...
Arthur's eyes stayed on the giant castle ahead, but his senses were screaming at him, that there was something aiming to kill him, so his attention landed on the men on the horses.
"My lord, these guy's don't have any good intentions"
"I can see".
Renalla held her sheathed sword tightly, ready for any sudden actions they make.
The leader of this small group, suddenly turned to face them, "this is Winterfell, This is Winterfell," he announced, his voice carrying across the road. "You're standing before the seat of House Stark."
Arthur stared at the massive walls towering above them.
Winterfell.
But whatever was waiting behind those walls was the least of his concerns.
His instincts were still screaming, someone or something wanted them dead, more specifically, it was targeting him.
Arthur's eyes remained fixed on the enormous castle ahead, but his senses were screaming at him. Something nearby was watching them something with murderous intent.
His attention shifted toward the men approaching on horseback.
Arthur said nothing, the castle dominated the horizon, with it's heavy black walls.
Massive stone walls surrounding the fortress, towers rising high above them, banners bearing the direwolf of House Stark fluttering in the cold northern wind.
It was impressive and heavily guarded, Arthur's eyes moved across the battlements, there were archers, several dozen of them.
Arthur slowly exhaled and spoke, "So this is Winterfell", the leader nodded and responded with a raised eyebrow, "You've travelled a long way."
"That we have."
The man's eyes narrowed.
Arthur immediately noticed the subtle movement of his hand toward the sword hanging at his waist.
Renalla noticed it too, her thumb pushed against the guard of her own weapon, Arthur gave her a small glance.
Signaling with his eyes, 'Don't, not yet', she understood, but her nerves were heightened, she didn't even know, she could see sweat forming on the leaders face.
That leader looked between them, he was terrified inwardly, the moment he came into contact with Arthur, his blood went colder than the weather, his sword was his only comfort, swallowing he spoke to them again.
"You were expected", Arthur raised an eyebrow in confusion, no one should know he was even here.
"Expected?"
"Aye."
"By whom?", the man's expression remained unreadable, but he still responded, "My lord."
Arthur almost smiled.
That damned title again.
Everyone seemed to have already decided who he was before he had even introduced himself, was this a twisted joke.
"Who exactly was expecting us then?"
The rider didn't answer immediately instead, he glanced toward the castle gates.
"They'll explain everything inside, once inside"
Arthur's instincts screamed even louder, that wasn't an answer, he wanted, Renalla leaned slightly closer and whispered, "My lord, might I suggest, we sleep together tonight".
Arthur slowly gave her strained smile, [is it just me, or is she trying to get into my pants already.]
As they made their way closer to the gates, several people were watching him, not Renalla, but specifically him.
As they passed beneath the gatehouse, Arthur felt the atmosphere change, the open road behind them disappeared.
Inside the walls, the courtyard was busy, soldiers moved between buildings, servants carried crates.
Horses were being led toward the stables, blacksmiths worked at the forge children hurried through the courtyard before being called back by worried-looking adults.
Arthur's gaze travelled upward, the castle itself was enormous.
Several buildings connected to the main keep, with stone walls and wooden structures filling the interior.
Renalla looked around as well, "So many soldiers, it's my first time being brought here, I've only ever been told of it, my father wouldn't let me come here".
"Is that so, is it just me or do they seem nervous to you"
"What do you mean?"
"Look at their faces."
Renalla did as he said, she saw that everyone were staring directly at Arthur, more than anything, they were looking at his face, Renalla turned and understood something, it was the eyes, a golden glow that couldn't be hidden.
The rider who had escorted them after dismounted his horse, "Follow me..", but Arthur didn't move, seeing this the man frowned.
"My lord?"
The tension between them grew, Renalla's hand remained on her sword, several soldiers nearby had stopped what they were doing.
Arthur could practically feel the attention of the entire courtyard gathering around them even more now, then footsteps echoed from the castle entrance.
"Arthur?"
"I know."
A man had appeared at some point and stopped stopped several metres away, for several seconds, neither side spoke.
Then the stranger said, "You've caused quite a stir haven't you?", hearing this, Arthur crossed his arms.
"I haven't done anything."
"Not yet.., alright, enough with the suspense, follow me, someone wishes to speak with you"
With a slight pause, Arthur gave him a slight nod, at least this guy didn't seem scared of him like those horse riders, but that feeling of being watched felt stronger.
Entering inside the main castle, the interior were warmer than he had expected, from stone, his people back at home had already taken care of that problem.
Soon they arrived in a hall, at the far end stood a raised platform, Arthur's eyes immediately moved toward the table.
Several important-looking figures of Winterfell were gathered here, and they were all watching him.
Whispers spreading through the hall, "That's him right"
"Is that really the man?"
"Look at his eyes."
"I heard he crossed the high seas, no one has ever passed them, they can only come here"
Arthur heard every word, his face twisting slightly, Renalla heard them too and she leaned closer, "they seem to know who you are my lord".
