Chapter 240: Winterfell After a Long Ti (Canon Starts)
Chapter 240: Winterfell After a Long Ti (Canon Starts)
Winterfell Castle, Stark Lands
POV of Doric Bolton
When they finally arrived in Winterfell, the atmosphere was tense and palpable.
He knew why that was, thanks to Lyra’s spy network.
One day before they arrived, Bran Stark fell from the top of a ruined tower. He fell into a coma soon after and has not woken up since.
When they finally entered the castle, he could see the black stag emblem on a yellow background everywhere. The sigil of the Royal House of Baratheon. He could also see the Red Cloaks everywhere and shook his head.
The King’s entourage held far more Lannister n than it held his own Baratheon n. A clear sign of a destabilized throne, if there was any. The Lannisters have secured far more power for themselves. He wondered how the other houses felt about that.
He stopped in the courtyard where Robb and Jon had co out to greet him, along with little Arya.
Rickon was too young to go anywhere on his own. Bran Stark was bedridden, and his mother was probably with him.
That didn’t explain Lord Stark’s absence.
If Doric rembered correctly, Arya was 11 years old at this ti. Robb and Jon were 15 and would soon be considered grown n.
And Doric was now 17. Before he knew it, a decade had passed since he had arrived in this world.
About a year earlier, Doric had co of age, and by then the five-year betrothal agreent he had made with Lord Stark had expired, automatically making Doric and Sansa betrothed.
Sansa was now 13, and if Doric and Sansa’s betrothal hadn’t broken off by the King’s order, they would have been married three years later when Sansa turned 16.
This was the major problem with Lord Stark’s breaking his promise. If this had happened during the waiting period, it might not have been such a big deal.
But breaking a betrothal was not sothing any lord would easily accept.
"It’s good to see you here, Lord Bolton," Robb said with a genuine smile. "The hospitality of Winterfell is yours."
Doric climbed down from the horse and pulled both Robb and Jon in a hug before he ruffled up Arya’s hair, who shook his hand off and growled at him.
Robb and Jon’s direwolves, Midnight and Snowric, were there as well. They had each grown to the size of an adult direwolf, but he could still rember them as the little pups they were when he had given them to Robb and Jon.
He petted their heads as well before turning to the new addition in the family.
"And who are these?" he asked as he sat down and looked at the three direwolves around Robb, Jon, and Arya.
"This is Greywind. My second partner." Robb said as he gestured Greywind to go ahead.
Greywind sniffed Doric’s hand and nipped at his finger before yelping at him in joy.
He smiled and turned to the albino direwolf, which curiously stared at him with its red eyes.
"His na is Snowstorm. At first, I wanted to na it Ghost, but then I rembered that Raksa’s direwolf had that na. He doesn’t speak much." Jon said, and Snowstorm sniffed Doric’s hand before it went back to Jon.
"Like you then," Doric said with a smile and turned to the last direwolf.
"And who’s this hellion?" he asked.
"Her na is Nyria," Arya said, her voice filled with childish pride.
"You nad your direwolf after the Warrior-Queen of the Rhoynar and the great ancestor of House Martell?"
"Of course." She replied, and Doric chuckled and petted Nyria’s head before he rose and ruffled up Arya’s hair once again, much to her annoyance and the amusent of her brothers.
"I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Arya," Doric said with a smile.
Doric might not like the betrothal that Lord Stark had imposed on him, and he didn’t like Lady Stark or Sansa all that much, but he did like the rest of the family.
They reminded him of the Weasleys in how close they were and how much they fought amongst each other despite being a family.
"Hey! Can I see Excalibur?" Arya suddenly asked as she looked at the Valyrian steel sword on his waist.
"Arya. He is a lord. You cannot talk with him like that." Jon whispered to Arya, who looked disgruntled, but Doric simply chuckled at the siblings.
"It’s perfectly alright." He said, "And I can show you Excalibur. But you must be very, very careful with it." He said, and when Arya nodded, he removed the belt from around his waist and showed it to Arya before slowly bringing out the Valyrian sword from its sheath.
Arya’s eyes widened with joy, and her hand went to touch the colorful ripples on the sword.
Doric didn’t move and allowed her to admire the sword for a few more monts before he put the sword back in its sheath and put the belt back around his waist.
Arya looked disgruntled but didn’t complain. Then her eyes lit up, and she asked, "Hey, Doric! Where did you get that sword? And can I get one as well?"
Doric smiled and reached for her head once again, but she quickly moved out of the way. He took back his hand and said. "That’s a secret. And who knows. Anything can happen in the future."
"Then can you tell
where the na Excalibur cos from? Nobody here knows." Arya asked.
"Arya..."
Robb started to speak, but Doric interrupted.
"No problem, Robb. The na Excalibur is based on an ancient legend. A legend involving a brave king, his knights of the round table, his wizard friend, his wicked witch cousin, and a dragon." Doric said, and Arya’s eyes began to shine brighter with each word.
"Really? Tell
more." Arya demanded in an excited voice.
"Maybe another ti," Doric said with a mischievous smile.
Then Robb gestured to one of the servants, who brought forward a plate filled with bread and salt to complete the tradition of the Guest Rights.
"Please partake in our bread and salt, Lord Bolton," Robb said, trying to imitate the serious deanor of his father. He was doing a decent job of it, but he was still much too young and inexperienced to pull it off perfectly.
"I thank you for your hospitality, Robb Stark." He said and ate the bread and salt. The bread was nowhere near as soft or tasty as the bread he got in Dreadfort, but he didn’t mind.
He and his party would only stay here for a few days anyway.
"Let
show you to your rooms, Lord Bolton," Robb said and gestured to Jon, who went to show the rooms to Doric’s n.
Doric nodded and followed the younger boy to his guest room.
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Next Chapters’ Na:
Ch.241: Lord Stark’s Apology
Ch.242: We Call These Consequences
Ch.243: Demands
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