Raenna
The quarters Raenna had been given were small and cold, even after she got a fire burning in the narrow fireplace. For most of the night, she had wrapped herself in two thick fur blankets and still she awoke stiff and shivering. It was as if this ungodly cold crept through every tiny hole in the building, the wind howling through barely inhabited hallways and haunting even her dreams.
The Nightfort was old, older than any building she had ever been in and it had been built for ten times the watchmen who still manned the keep these days. It was old, yes, and there were parts of it that were barely more than a ruin. As such, without having been given much of a warning that he was to receive highborn company, the Lord Commander had little choice which rooms to assign to his guests. They had to take the ones that were still habitable. Raenna's room had little in terms of amenities, save for one. It was small, cold, the bed felt like no one had been lying in it for a century, but it was hers alone. As far as quarters went, this was by no means the worst.
The cold made it hard to sleep during the dark and she found little rest for what should be her last night south of the Wall, at least her last for quite some time. They were to leave today and to say that she felt nervous would be a gross understatement. As such, she took her time with actually going downstairs, slowly getting ready, as she watched the sun rise outside her window. Actually, that wasn't quite true, though. The Nightfort was lying in permanent shadow, the Wall looming above it, keeping the castle and all who dwelled within locked in twilight. Even now, she only knew that the night was over due to the noise coming from the courtyard.
She glanced at the shard on the wall that served as a mirror. Just the other day, Mace Crowl had given her some advice on how to dress beyond the Wall and given his experience on the topic, she made sure to follow it closely. The Skagosi was perhaps the only man in their little company who had ever been to the place, not counting the two rangers Lord Commander Hoare wanted to send with them.
As such, she had changed nearly her entire wardrobe. This was no place for southern attire and right now, she doubted she'd ever need her old clothes again. Fur, white and light grey, to blend in with her surroundings as much as possible out there, as well as a hooded cloak. Of course she would take her daggers with her, but truth be told, she was not sure how much use they would be against the wildlings, if it would come to a fight. She knew where to stab a man to kill him, but truth be told, she had no experience fighting against someone in furs. Those thick mantles could deflect a strike that would otherwise be lethal and given how fabled their skills in combat were, she doubted she'd get more than one try.
As she removed a strand of hair from her face, she let out a brief sigh as he gaze fell upon her left ear, where Alysanne had sliced off her earlobe. She would have taken her throat if not for Raenna dodging the attempt. A small scar was all that remained from that fight, together with loads of bad memories. Alysanne was dead, she knew that much at least and though she felt mostly pity towards that woman, there was a slight bit of relief in knowing she wasn't out there anymore, that she was not someone to face ever again. But Clayton was hardier than that and Kersea... grey eyes, widened with pain, the grip around her hand growing weaker. Raenna remembered bits and pieces of that night, but more than anything, she remembered that dreadful final sensation, the fall before everything faded to black. And over and over again, she had to think back to Kersea... As confident as she was that Clayton had survived that night, she couldn't feel the same for Kersea. But worse than the fear for her friend's life was the uncertainty.
A soft knock on the door caused her to tense up, before she pulled her hood up. “I'm coming!”, she yelled, before she grabbed her backpack. As she opened the door, she spotted the small frame of Briar Catelins. The girl had a curious expression on her face, as she did ever so often, and Raenna couldn't help but smile at the sight. “What are you doing here?”, she asked softly.
Briar looked at her, then threw a glance into the room behind, before she raised an eyebrow. “You're late”, she said. “And you know that, don't you?” Raenna's smile faded briefly, as she was stunned by the girl's straightforwardness. “No...?”, she lied weakly and Briar rolled her eyes. “Yeah you do”, she said and Raenna shook her head again. This actually made the girl laugh and the sound was so contagious that Raenna had to chime in.
“Seven, when did you get like this?”, she asked and Briar shrugged. “Spent too much time with you, that's what Uncle Maron would say”, she replied and immediately, Raenna's smile faded. Innocent as she was, Briar had been through something terrible and the fact that she had gotten out of it and kept such a positive attitude, it was humbling. She knew she wouldn't have the same strength.