"I can see that, you know"
Arthur saw two young men standing near one of the pillars was staring directly at him, unlike everyone else, they weren't whispering like the other's.
The one that led them in, nodded his head at the two of them and stood aside.
The taller one walked over, his eyes landing on the magnificent sword on Arthur's back, "are you really?.., are you really the one from the weirwood's word's?".
[The fuck, what is he talking about.]
The smaller one beside the larger one who just spoke, decided to elaborate for him, "all of us, all the Starks had a vision from the old god's, a prince that was promised, we don't know what this means, but we saw the vision of ten people seated before a man, a person holding that blade on your back among a large table..".
"Mm, that's right, eyes so gold, they make the Lannister's look poor..", seeing the look of annoyance appearing on Arthur, the young man, coughed and patted the smaller ones shoulder.
"This here is Eddard and I'm Benjen Stark, I'm sorry my father couldn't be here to house you right now, both the heir and lord are at Kings landing, so they can't do anything, so we were the ones to welcome you in their stead"
Ed nodded, "by the honor of house Stark, we pledge that you and your friend here, will not be harmed under our house, by the rights of the guest".
Arthur was quiet, everything Benjen just said, was exactly ten knights and the round table, he has already taken three knights as of now.
Arthur did believe their words, especially seeing weird stuff where he lives.
"That still doesn't add up in knowing when I'd come here?", he stared at the two brothers, wanting to know how they knew, he was at least hoping, those guys he left behind didn't send any raven's.
Both Eddard and Ben, looked at eachother, "this.., how can we tell you..".
"It was me, after touching the weirwood tree, I saw everything, you're Dragon's, you're wolf, you're power and when you would arrive".
A cocky woman pushed herself off a wall, she was listening to their conversation, she just didn't want to speak right now, especially seeing even more crazy stuff within that short vision of hers.
Arthur saw a feisty looking beast, the woman pushed forward and shoved the two brothers aside.
"So.., you're the one that one eyed guy talked about, the promised Prince, the one to end all calamities, yet is also the bringer of them"
She looked him up and down, "I don't see much, just a man, nothing different at all to the rest of them".
Renalla felt her Lord's status had just been insulted, walking in front of the woman, she spoke harshly, "if you can beat me, then you can say anything you wish, but you're not speaking to my lord in such a manner without any consequence's".
"Heh hahaha, sure, I was just thinking about seeing where the two of you stand, I want to see if my visions are real, and not just me being insane".
The two brothers were about to stop the woman from acting arrogant anymore, but with a single glance from her, they flinched back.
On a courtyard, Renalla held a long sword with one hand, as the woman opposite her, held one with two hands.
"Show me your mettle, little lady"
"My name's Lyanna, not little girl", Lyanna pushed forward with rough movements, Renalla saw it too.
With a quick swipe, Lyanna's blade flung out of her hands, flying towards a stone wall and impaling it.
Everyone just stared blankly at the scene, "brother, did you see that, one move, she actually beat Lyanna with one move".
"I did, enough!, you have shown you're strength!, there's no need to continue!".
Renalla had the blade on Lyanna's neck, as she whispered in a low voice, "speak to my lord in that manner again, and I will sever every limb you have".
Lyanna nodded with a smile, pulling the blade back, Lyanna rubbed her hand and neck, "I apologize for my brashness, I just can't help myself when I see a warrior".
Arthur walked over and looked down at the girl, "well, what does a loser like you have to give me, I'm a little curious who this one eyed man is too, so perhaps telling me this information will be good enough".
"That's a free charge, as the loser of this spar, perhaps a few lessons of teaching me swordsmanship would be enough".
The two simply stared at eachother, until Arthur nodded, "good, great!, I'll tell you who that one eyed guy is..".
She stopped talking when she saw Arthur throwing something towards a corner, "caw!".
A tiny crow flew off into the sky, just as it was about to flee completely, a large Raven flew down and grabbed it.
Arthur had finally found the source of that bloodlust, it was coming from that crow.
With purple engravings on the large Raven, Arthur immediately understood what that Raven was, it's sheer size was enough to know who it was, "thanks All Father".
Lyanna looked at the scene, her eyes narrowed, "not a problem, grandson, let me take care of this mortal, he thinks that power is his, I'm just gonna destroy him, I'll send my son Thor to him, consider it a welcome gift for our first meeting".
Everyone at the scene had their eyes wide, "my Lord, that Raven, is it the old god's familiar?", Lyanna and everyone who was there, felt their emotions rising.
The old god's have finally come back, and it was all centered on this guest who had arrived.
Those who weren't Stark's, all stared at Arthur like he was their savior, Lyanna seeing this pulled him away into the large castle.
The two Brothers and Renalla quickly followed behind them, "return to work!, make sure not to tell anyone of today's matters!, huh?".
Everyone looked up and saw a rainbow light shooting like a spear across the sky, heading straight into the far north.
...