Game Of Thrones... With A Twist

A Game of Thrones - Chapter 16

"You'll come back... right?" Rickon asked softly once more, sleep overtaking him.

"I will. I promise." Edwyn swore as he laid a light kiss on Rickon's forehead, the boy falling into a peaceful slumber as his older brother smiled slightly at the peaceful image.

Turning to the ever-watchful eyes of Shaggydog, Edwyn ordered, "Look after him for me."

The direwolf nodded its head as Edwyn left, the young man already dressed to ride with Caliburn on his back and the dagger his father had gifted him in a small sheath on his back, the same side as his sword.

And within Edwyn's eyes burned the fires of his soul. The Fires of War...

<The next day, Midday, The Heart Tree, The Godswood, Winterfell, The North...>

The Wildling woman slowly walked amongst the fallen autumn leaves of the godswood of Winterfell as one Brandon Stark prayed before the heart tree of his father's gods.

"Please watch over Robb and Edwyn. And watch over all the other men from Winterfell. And Theon too, I suppose." Bran prayed out loud as the Wildling spoke, "You hear them, boy? The Old Gods are answering you."

"What are you doing here?" Bran asked defensively. 

"They're my gods too. Beyond the Wall, they're the only gods. Even slaves are allowed to pray." The Wildling answered with a hand on the weirwood tree.

"You're not a slave." Bran said innocently whilst the woman looked at him with a raised eyebrow before shaking her feet... showing the chain attached to it that kept her from running.

"Well, your friend did put a knife to my throat." Bran answered with an answer that he knew Edwyn would be proud of.

Wildling woman sat down on her haunches as she spoke, "I'm not complaining, little lord, just telling truths."

Bran looked at her before he asked, "What did you mean about hearing the gods?" 

"You asked them, they're answering you. Shh. Open you ears." The woman stated mysteriously as she listened to the sounds of the forest.

A sound did catch Bran's ears as he looked up, seeing the red leaves of the weirwood tree rustling lightly in the wind. A fact he was quick to point out. "It's only the wind." 

"Who do you think sends the wind if not the gods? They see you, boy. They hear you. Your brothers will get no help from them where they're going." She stated with a heavy sigh.

That statement caused Bran's eyes to turn to her as she spoke strongly, "The Old Gods have no power in the South. The weirwoods there were all cut down a long time ago. How can they watch when they have no eyes?" She asked him as heavy footfalls approached them.

The Wildling woman laughed a bit at the appearance of a naked Hodor, pale skinned and tall, about as big as the GreatJon from Last Hearth really.

"Well, there's a big man. He has giant's blood in him or I'm the Queen." The Wildling stated with certainty as she examined Hodor with a generous eye.

Bran turned to the naked Hodor as he gave his orders, "Go back and find your clothes, Hodor. Go dress." 

Hodor only answered with a customary, "Hodor."

The large man disappeared under the brush as the Wildling tried to get more of a better view of him, but the little lord's question drew her attention. 

"Are there really giants beyond the Wall?" He asked.

Turning to Bran, she answered grimly, "Giants and worse than giants."