“Are you afraid too?”, the girl asked and Raenna tensed up. “What?”, she asked quickly. “Me and afraid? Why... why would I?” Slowly, she narrowed her eyes. “Who told you I would be afraid?” Briar shook her head. “Nobody did”, she claimed. “I spoke to Harrold this morning. He's nice, I like him! But he's also afraid of going beyond the Wall”
Raenna raised an eyebrow. “Harrold... Harrold Hornwood?”, she asked. “You sure you've been talking to him? Burly guy, booming laugh, literally afraid of nothing... that Harrold Hornwood?” Briar rolled her eyes. “He had these funny antlers on his helmet”, she spoke. “So yeah, I'm sure that's him. He seemed so brave when I first spoke to him, but he's actually scared and so I thought you might be too” Her smile grew slightly thinner. “Because you've also been so brave... for me”
As soon as she said this, Raenna got down on her knees and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. “Anyone would have done that”, she claimed, even though she knew that was hardly true. If it were, Briar would have never been locked up in Butterfly's dungeon to begin with. With these words, she pulled the girl into a hug, awkwardly at first, but Briar excitedly wrapped her arms around her back and soon, they were closely holding each other.
“What is Harrold afraid of?”, Raenna whispered. “Grumkins and Snarks?” This got a genuine laugh out of Briar. “He said he's afraid of the Others”, she then whispered back and Raenna tensed up at the word. “The White Walkers?”, she asked, using the term she knew from what little stories her own mother had told her during her childhood. “They're exactly like Grumkins and Snarks. Nothing but stories to scare little children” She pushed Briar back until she was able to look the girl in the eyes again. “You're not scared, are you?”
Briar silently shook her head. “Good”, Raenna replied. “Because neither am I” At least not of Grumkins and Snarks and White Walkers, but the girl didn't have to know that. More than anything, it was humans that scared her, on both sides of this Wall. The murderers and rapists who made up a notable portion of the once-noble Night's Watch, their leader who is kin to the worst tyrant the continent had seen in many centuries. That beast Mullendore, whom Briar must never know the truth about, even though he had taken everything from her and then some.
“Raenna... I...”, Briar began and her smile had gotten thinner. By now, Raenna saw genuine sadness on the little girl's face. “I don't want you to leave...” Her eyes widened as she realized what she had said. “But I'm not scared!”, she exclaimed, as Raenna already pulled her into another hug, holding her close. “I know”, she whispered. “I know, Sweetbriar”
It was in this moment that she knew she would return. She had to, if not for herself then at least or this little girl who was so much braver than she herself could ever be. After all that had happened over the last months, they had nothing left but each other. Leaving her all alone now, that was a cruelty Raenna simply wasn't capable of.
Before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps echoed through the empty hallway. Though quiet, the entire floor was like the Nightfort itself, nearly abandoned and utterly silent. Even light steps echoed from the surrounding walls, a nightmare for someone like Raenna, who relied on silence to do what she was good at.
Just as she separated from the girl, a tall, lean figure stepped into her field of view. It took her a moment to recognize the black robe, the magnificent grey beard and the iron chain around his neck. “Maester Coracinus”, she greeted the Nightfort's Maester and she received a calm nod in return. “I thought I should check up on you, mylady”, he spoke. “But excuse me, I was not aware that little Lady Catelins has already been sent to fetch you” His smile was kind and genuine, but there was an underlying impatience beneath it. “I'm afraid your companions wish to leave as soon as possible”
“And I'm afraid I missed breakfast”, Raenna replied, to which Coracinus shot her a smirk. “It's nothing special here at the Nightfort. Bread and water for the sworn brothers, bread and water for the Lord Commander and his guests”, he revealed. “One would think that being the maester comes with a great number benefits, but truth be told, it simply means I get another slice of bread whenever I ask for it” With these words, he raised a small bundle and handed it to Raenna. “In blatant abuse of my rights, I allowed myself to pack some for you”, he spoke and he gave her a clever wink. “I'm certain the Lord Commander will forgive me”
Raenna chuckled as she inspected the package. Two slices of bread and one half of a cold pork sausage. A fairly decent breakfast, all things considered, and one she could eat on the way. She rose from the ground and patted Briar on the head, earning herself a glare of mild annoyance from the girl. “Why don't you go ahead and find Malina?”, she spoke. “I would like a word with Maester Coracinus”
The girl hesitated, though she eventually gave her a nod. “I'll meet you downstairs”, she spoke, leaving her with the old maester. Coracinus waited until the girl was out of sight, before he turned back to Raenna, notably curious about her request. She looked past him, before she took a deep breath. “I was hoping you could tell me”, she said. “What I have to expect. What lurks beyond that Wall”
“Lurks?”, the maester replied, before he took a step aside. “But why don't we discuss this on the way? I hate to push, but the Lord Commander has little patience for a lack of punctuality, even on good days” She gave him a nod and together, they made their way down the long, empty and dark hallway. From somewhere, the wind was howling through the building and she actually tensed up at the sound. It was eerie, just like this entire ruin of a castle.
