Dream Of Winter | C. Stark & H. Targaryen

Family Line

Luke POV

"I shall need a bit more clarification than that, Waters. Explain yourself."

Lucerys found himself at the solar of the lord Commander Karstark. He had barely disembarked from his horse before he was called for a debriefing. His superior had excepted a report on the Wilding camps or information on their recently missing rangers beyond the Wall.

But that is not what the Vel.. black brother had to offer. Merely what his own intuition had provided.

Something is decidedly wrong in the lands to the True North. A shiver whose origin isn't linked back to the overbearing cold ran though his spine before he stumbled upon Bjorn. The raven coated direwolf's presence only strengthened his existent suspicions, not created them.

Though his command was questioned a dozen times over before thy reached the Nightfort. The threat of being mulled by a vicious beast kept order and discipline and discouraged any mutiny.

But now his authority is null and void. His reasoning has to meet the Commander's requirements. Or, he'll be judged a craven unworthy of his dark cloak, the only damn thing that's still his in this world.

"As I've said, Lord Karstark, we searched for the wildlings for over a month. Our rations were dwindling quickly. There was no sign of them. But I'm confident that had we continued our march to Hardhome, we would not have survived." He tried to project confidence. His guts told him a mystical phenomenon was afoot. But better to rely on a pragmatic approach before opening that can of worms.

"Alec tells me you abandoned the mission out of fear. The clans were nearly found, but you couldn't risk your own neck so you called off the ranging party." Karstark doesn't display any belief in the words he's quoted. He states them to get a reaction out of him. Indignation or outrage to add more credence to them perhaps. Luke doesn't take the bait.

"No my lord. You can ask many others. I acted in the best interest of our brothers. To prevent unnecessary loss of life for a pointless cause."

He swears he noticed a little smirks at his reply, but it's gone before he's certain. "Alec's a cunt. But he's served loyally for twenty years. He was the most likely to take this post before I said my vows."

Before you were forced to you mean. Just like himself, Harrison Karstark was exiled to the Wall by his own kin. Though Cregan Stark was a distant cousin rather than what Luke's uncle and step-grandmother did to him.

Maybe he has no ground to be angry. If any other ruler had a say, Lucerys wouldn't have been born to begin with. His mother would be sent to the sisters and disavowed after Jace's birth and that would be the end of that.

Driftmark would surely leave him one-eyed or exiled across the Narrow Sea.

But, he never asked to be brought into this world. To be regarded with scrutiny and veiled hate for the sin of breathing.

He wanted to lash out. Become a dragon like the one he's been longing for. But he's no longer a pampered prince. This is his life now.

If bastards are born cursed than what does that say about their parents? Were they not the ones who spilled the damnation into their progeny? Or were they clean? But the act itself that sullied them.

Should he care?

"... you're dismissed. Go the hall. Some ale and soup will warm you up. But you better hurry, it'll probably be scooped up before you get there."

Proper nourishment - or edible, for that's how low the bar is at his frozen castle - and a good night's sleep in his own bed - again, not on the ground without even a fire in fear of a possible ambush - sounds divine.