Vol. 1 Chapter 7 - Gi and Kimono (1)

Year: 297 A.C.

Location: Kingdom of the North, Winter-Fell, Lord Eddard's study

PovThirdPerson

"I'd like to tailor training outfits for the children and myself, I would like them to wear my culture's clothing during my teachings…. I shall make them myself, in my culture the teacher or 'Sensei is the word we use to refer to the master, teaching his disciples or as we call them, their pupils, always hand-crafts every thing his or her students will need…." Wulf, the son of Odin, stated to the owner of Winter-Fell, Lord-Paramount Eddard Stark, Warden of the North….

"That is a rather new custom to my knowledge, I shall have Cat make sure you have all you will need…. If you are ready, we can go now…." Lord Eddard replied, to the large and youthful in appearance young man, who calls himself Wulf….

After making his request, known to the Lady of Winter-Fell, Lady Catelyn Stark, the older boys and the rest of the children gathered in the hall, to be measured by Wulf….

Location:Winter-Fell, Main-Hall

PovThirdPerson

"You make your own clothes? You did not have servants or maids to do it for you?" Brandon Stark, the second to youngest son of Lord Eddard asked Wulf….

"Needle-work and the making of clothes is an excellent way of training the dexterity of your fingers…. It means how nimble and accurate you are with working with your hands and fingers, some of the best throwing-weapon masters are grandmaster-tailors and seamstresses…." The handsome-faced and sad-eyed giant-man wearing fine-silken exotic clothes replied, to the young Stark pup….

"See Arya, you should have been paying attention in your classes with Septa Mordane…." Stated Lady Stark, reminding her youngest-daughter to not skip any more classes with her Septa….

"Yes, mother…. I will be good, I can learn like Sansa…." Arya replied, whilst sounding almost nauseous at the thought of sewing and working with fabrics….

"What, I will be tailoring for you, will be what is known as your karate-gi…. The gi is traditionally always white in color, symbolizing purity, simplicity, and the shedding of ego…. In what will be our training-ground, known as a Dojo, everyone will wear white, regardless of gender, background, race, culture, age, all are equal and welcome within the hall of martial-training for true-warriors… The belt, or obi, starts colored white, symbolizing the beginning of your journey as a martial-artist…. As you gain proficiency in the art of unarmed-combat, and become more and more dangerous and lethal, the color of your belt will change, representing your progression and dedication to strengthening your body and mind sharpening and honing them into truly deadly-weapons…. The most deadly and feared of the colors, and the penultimate rank of a martial-artist, is the color black or ebony, representing a Grand-Master in whatever martial-art the black-belt studies in or represents…." Wulf said, as he spoke whilst measuring each of the waiting Starks, plus Theon Greyjoy who agreed to join in training with the children of Lord and Lady Stark….

"Wow, you work so fast, how can you move so swiftly and still know what you are doing?" Sansa exclaimed, asking Wulf whilst he went about working the letter-opener looking blade, and the rest of the tools that were supplied to him, along with the fabrics provided to the young man to work with….

"I have your measurements for the casual-kimonos, I wish to tailor for you all as well…. They are what the nobility from my culture wear, they are very symbolic and usually worn for events or gatherings back home, where I am from back in Midland…." Wulf replied, without actually answering the girls question, for he never heard her as he was busy thinking inside his mind, many things I am sure of but either way he did not hear the girl and was more than likely just speaking out aloud to himself….

"Kimono sounds pretty, I can't wait to see it, I am so excited…." Sansa stated, getting a little loud as she was almost hopping a little as she spoke….

"Sansa, control yourself, it does sound awfully nice with all the symbolism, I thank you Wulf…." Lady Stark said shortly and sharply, asking Sansa to reign-in her excitement and hold herself together like a highborn-daughter should, before thanking Wulf for what he is currently doing….

"Not a problem Lady Catelyn, anytime and anything for family, is what I always say…." Wulf replied to the mother of the Stark brood of children, a stern and motherly mother….

"Here Bran, you can try it over the clothes you are wearing now…. This is your belt, or as I call it, your obi…." Wulf said, as he handed and helped Bran wear his new karate-gi, made from a linen-like fabric freshly-crafted by Wulf's own hands themselves, right in front of the entire family, except for Lord Stark who is currently not present….

Back with Lord Eddard and Rodrick Cassel as well as Maester Luwin, back inside Lord Eddard's personal-study….

Location: Lord Eddard's study

PovRodrickCassel

I have been Master-at-Arms for Winter-Fell, since before Lord Eddard assumed the position and title of Lord of Winter-Fell, and the rest of the titles that come along with it, back when I was first promoted to the position.

Lord Eddard was still only a second son, and a young man who would have been lucky to receive a castle to call his own lands one day, if not for the tragic circumstances that befell his father and elder brother, claiming their lives and making Lord Eddard the Paramount-Lord and Warden of the entire Kingdom of the North….

"I swear on my ancestors, this man's weapon and armor are like nothing I've ever seen before…. The sword is over two-hundred pounds at the least, the armor is made out of a material that resembles metal shaped like the scales of a dragon…. Or the scales of one of the Lizard-Lions, that roam the swamps and marshes of the Neck…." I said to Lord Eddard, swearing on my ancestors themselves, for every word I spoke, I spoke true….