“So, I take it today's not a good day?”, she asked. “Don't tell me the Lord Commander will miss us” Coracinus was quick to shake his head. “Nothing you've done or could have prevented, I assure you”, he was quick to reply. “A letter arrived this morning, by raven. Normally, my lips would be sealed, but the Lord Commander has made his stance on the topic clear during breakfast. He and his brother are not on good terms, you should know”
Now it was on Raenna to look surprised, as she gave Coracinus a brief, wide-eyed stare. “Harren Hoare sent word to his brother?”, she asked and Coracinus let out a small sigh. “That would be an understatement. See, I made King Harren's acquaintance when I was a young man. Before I took the Black and served the Night's Watch, I was already a trained maester. My first assignment was supposed to be for a minor house from the Riverlands. Ever heard of House Bullister?”
Raenna shook her head and Coracinus shrugged. “Not many have, not these days, yet I think Harren wanted it to be a cautionary tale at some point”, he explained. “When I left Oldtown to serve them, they were still a fairly notable house from the Riverlands, not rivalling the Tullys or Blackwoods or Freys, but still decently powerful on their own. Shortly after I left, Lord Bullister died, replaced by his fool of a son. I never learned what drove him to such utter insanity, but unlike his father and grandfather before him, he refused to bend the knee to the Iron King”
“I doubt Harren Hoare took kindly to that”, Raenna replied and Coracinus shook his head. “He killed them all, you know. Raped the women before chopping off their heads, forced the men to watch”, he whispered and she saw an ancient pain in the old man's eyes. “I've never seen the death of an entire house before and I hope neither have you. Trust me, it's not a pleasant sight. I think they spared only the youngest son of Lord Bullister, a barely-grown boy. His name was Tedyn and I'll never forget the sheer terror on such a young face” He shook his head. “Even I was caught by Harren's vengeance and I wasn't even there when Lord Bullister defied him, but for all his flaws, a tiny semblance of reason remained. Instead of killing me, like he did to the rest of the Bullister household, he allowed me to take the Black”
“Seems like you can't escape the Hoare's even here”, Raenna mumbled and Coracinus gave her a thin, joyless smile. “There is a certain irony in it, yes”, he admitted. “Though it might not be what you think. At first, I was terrified to serve under another Hoare, but to my surprise, Lord Commander Harrigon is nothing like his brother. Well, they look alike, very much so, but the Lord Commander is a man of duty. Not exactly honour, but honour is just getting in the way once you're beyond the Wall” He shook his head. “Harrigon is a decent man. He has his flaws, we all have, but he is dutiful, ever loyal to the Watch and in his own way, he seeks to care for those he is sworn to protect. He couldn't be more different from his brother in these regards. Needless to say, they are not on good terms”
“I see...”, Raenna replied with a slight nod, even though she found it hard to believe. Harrigon remained the brother of a tyrant. Perhaps her distrust was misplaced, but trusting him instead was out of the question. “And now the Iron King sent a letter to your Lord Commander” Coracinus shook his head. “It's signed with Harren's name and there's his seal on it, but the words... I have met him only briefly, but I don't think that ever in his life would he be able to beg”
This actually caught her by surprise. “That's why I think it wasn't his letter after all”, the maester explained. “A sentiment the Lord Commander shares. Harren is a cruel buffoon, pardon me, but one of his sons is supposed to be sound of mind. One out of four at least. It seems the war his kingdom is facing now has terrified the young prince, so he used his father's name and seal to request aid from the only other family member he still has in the world”
“King Torrhen would never allow this”, Raenna replied and Coracinus chuckled. “King Torrhen has no authority here, mylady”, he reminded her. “And even though the Watch is in decline, Harrigon could muster thousands of men, if he were to abandon the Wall and our eternal oath. Rest assured, he would never do that. Harren should know better, which makes me even more convinced the letter was sent by Prince Harrick instead”
He noticed Raenna's slight grimacing and actually stopped for a moment, just as they were about to descend down a dark, narrow staircase. “I know you are worried for this girl you care for, it's clear to see”, he spoke. “But be assured, the Lord Commander would never allow for any harm to come to her while she remains his guest. He's not the man you fear him to be”
“Perhaps...”, Raenna admitted. “Though I'm not just afraid for her safety” She took a deep breath, before she looked the maester deep in the eyes. Though she did not know him very well, there was something about him that was deeply familiar at the same time. A calm, fatherly attitude, wisdom in his gaze and a kind smile. She tensed up as she realized whom this man reminded her of so very much. But at the same time, perhaps that was one reason why it felt so easy opening up to him. She was going to leave on a mission that was extremely dangerous at the best and if she couldn't be honest and get some decent advice right now, then when could she ever?
