Winter's Fire → Game of Thrones

lxvi. Barrowton

It has been years since I last rode through the lands of the North. 

I have missed my home. Its vast forests, snowy mountains, rivers and lakes. The way the air smells crisp and the cold winds that often bring scents of pine from the forests. I have even missed the cloudy weather and the bone chilling cold of the early morning and late night.

The ride along the Kingsroad and then along another major road towards Barrow Hall has been peaceful. Whilst no one knows who I am, it seems I am still Northern enough to be welcomed warmly. As if I am one of their own. Inn-keeps have shared shared meat and mead with me, travelling men have drunk with me and shared their stories, and everyone in-between has shown me such kindness.

Being shown such hospitality made me yearn to return to my true home though. To Winterfell. But I had told myself I had one stop left and I was going to complete it today.

Today I was going to visit Lady Barbrey Dustin at Barrow Hall. She seemed to hate House Stark and it was always clear to me, even as a child. It felt wrong to return home without at least trying to understand why her hatred towards my family was so strong.

Whilst I wish to be Lady of the North one day and restore my family's titles, I also wish to restore our honour. That had all gotten lost in my mind until I reached The Neck and officially returned to my home lands. Now I remember why I wanted to come home in the first place though. And I intend to do what I can to restore House Stark to its former glory.

As I rode up the hill leading into the town of Barrowton, I took in the wooden walls surrounding the town. The town itself was fortified with walls and a gate, but wood would not stop many invaders. Even the buildings were made mostly of wood. If there were a large fire, the town itself would burn down within hours.

The town was small and quaint, with a number of people glancing at me as I rode past. I am sure the other Northern lords visit Lady Dustin all the time, but a woman travelling by horse on her own was probably a rare sight. It would give Lady Dustin time to hear that I had reached her town though.

There was a small in towards the top of the town that I was hoping to stay in for the night. It seemed to double as one of the town's pubs, but that bothered me not. At least it meant I could have some ale when I return from Barrow Hall, the castle of House Dustin.

Stares followed me as I tied up my horse and walked into the inn. I had my arakh hidden by my cloak as it sat on the back of my belt. The hilt of my sword and the butterfly sword strapped to the outside of my thigh were visible though. The other butterfly sword slightly poked out the top of my left boot.

Having so many weapons on myself was weighing me down greatly. I planned to go back to only carrying my sword when I reached Winterfell and had somewhere to safely leave my weapons. I would always hold my arakh and Alios' butterfly swords close though. They would remind me of everything I have been through.

"What's a young girl like yourself doing carrying so many weapons?" The innkeeper asked, the second I reached the desk.

He was a short, gruff old man. He clearly was not happy about my appearance in his inn, though I suspected he was more wary than annoyed. Well, I was hoping more than suspecting.

"Looking for a bed for the night and a stable to leave my horse in," I answered. "I would leave some weapons somewhere else but, well, I am from Winterfell."

"Winter town, ya mean? Sorry to hear about what happened to ya home. I would carry more weapons than a lord's arsenal too if I had to worry about Ironborn torching my town."

What happened to my home? Ironborn torching Winter town?

What did this man mean?

"No, I mean I am from Winterfell," I muttered, struggling to wrap my head around the information I was just given. "I am Lady Alessia Stark. I-" I paused for a second before meeting the innkeeper's eyes. "What happened to my people? What happened to Winter town?"