The blood of the dragon is feared among our lands.
Targaryens have conquered. They have burnt. They have destroyed.
My blood is famed in my lands. My House have cared for the people of the North long before the invaders came to our lands with thei...
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IT WAS GETTING HARD TO THINK, NOWADAYS. We had been on the Kingsroad for nearly a month, and it seemed as though King's Landing could not arrive soon enough. The rations which we'd brought were starting to become scares and the heat was disorientating for those of us who had never left the North before.
We were a small party on the journey to Kings Landing. There were four of us in total, and whilst conversation had been rife at the beginning, now we rode mostly in silence.
Even now, despite being paired and riding in a small square, there was no conversation amongst the group. I rode in the back line of the square – my most favourite of guards to my right. Rodrick Umber was the second son of Lord Umber, and had been tasked by my brother, Cregan, to safeguard me on the journey South. Whilst he had initially been unwilling, once it was announced that his sister, and my most loyal friend, would be accompanying me he had agreed almost immediately.
Both Rodrick and Donella, who rode just ahead of her brother, had the typical Umber colouring which was so common in the North. They were both pale with warm brown eyes and deep amber hair.
House Umber had been loyal to my family's house as far back as our records went. Donella had been a fast friend of mine since we were mere babes, with my fathers attempt at introducing a new female presence into my life with her and her mother. After my mother passed, it was a good opportunity to both strengthen the ties between our houses, and give me a true upbringing with a woman's touch. The decision had meant that I saw Donella as a sister, and though I hadn't known Rodrick very well after he had stayed at Last Hearth with their father, he and I had become friends during this long journey as well.
The final member of our small party was Brandon Snow, who was a much older and experienced warrior and guard than Rodrick was. Cregan had told me that Brandon was a bastard of House Glover who was versed in the sword and a formidable opponent. He had claimed that the man had trained him, though I didn't think I had seen him in Winterfell before. He had not been particularly kind on the journey, though he also was not unkind. He had sworn a vow to my brother as his liege and was set on completing his task. He rode ahead with Donella in silence.
"When can we stop?" Donella asked as I readjusted my cloak in an attempt to provide some additional padding to my thighs,
Brandon growled lowly. "When I say we can."
Though it looked as though Donella did not want to further frustrate one of our guards, she couldn't help but push the matter more. With a tentative glance over to the eldest member of the group, she politely stated, "I am thirsty and feel as though I may faint in this heat. May we please find some shade and pause for respite?"
Rodrick glanced sideways at me, and I tried to hide a smile which had begun creeping its way onto my face. Donella was sly, and knew that her manners would get her far in life. She would weaponize these manners and courtesies if it meant that she would get what she wanted,