“That girl needs me. For the first time, I...”, she began, before she paused. “I feel like I'm being needed, you understand?” Coracinus gave her a quick nod. “Perfectly so, please continue”, he assured her, as they both descended down the staircase. It was cold here, chillingly so and she avoided looking down into the darkness, as she merely tried not to slip. Despite his age, Coracinus walked down with a confidence born from decades of service here at the Nightfort.
“And I don't want to loose that... I want to return to her”, she admitted and the old man gave her a kind smile. “You are afraid for your own life”, he told her and she narrowed her eyes. “I'm not...!”, she began, but he cut her off. “And that is perfectly understandable. A healthy dose of fear will keep you alive beyond the Wall. The bold ones never make it far”
“What do I have to expect there?”, Raenna asked and Coracinus straightened his back. He was remarkably tall for a man of his age, even though he was barely more than skin and bones, his robe unable to fully conceal just how lanky he truly was. “Wildlings”, he told her. “If you're lucky, just them. We are supposed to guard the Realms of Man from them, but truth be told, with them you at least have the chance to meet someone reasonable. There's killers among them, sure, but there's also traders and craftsmen. Decent folk whose only crime was being born on the wrong side of that wall, but you haven't heard that from me”
“My lips are sealed”, Raenna assured him, earning herself a mild chuckle. “But there's more beyond there, right? Worse, I mean” Coracinus raised an eyebrow. “You mean Grumkins and Snarks?”, he replied and she shook her head. “What about the White Walkers?”, she asked and she hated herself for having to think so much about Harrold's dumb comment. Of course those things did not exist and yet... there were men in Westeros who claimed dragons did not exist and she has spent her childhood in their shadow.
Coracinus gave her a long, concerned look. “So, you are scared enough to place your faith in ancient stories... there is no shame in that, but perhaps I can ease your concerns”, he spoke in a gentle tone. “The White Walkers should be the least of your worries over there. You'll find men, good and learned men, who will even tell you they never existed. That they are simply a myth, created by the Watch itself to gain legitimacy for its endless vigil”
“You're not one of them?”, she asked and Coracinus shook his head. “Oh, I believe they were real, very much so. An ancient threat, perhaps even the reason the Night's Watch was formed”, he revealed. “But they have died out long ago and I have proof of it” Raenna slightly tilted her head. “Like, actual proof?”, she asked and he gave her a mildly excited smile.
Before he replied, he raised his chain, presenting one link in particular. “This is a pewter link”, he told her. “It means I studied biology during my time at the citadel. Not just the anatomy of animals, but their behaviour as well. And here we have the copper link of history. I have read the ancient texts on the Others, the White Walkers as they are known to you. They speak of a particularly fascinating animal, one they had a close relationship with, one that died out alongside them” As they reached the foot of the stairs, he glanced from left to right, as if to make sure they were still alone in this ruined keep. “The ancient texts speak of ice spiders”, he then said.
Raenna raised an eyebrow. “Ice spiders...”, she repeated, not sure if the old maester was joking right now. But his expression was calm and serious and he nodded slightly. “The Others used them as mounts in ancient days. They were a fearful weapon during the Long Night and, should their cold masters remain alive to this very day, a weapon they would surely not wish to lose”, he clarified. “From what little credible information can be drawn from ancient texts and legends, it can be assumed these spiders were a highly aggressive, invasive species of apex predators. We know their smaller kin, the common spiders that remain alive to this very day, is an explosive breeder and I doubt the giant ice spiders of legend are that different. Even a small surviving population back from the Long Night would have surely annihilated the lesser fauna beyond the Wall by now”
“So you say their absence means... their old masters are gone as well?”, Raenna asked and Coracinus gave her a nod. “If the First Men who drove back the Others during the Long Night managed to drive the spiders to extinction, we can assume they did the same to their masters”, he told her. His explanation, dry as it was, actually helped with her growing concerns and yet, Raenna knew that creatures of myth were hardly the only danger she'd have to face in the weeks to come.
By now, they had reached the courtyard and as Raenna stepped out, the cold was downright nauseating. There was snow in the air and the sun itself was hidden behind dim clouds. The massive Wall was looming over the courtyard and she barely dared looking up. Her one time staring down from the top of the world had been enough for her and by the Seven, she didn't even want to imagine doing this day in day out, like the poor men stationed up there.
As Coracinus had told her, her companions were already gathered near the gate, though in this case, the gate was more of a fortified tunnel through the Wall than simply an opening, blocked by thick wood and iron. Harrold Hornwood and Eon Dustin stood closest to the gate, with the former apparently just saying something that made his companion sigh in annoyance. Behind them, there was Jorn Mormont, who glanced over his shoulder and spotted her just as she stepped out of the keep.
