The Lannister Wolf Series

Eight

Brienne and Podrick stood silently watching as Evelyn carried the large direwolf towards the hole that the girl had insisted on digging by herself. Evelyn had lain Lady in her cloak and was dragging the wolf before gently rolling her inside the hole. The girl then set about shoveling earth into the hole and that was when Brienne and Podrick stepped in to help. They both knew that Evelyn held herself responsible for Lady's death, because of her being the one to lead them into the valley. When they were finished, they helped Evelyn pile rocks on the grave to keep critters out.

Evelyn took one of the rocks and tied a ribbon around it. Brienne saw that it was a blue ribbon laced with gold. The colors of Stark and of Lannister.

"She is at peace now my lady," Brienne told the girl. "She died doing the thing she lived for: protecting her master and even if Lady Sansa was her first master, you saved her and took her in as your own."

Evelyn nodded, "I always knew that one of my company would die... I just never saw Lady as the one who would go. She was such a sweet soul."

Podrick hung his head, feeling tears prick his eyes and the last thing he wanted was to cry in front of two ladies. Evelyn bent down and plucked a few of the pale pink flowers that grew nearby which she placed underneath the ribbon tied rock. Brienne frowned. Interesting choice of grave decorative.

Evelyn then turned to look at Podrick, "Where is the boy? He needs treatment." She stated.

Podrick led Chance over and there lay the still unconscious boy, tied to the saddle. "he hasn't moved or woken up."

Evelyn nodded, "There should be a healer in the village. Let's go."

The small party slowly walked down the flower covered slope towards the village that roamed on both sides of the river in the very center of the valley between two mountains. When they entered the small village, they found that all of the houses were dome shaped thatched huts of all shapes and sizes, ranging from ne room size to six room sized ones. People poked their heads out of their houses as the group passed and when they saw that they were strangers, everyone rushed out as if they did not usually receive guests. Evelyn soon realized that none of the people were like each other.... like a million people from all over Westeros were camping out at the base of the mountains. A young woman approached the group and greeted them with a smile. She looked like she could have been from the North with pale skin and long beautiful pale reddish hair, almost a strawberry color that was partially held back by a scarf.

"Welcome to the Valley of Yalreal. I am Marinah. Who are you?" she asked sweetly.

Evelyn smiled. Surprised at how the woman's round cheeks and button nose seemed so familiar, "I am Evelyn... Stark Lannister. These are my sons and my friends. I was told to come here to see the Keeper of the Temple of Earth... Varsha. I was sent by Brisingr and Audra."

The woman's green eyes widened before she beamed, "So you are the Warlock, the prophesized dragon who would bring flame back to the world. It is an honor to have you here. You must be exhausted. My husband will show you to a spare hut so you may rest."

The man that approached made Evelyn freeze. He was a tall, strongly built man that reminded Evelyn of a bear... just without the grizzly. He easily stood over six foot with shortly cut blond hair, a firm jawline and piercing blue eyes. The girl shook herself out of her thoughts and spoke.

"We have a boy.... From the fog of the dead."

The couple's faces fell in sadness for they realized that the guess had just lost a friend, "We have healers who will care for him. Izac."

The man gently lifted the boy from the back of the horse and carried him away as Marinah showed the group to the two empty huts. Podrick and Brienne took one while Evelyn and the others took the other.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality," Evelyn told the woman. "How long have you been here in the valley?"

The woman sighed, "Over ten years. All of us have lived here for a long time. This place has been a refuge for slaves who escaped their masters, bastards who were treated like dirt and for other people running from evil. Varsha has welcomed all clean of heart for centuries but.... After Izac and I came here, Varsha sealed the fog and refused to let anyone but the promised elementals through. The world was too dangerous after Robert's Rebellion and in an attempt to protect the valley, the refugees and the dead fog, he closed it all off, hid it... and disappeared into the mountains. No one has seen Varsha since."

Evelyn's heart fell, 'Varsha is not here?"

Marinah nodded, "I am afraid so... but since you are here, I am sure the keeper will emerge. Rest now. Your friend will wake soon."

Evelyn nodded and set about cleaning and changing the boys before laying them down for their naps. She discarded her clothes and changed into a dress and smock that Marinah left her. she tucked her leather outfit underneath her arm and headed out. It didn't take her long to find the healer hut for it was the second largest hut in the village. The old man who was evidently the maester was tending to the boy when Evelyn entered and he smiled at her.

"What have you got there?" he asked, pointing at her bundle.

"I need a place to burn the past," she explained to the old maester.

The man pointed to the roaring fire in the corner, "help yourself."

Evelyn crouched by the fireplace before she shoved the leather into the flames. She would never wear the same clothes that she wore when one of her comrades fell. All of Lady must be put to rest and a new chapter of Evelyn's life must begin.... Without Lady in it. the girl rose and joined the old man at the boy's side.

"What happened to him? I mean... before he ended up in the fog of the dead? How did he die?" she asked.

The old man hummed, "I am not very clever when it comes to recognizing the work of different weapons. You would have to ask Celia that. She was a healer in her earlier years before she took up holding the catalog of the fallen. She said something about hoping to never find the names of her family.... Anyway, it looks like he was stabbed in his gut a few times and then his throat was slit... but the weapons used were strange and oddly shaped and the cut on his neck looks like the weapon was dull... or blunt. He'll have scars for the rest of his life."

Just when those last words left the maester's lips, the boy shot up in bed with a gasp and he panted heavily, eyes wide and face flushed as he looked around. When he saw Evelyn, he froze.

"You.... You are Evelyn Stark... I know you..." he gasped.

Evelyn's eyes widened, "That is correct.... Forgive me but how did you know my name? I have never seen you before and certainly do not know your name. I only brought you out of the fog of the dead... you had been stabbed and your throat slit."

The boy nodded, "I know you.... You look just like he described... your brother Bran... he spoke of you often..."

Evelyn's eyes widened, "Bran is alive!?"

The boy grinned, "Aye.... So is Rickon. I am Jojen.... Jojen Reed."