Game of Dragonborn. [BOOK 1/2]

Chapter 187 - What kind of plagues did I eliminate in Skyrim?

[Chapter Size: 2200 Words.]

Third Person POV.

Winterfell.

...

...

Daemon hadn't stopped looking at his uncle, hunched beside him that morning, while the hall remained quite empty since they had woken early.

Val and Ygritte were still sleeping in their room, while Benjen had the habit of waking very early at the Wall, so there weren't many people around at that moment.

Daemon gave him a slap on the shoulder, making him almost jump.
"What is it, uncle? You're sitting there all curled up?"

"She's here, isn't she?" Benjen murmured.

"You know she is," Daemon replied, as he felt something move behind him, through the air, above his shoulder. His mother seemed interested in something they had talked about yesterday, as she floated above Daemon's shoulder, staring at Benjen.

"Tell me, did you two argue or something? What's going on here?" Daemon commented, while Benjen seemed to shrink even more.

It seemed there had been another argument yesterday... Daemon remembered leaving Benjen arguing with his mother in the godswood. As for him, he carried a sense of guilt, although Daemon didn't pay much attention to it, since he had gone to his room with his spear-wife.

"Well, whatever it is you two need to discuss, settle it soon. We have a long day ahead," he said, shrugging. He didn't know what that was about, but he wanted them to resolve it themselves — after all, even though one of them was dead, they were still brothers.

At the same time, armed men entered the hall, heading toward the main table.

"Your Grace, the Umbers and the Karstarks will arrive in about ten minutes," a man informed formally.

"Excellent. You may return to your post. Guards, wake my cousins and the other northern lords. I want everyone present. I'll receive our guests," Daemon said, standing from the table and heading toward the courtyard, where he waited for his companions.

Robb, Rickon, and Bran also arrived a few minutes later. The northern nobles gathered as well, waiting while the banners of the Umbers and Karstarks approached the castle gates.

The Umber heir was nothing but a child, while young Lady Karstark was a girl, which made Daemon raise an eyebrow when he saw her standing close to the leader of the Free Folk he had placed in the castle to help her rule — Sigorn, Magnar of Thenns.

Still, that didn't matter at the moment. When he received them, both bowed respectfully before him, accompanied by the men under their command.

"Bring bread and salt for our guests," Daemon said, casting a glance at Lady Karstark, who didn't seem to mind standing beside a man of the Free Folk before the other northerners. In fact, there was something in her gaze that made it clear that the man beside her — a man of the Free Folk — was someone she trusted.

"Lady Karstark, how are the ships? I hope everything went well regarding the search for the people of Skagos," said Daemon. After all, Lady Karstark had promised to send a letter to Karhold, making ships available to fetch the men from Skagos, since Daemon had negotiated their surrender and loyalty when he visited the city with the Magnar of Skagos to summon them for the war.

"Everything is as you requested, Your Grace. The ships have already returned to the continent. According to the latest news I received, three thousand men are already advancing toward Winterfell," she replied.

"Excellent. Now, make yourselves comfortable. Winterfell welcomes you," said Daemon.

Lady Karstark nodded, greeting the others. Daemon could sense a certain bitterness from her as she looked at Robb. Her father had been executed during the war by his hand, even if for disobedience. Still, she couldn't help but look at him with some disdain, while thinking of her brothers who had been captured — perhaps dead now, since their lives no longer seemed to hold any worth.