Harrigon Hoare and Dag Umber were behind them, with the Lord Commander flanked by two of his sworn brothers. Lastly, Mace Crowl and Erik Flowers, quietly standing next to each other, with the former having one hand on his unicorn's mane. The horned beast was by no means as calm as its master, as it nervously glanced around, stomping onto the ground with one hoof and scaring away most of those who got too close. Raenna was not sure if it spoke for Erik or against him that the wild creature allowed him so close.
“Snow-hair”, Mace greeted her as she approached them. “You ready for this?” She grimaced, before she gave him a slight nod. “Ready as I'll ever be”, she spoke, though she was unable to fully convince herself. To her surprise, the grim Skagosi actually sported the tiniest of smirks as she replied to him. “Erik here told me a thing or two about what we have to expect. Turns out, it's almost like Skagos”
“And that is a good thing?”, she asked, to which Erik shook his head. “Hardly anything's good beyond the Wall”, he replied. “There's direwolves, shadowcats and bears as tall as the house I grew up in. And don't get me started on the people” He glanced at Mace. “Crowl claims he'll feel right at home, but truth be told, he's nothing like them. Half-Thenn's not even the worst of them and he's a godsdamn monster”
“Figured there'd be worse than that guy”, Raenna replied and Erik sighed. “Not sure if you're the praying type, but once we've passed the Wall, pray it's Horik the Half-Thenn who finds us first. At least he'll make it quick”, the deserter explained. “At worst, we're going to stumble upon Agmund Icebeard and then we might as well kill ourselves”
Raenna frowned, as Maester Coracinus stepped closer. “Do not scare the girl, Flowers”, he reprimanded him harshly. “Experienced rangers will lead you at all times, men who know how to evade Red Ragnar or Agmund Icebeard or any of those self-proclaimed chieftains beyond the Wall” Erik glanced over his shoulder, at the Lord Commander and the two men by his side. “Right...”, he mumbled. “One a murderer, the other a drunkard. Guess they're still the best the Watch can gather these days, after one of your few actual knights rather deserted instead of staying here for the rest of his life”
“You are using big words for a man who was with us for barely a year before forsaking his duty, Erik Flowers”, Coracinus growled and even his fury reminded Raenna of Terroma. Erik rolled his eyes. “And you are using big words for a man who has never set foot beyond that blasted Wall, maester”, he hissed. “If you did, you'd know that with what we're doing, one cannot be cautious enough, one cannot be afraid enough. But what is there to expect from a bookworm?”
“That is quite enough, Flowers”, the massive frame of Harrigon Hoare growled. Raenna had barely noticed the Lord Commander approaching them and he was moving swiftly and with surprising grace for a man of his age and build. But there he was, looming over Erik Flowers and immediately, the deserter's smirk had faded entirely. He seemed to shrink beneath the Lord Commander's glare. “You live because Lord Umber has need of you and we owe it to the Last Hearth to follow his wishes. You live because you are literally not worth killing, because you are so insignificant that even I simply do not care” He placed a hand on Erik's shoulder. “You live solely because I allow it”, he now growled. “Don't test the limits of my patience by insulting my maester”
Harrigon and Coracinus exchanged a brief, friendly smile, before the Lord Commander let go of Erik. Raenna had to give it to the deserter, for all his big talk, he knew exactly when to be quiet. He was a survivor and she figured that beyond the Wall, that was the best quality to have. “I see you've joined us at last, Lady Minsworth”, Harrigon greeted her and she was not sure if there was mockery within his words. “I don't blame you for being late. In forty-five years, I have yet to see someone who actually looks forward for leaving through that gate” He narrowed his unnervingly dark eyes. “One with your brains, at least”
She gulped. “Thank you, Lord Commander”, she spoke, earning herself a joyless chuckle from the man's throat. “'Thank you', she says”, he replied, as he shook his head. “Should you return, you can thank me. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if not all of you return. Something's stirring among the free folk. They're agitated, more than ever. More of them are trying to cross the Wall lately and if you ask me, not all of them are raiders”
“Refugees?”, Raenna asked and Harrigon shrugged. “All the same to me, just more wildlings to hold off”, he proclaimed. “But yeah, not all of them are raiders. And the only thing they could possibly run from over there is war. If one of the chieftains tries to unite the clans, then I figure a great many of their kind will die. A great many of possible casualties, men and women who will do anything to escape the carnage”
“Any advice on them, Lord Commander?”, she asked and this time, the old man gave her a grim nod. “Flowers might be a deserting piece of shit, but he's right with one thing”, he admitted. “If Red Ragnar finds you first, you can talk your way out. If Horik Half-Thenn finds you, you can go down fighting. And if you stumble upon Agmund Icebeard...” He glanced down at her, to her belt, where she kept her daggers. “You know how to use those, don't you?”, he asked and she gave him a nod. “Then you know how to end things swiftly for yourself. Trust me, I've seen what Icebeard does to his prisoners and I'm still getting nightmares from it”
He pulled himself away, as Dag Umber approached them, followed by the two Rangers who had previously flanked the Lord Commander. “Good morning Raenna”, he greeted her. “Glad you're here at last” She gave him a nod and he already turned to the two rangers. “I want you to meet Ozerog Pilaj and Saint Strad, ranger veterans and our guides beyond the Wall”
He first pointed at a stocky man, with the tanned, weathered skin of the Dornish. He was entirely bald save for his thin eyebrows, with numerous scars that made him look older on first glance. On second glance, Raenna noticed that he couldn't possibly be in his forties already. Though not much taller than her, he was broad-chested and has arms as thick as Dag's. Though he was not wearing his hood, he carried a metal helmet beneath one arm, the interior reinforced with heavy fur.
