The Guardian of the North (Robb Stark) Completed

Keeping our promises

"You're all puppets, tangled in strings." - Ultron, Avengers; the age of Ultron.

The sound of The Dark One's paws galloping became like the sound of a breath for Elena's ears. After a while she just didn't hear them anymore. They were now north of Winterfell, riding through the Wolfswood. Elena looked at all the trees passing by, she couldn't focus on one because they were moving that fast. Everything was a blur.

Only one sign Elena could read, maybe it was because of its words that were written on it.

"Wait." Elena said to The Dark One mentally. If she'd spoken out loud he probably wouldn't have heard her. He stopped, his paws sinking in the earth.

"What is it?" he said back when he came to a halt, his voice ringing through Elena's head. He obviously couldn't talk out loud because he was transformed into a tiger.

"I know this place." Elena said out loud and dismounted him, her boots landing on the floor. She walked towards the sign and read the words. The dark panther followed her, his footsteps soft.

"Wickendale." Elena's eyes widened when she remembered what Gillian had asked of her in his letter. She still had it, she had put it in her pocket where it probably would stay forever. By now she had read it a thousand times. The grieve she felt hadn't become any less, it only became worse. In some way though she could bear it better than before. 

Every day she would miss him more, his smile, the way he would always make her laugh and even the way he would always talk ill of Robb. Maybe that's what loss does to a person.

"I have to go in here." Elena said and followed the path to the Orphan house. She didn't even hesitate.

"Where are you going?" the Dark One asked as his human feet touched the ground.

"I'm keeping my promise." Elena yelled back over her shoulder when she reached the entrance to the massive house. The last time she was here she was with Gillian. Elena lowered her eyes, she could feel the pain in her heart. She remembered the day like it was yesterday.

Gillian and her had stolen food from Winterfell's kitchen and brought it all the way here. They had 15 giant sacks full off different vegetables and fruit, they had struggled a lot to bring it all there. The result was a lot of laughter during the journey and a lot of grateful and happy children in the Orphan House. The only downside was that Eddard Stark became furious. He grounded her for seven weeks, much to Robb's satisfaction. He still hated her around that time.

Elena's head shot up when she arrived at the door, she didn't hear the laughter and shrieks of the little children. There was absolutely no sound at all coming from the house. She frowned and turned the knob of the door. It fell out of its hinges and fell to the ground, revealing an empty and destroyed hallway.Dust and spider webs covered the walls, the happiness stolen from them. The places were first stood toys and playswords were now all empty. Nothing was left but rotten old wood. It was like all of the joy had vanished, leaving only decay and darkness behind.

"They're gone." Now there was only grieve in Elena's voice. She had failed Gillian, the children were all gone. He had asked only for one thing and she failed to do even that. His second home had been destroyed and Elena didn't even know by whom.

"Roose Bolton has probably ordered them to come go Winterfell. Children can help repairing a castle." The Dark One's boots pounded on the rotten wood when he walked into the abandoned house, the sound filling it, echoing through the empty halls.

"He asked me to look after them." Elena sighed and placed her palm against the old wood.

"Gillian is dead now. He won't know it if you keep your promises or not." The Dark One chuckled.