmeted giant of a young man, they were beset upon staring me dead into my soul….

"Aye, House-Stark are beyond long-time scions of the Old-Gods and Kingdom of The North, I am Wulf, Son of Odin the All-Father…. I come in peace, I also come bearing gifts from my father…." Said Wulf, speaking of his familiarity with my family and our past kingship, ruling our northern kingdom beset upon the continent known as Westeros, before introducing himself and his father….

Who has obviously been monikered or monikered himself as the All-Father, what that means I do not know or have never heard of anything like such a title….

"Puppies! Father!" Shouted my younger son Brandon, who shouted attracting my attention to the sight of a massive mother of a Dire-Wolf….

Who is currently being followed by a litter of mewling Dire-Wolf puppies, who still had their eyes closed from being birthed so recently….

The litter of pups still followed their mother, slowly and wobbly with their little wolf-paws making unsteady steps and strides….

As they followed behind her when she exited the nearby tree-line, to enter the clearing where the path cut across the cold lands of the North that we were currently traveling home on, back to Winter-Fell the capital of the Kingdom of the North and the Ancestral-Seat of my family…. 

"Lord Stark! My father Odin awards you and your descendants partners for you to learn how to Warg with…. These are some of the very last Dire-Wolves still around, they are the same as the spiritually-bonded beasts your ancestors Warged into and within…." Wulf said, before coughing and continuing….

"They were members of your family and lived with them all their lives during the thousands of years the family has long-spent as Kings of Winter and Kings of the North…. Now the All-Father has sent them, to return to your family once again…." The large man said, speaking about my family's history, as I noticed the amount of puppies following the mother-wolf….

"I and the entire House-Stark are grateful for your father's gifts, you are more than welcome on my lands…. If you wish, I offer you warmth and a good meal and the offer of a nice soft bed to sleep upon for the night, back at Winter-Fell...." I spoke and offered Wulf to join us as we traveled back to my estate and castle, to shelter from the cold winds that seem to not affect the truly Northern-Man, If I have ever seen one….

"I'm sure my father already knows, your gratitude and offer is much appreciated, I accept and appreciate the offer…. I have long wished to speak and conversate with a King Of Winter, since I was just a mere babe as long as I can remember actually...." Wulf said, as he clasped his armored-fists in some sort of warrior's salute, as he bowed whilst holding his arms and hands out in front of him….

"These are my sons, Robb the eldest followed by Jon named after my mentor and a father-figure to me named Jon Arryn…. This is my younger son Brandon, who is named after my eldest sibling and brother…. The eldest of them and my current ward here, is named Theon Greyjoy the son of Balon, the heir of the Lord of Pyke and Warden of the Iron-Islands…." I said, as I introduced my sons and my ward to Wulf….

"It is an honor to meet each and every one of you, please call me Wulf, that is what my friends call me…. My enemies I am sure would call me by many things, that is if they were not all dead…. Arghaha!" Said Wulf, before making a little joke and causing himself to start a fit of mighty roaring-like laughter….

"The boys can help carry some pups each, I would offer you a horse Wulf, but I fear I do not possess a steed quite sturdy enough to carry you…." I said, as the boys started to pick up the pups to help carry them since the mother allowed to approach the pups and into her presence….

"That is quite alright, Lord Eddard…. I am rather used to trudging across lands much harsher and unforgiving than these…. For what I am sure is longer distances, than the journey to your home is…." Wulf replied, as I took notice and listened to every word he spoke, trying to learn everything and all I can about the younger-looking man from his own words….

I've learned from my many years, if you let someone speak without asking them too much, you can learn much more about them than if you pester them with question after question….

I could feel the airs around the young man rise and heat up, compared to before I neared the large and young-faced man…. Where I only felt the cold and harsh winds of winter nearing, near him I felt warmth the like of spring or summer weathers, suddenly as if he was the source of the rise in heat in the surrounding airs….