The other was roughly around the same age, a full head taller, but much leaner than the first man. His skin was as pale as she'd expect from a man stationed up here, though there were heavy bags beneath his eyes and his face as a whole was fairly puffy. Where the first man was shaven clean, this one had a short, patchy beard and scruffy hair. Furthermore, while his companion looked stern, almost severe, this one actually managed to smile at her. The crooked expression could have come off as menacing, if not for the downright awkward look in his eyes. A drunkard and a murderer, as Erik had told her. She wondered which of them was the former and which was the latter.
“Veteran”, the bald man growled. “Not veterans. Saint here has been with us for less than two years. He's just here to follow my orders” The other man, Saint apparently, shot him a brief glare, while Raenna took a slight bow in front of both. “Then you must be Ozerog”, she greeted him and he rolled his eyes. “Don't get too attached, girl”, he hissed. “Beyond that gate, you will call me 'Ser' and you will follow my every order if you want to have a chance at survival”
He turned to the Lord Commander and saluted in front of him. “Don't worry, Lord Commander!”, he proclaimed. “I'll make sure they'll return safely” Harrigon Hoare's mouth twitched. “You better do, Ozerog”, he replied. “If you want to succeed Arron as First Ranger, this is your chance to prove your worth, you hear me?”
“Loud and clear, Lord Commander!”, Ozerog confirmed, as Dag turned back to Raenna again. “According to Erik, Myrla and Treearms are going to meet with the Swan, some wildling witch-woman. We don't know their goal, or if the Half-Thenn will be with them, but the Swan's cave is considered neutral ground among the clans”
Erik, having finally found his voice again, chimed in on that. “I never met her, haven't been with the warband for that long”, he spoke. “But the way they spoke of her, they got a great deal of respect for that woman. They probably fear her just as much. So, once we reach the cave, we might be save to negotiate with Myrla. She's not unreasonable, after all”
“You mean the woman who planned to murder everyone in my home is not unreasonable”, Dag interjected and his voice was cold as ice. “But she's not whom we're after. Markus Treearms posed as my brother. He had knowledge of the Last Hearth and my family which only Kory could have told him. He knows what happened to my brother and if we have to deal with Myrla one way or the other to get to him, then so be it”
“I wouldn't give much on wildling superstition”, Ozerog growled. “That Swan woman, if she even exists at all, is nothing but a common witch. We cannot trust Half-Thenn or anyone working for him to negotiate with us should we reach her cave” He narrowed his dark eyes. “More than that, I don't even know where that cave is. It's sort of a wildling secret”
“I might be able to help with that”, Erik admitted. “Never been to the cave, but I might just know what to look out for to find her. I joined the wildlings to get away from you lot, but that doesn't mean I didn't learn a thing or two during my time with them” Ozerog raised an eyebrow. “Don't tell me a few months with the wildlings made you a better ranger than a veteran of ten years, deserter”, he spat.
Erik shrugged. “Just means I learned from the best for a change”, he was quick to reply and immediately, Mace Crowl stood between them. “Let it go, ranger”, he spoke towards Ozerog, who had a vicious glare on his face. “We need him” Ozerog looked from him to Erik, before taking a deep breath. Shaking his head, he turned away. “That'll be the day, where a Skagosi tells me what to do”, he mumbled, but indeed, he took a few steps away, joining Saint near the gate.
“He might talk a mean game, but Ozerog is not a problem”, the Lord Commander brought up. “I promised him a reward great enough to ensure his loyalty. He has a nasty temper, but he can control it” With this, he extended a hand and after a moment of consideration, she shook it. After all she had heard from Coracinus, she was willing to trust the Lord Commander, even though he was a Hoare. “I for one wish you good fortune beyond the Wall”, Harrigon said. “After all the shit my scouts told me, you'll need it” Raenna grimaced. “Reassuring...”, she mumbled.
“Raenna!”, the shrill voice of Briar called out for her from behind and as she turned around, the girl rushed towards her. Behind her, Malina and Gared were trying their best to keep pace. The girl nearly jumped her and Raenna actually staggered back. “Easy there”, she whispered, as she glanced over Briar's shoulder, her gaze meeting Malina's. The other woman had a smile on her face as she looked at them, before giving Raenna a slight nod.
“Jorn told me there's something you wish to speak with me about?”, she asked and Raenna narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Jorn, near the gate. “I'm starting to get the impression he talks too much”, she hissed. “But yeah, I do need to talk to you before I leave” She looked from Malina to Dag. “At least if I still got the time?”
Dag gave her a quiet nod. “We need a few moments ourselves before we can leave”, he admitted. “Though there's horses beyond the Wall, the Frostfangs are no place for any of them. Mace's unicorn will carry our burdens, but it is... fairly picky as to who may touch it. Since it's Mace's steed, at least it means he can do all the heavy lifting” Behind him, the Skagosi grimaced mildly, while Harrigon Hoare let out a sigh. “I'm just glad that thing is outta my stables again and that it hasn't mauled any of my brothers”, he muttered.
Slowly, Raenna separated again from Briar. “I'll say my goodbyes later, Sweetbriar”, she spoke, as she gave the girl a kiss on the forehead. To her surprise, she noticed that the ever-present smile on Briar's face was nearly gone. “Will you be back soon?”, she asked and Raenna's heart broke at the unexpected sadness within such a young voice.
“Soon”, she promised and she tried her best to sound confident, more than she actually felt. “I'll always come back to you” This seemed to cheer the girl up at least a little bit, as Briar's smile returned slowly. “I believe you”, she spoke, before her eyes widened. “Oh... before... before you leave... Can I pet the unicorn?” She stared past Raenna and at the thick, slightly greasy fur of the creature, as if it was not a barely tamed and ferocious beast, but the most beautiful animal she had ever seen.
Behind the girl's back, Mace's eyes widened and the Skagosi shook his head, not very subtly. With an apologetic smile, Raenna turned back to Briar. “I don't think it would like that”, she spoke and the girl sighed in defeat. “Uh... why don't you stay with Gared for a moment? I need to have a word with Malina, I'll be right back!”
As she walked past Briar, Gared gave her a nod. “Staying here won't be easy for me”, he admitted. “Going beyond the Wall and kicking some wildling arses, that would have been a good time” His grin was wide and a bit cheeky, though she saw honest loyalty within his gaze as he looked from her, to Briar, then to Malina who was waiting in the shadow of the keep. “But I see why you asked me to look after them”, he then added. “And truth be told, I agree” He took a slight bow in front of her. “I'll keep them safe until you return”
Instead of replying, she gave him a sweet smile, before she turned to Malina. Gared remained behind, kneeling down next to Briar and starting a conversation with her, while Raenna approached the Karstark woman. Malina had her arms crossed and her hood pulled up, with strands of dark hair visible beneath. Unlike Raenna, who was shivering even now, the cold didn't seem to affect her at all, true to her northern roots.
“So, Jorn told you already?”, Raenna asked and Malina sighed. “You should know he can't keep a secret”, she replied. “He told me you're concerned for Briar” Her tone was not cold or hostile, but nonetheless distant and Raenna frowned. “I... I didn't mean to imply...”, she began, before clenching her fists. “Damn it... he should have left this to me”
Now, Malina gave her a thin smile. “I know why he told me”, she admitted. “It's not because he's careless, but because he knows you wouldn't have told me about how you feel. It would have eaten you up out there and that is something you cannot afford. You need to focus entirely on the mission and if that means having a mildly uncomfortable conversation with me before you go, then so be it”
“Mildly?”, Raenna spoke, noticing how she blushed, not just due to the cold, but out of sheer embarrassment. She took a deep breath, before she shook her head. “Listen, I don't want to imply you cannot look after her”, she spoke. “I mean, you're probably better at that than me” She avoided Malina's clear gaze and instead focussed on the muddy ground. “I've never been good with kids. Briar and me, that happened by accident, but I'll be damned if I abandon her ever again”
“For what it's worth, I think you're doing decently enough”, Malina admitted. “Briar is fortunate to have you” Her smile widened. “There is no shame in feeling concerned, so I wanted to ease some of those for you”, she then said. “You convinced Gared to stay and I'm grateful for it. I've grown accustomed to that lunk and he does have his uses. Most importantly, I feel save when he's around. He promised to look after me and Briar, so I am confident we won't be in danger while you're gone. I mean, we're not the ones heading beyond the Wall. For the next few months, we'll remain at Winterfell, under the ever-watchful gaze of Brandon Snow”
Though Raenna couldn't just stop being concerned for Briar, she managed to nod at Malina. “I see...”, she sighed, before she straightened her back. “Listen, that has been a mistake. I am sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you...” She turned away, just as Malina called out for her again. “Stay!”, she barked and it was more an order than a request. “When Jorn told me about how you feel, I understood at once. And really, I am not insulted. Hells, I never had a younger sister, so I wasn't even sure how good I am with kids, but after the last few days, I think I'll manage”
“But?”, Raenna asked, sensing that this was not all Malina wanted to discuss. The Karstark woman suddenly looked grim and entirely serious, her playful smile all but gone. “I'm afraid that made me think about a darker topic, one that I in return would have liked to avoid”, she admitted and all of a sudden, even her confidence seemed to falter. “Raenna, you... I'm not someone for useless flattery, so take it as it is meant. You have Brandon's trust and knowing a thing or two about the bastard wolf, that is no small feat. You and the Skagosi, you might be the ones best equipped for the perils that lie ahead, but...”
She paused and just then, Raenna understood what she meant. “You are concerned I won't come back”, she realized and she gave Malina an utterly dumbfounded look. The other woman gave her an almost sheepish nod. “Those are dangerous lands with dangerous men”, she replied calmly. “Your survival is not guaranteed, you know that, right?”
Raenna shrugged. “Not the first time I've put myself in mortal danger”, she told her and despite her obvious concern for the journey ahead, she managed to smile at Malina. The other woman remained stone-faced. “This is not just about you”, she then admitted. “But Briar... I'll look after her for as long as I can, but I have duties of my own. My uncle relies on me, my house relies on me and just now, the North is preparing for war”
“You want to know what I want for her”, Raenna mumbled and Malina nodded slightly. “Even if you don't make it, you should have a say in this”, she spoke. “For now, I'll take her back to Winterfell. I don't know the details, but Brandon owes you, so even if I have to leave, I am certain he'll continue looking out for her. But Brandon will go to war too and he might not survive either” She glanced at the sky, slightly narrowing her eyes as if she was looking for something. “Once the men leave, me and my uncle will return to Karhold”, she then continued. “If you want to, I can bring her with me. Uncle Brogar won't understand, but he'll yield. At the very least, I'll be able to offer her steady employ at Karhold for the rest of her life. She'll be safe and looked out for. Don't know if it's better than what Brandon might have planned, but I'd say it's a reliable option. But before I make any decision, I need to know what you want for Briar”
What she wanted... well, what was it? Raenna tensed up, as the question that had been racing through her mind for the last few weeks finally caught up with her again. What was her idea for Briar's future? It had been easy back when it was just she on her own. No responsibilities, no family to look out for. No worries for herself, for even if she died, she wouldn't leave anyone or anything behind. No unfinished business... not until now. Having Briar in her life made things harder. The girl was sweet, she was bright and brilliant and she deserved a good life. And should Raenna return, she would do her best to provide for her. That being said, for the first time in her life, she had to consider the possibility that she wouldn't return and that someone she truly cared for would suffer because of it.
Keeping her at Winterfell, under the care of Brandon Snow, it was certainly an option. He had promised to have her grow up a courtier, a companion for Princess Lyra, perhaps the highest position she could ever have in her life. At the same time, Malina was right. Brandon would march to war soon and just like her survival wasn't guaranteed, neither was his. And who knew if the King of Winter felt the same about a lowborn girl he had barely a connection to.
Karhold then... Raenna knew Malina would take good care for the girl, but at the same time, what little she had seen of her uncle was enough to convince her that he couldn't care less. A cold home, serving a distant lord and a caretaker neck-deep in her own duties. It would be a reliable life, perhaps still a good one, but Raenna was not sure if this was truly what she wanted for the girl.
And just then, a third option flashed through her mind, a hopeful thought. Davith was still at Raylansfair, keeping an eye out for Kersea. If she was still alive, if there was any hope at all for her to have survived that dreadful night, then perhaps Davith managed to find her by now. Winterfell or Karhold, they would both provide Briar with some degree of comfort, but if Kersea was still alive, then bringing the girl back to Raylansfair was perhaps the only way to ever reunite her with her sister.
[Tell her to keep Briar at Winterfell] [Tell her to take Briar to Karhold] [Tell her to bring Briar back to Raylansfair]