✓ | 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒐 𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 (R.STARK 2/3)

Chapter Twenty Two::Glover Men

There was an odd feeling that came with entering the woods, at least there was to Raina; something that was no longer as menacing as it once had been - there was no longer a looming fear of what lay beyond the tree line - only something more, comforting, familiar perhaps. Her cousins and brothers had decided upon taking a turn through the woods on this fine, autumn afternoon, to which Raina couldn't refuse, yet was unnerved none the same, even with the Lessing fear of the unknown lurking within her gut. The direwolves wondered these woods, and were the Glovers to stumble upon either of the wolves, the pair would be slaughtered by the Boltons in minutes. Raina didn't want that to happened, she wanted, no needed, the direwolves to stay alive - to keep her sane through such a time as this.

Trying her best not to think much of the Stark's pets lurking in the shadows, Raina paid her family the majority of her attention, Erena was enthusiastic about finally coming to this notorious place and having female company through the adventure; she was deeply interested in all the stories Raina had to tell. Gawen was just as alike Delvin as Raina had thought at first, and all three boys hung around in their own group, chatting about fighting and women. It was peaceful - normal almost. Raina wondered if this was what her life would've been had her father not fallen out with Robett when she was young, and had things not gone as badly as they had; she wondered if perhaps she would have had a better relationship with her cousins, and would've spent regular afternoons with them like this. She wondered about a lot of things these days.

"What was the war like, cousin?" Erena chirped, skipping at Raina's side as they lazily strolled after their brothers' party. Raina was stunned for a moment, actually trying to work out what it actually was like, as if looking from a 3rd persons view on another persons life - she couldn't quite comprehend that she'd lived through such a time and had managed to come out of it with a mere few scratches. Some hadn't been so fortunate. "Brutal." Raina muttered, images and memories flashing across her vision and unsettling her stomach. She didn't want to recall any of it in a fond light, only Robb, and even referring to him in such a way brought up tears to her eyes. She wished only to dismiss the topic as quickly as she was able, sure not to linger on the depression it brought with it.

"What of your life, dear Erena? Tell me about your childhood." The blond, younger Glover girl failed to identify Raina's quick shift of topic, and was happy enough to continue the conversation as if there was nothing different about it, which made Raina ease somewhat, at not having to cover up her actions to her own cousin - she did that enough these days, she didn't need it with family also. "It was quiet - mostly - mother had to look after us, but it was only ever Gawen and I. Sometimes I wish I had more siblings, like yourself - I imagine it to be much more varied than the simplicity of but one brother." Erena mused, still as enthusiastic to chatter as previously, which was at the very least a good distraction for Raina, who found her gaze frequently wandering to the trees in case of spying familiar faces; Erena's speaking postponed the same caution by some time, as Raina remained caught in conversation. "I spent little time with my siblings all together, but as you say it was nice to have variation with the company I kept over the years - I mostly lurked with the boys for most of my childhood but having a sister had always proved useful at certain times." Past tense. Having Esme had proved to be beneficial, and welcomed avidly, but that wasn't an option Raina was exposed to these days. She didn't want to talk about Esme, nor did she really wish I talk about her parents, Finn and Delvin were an alright topic but she would've preferred something more generic, however it was better than speaking about the fallen King, whom had caused Raina much sadness in the past weeks.

Raina hadn't noticed that their walking had led them in a circle, straight back to the gates of Winterfell, but she couldn't say she was disappointed to see the familiar building looming on the hill before them. Although she hated the place now, for what and who it held within its walls, she'd rather be kept in there than allowed out into the woods and risk the Direwolves safety; even if she had been with family, that was too many eyes prying to catch sight of the notorious beats that should all be dead, according to the Boltons. Erena had dashed to Finn's side, along with her brother, and had brought up a conversation about Finn's battle tales, which his ego openly spoke of, leaving Delvin to be reunited with his sister. "How is it here?" He inquired, a slanted smile sympathising Raina's gloomy demeanour. She hated it. He knew she hated it, but, even as her older brother whose responsibility was to protect her in ways he didn't with Esme, he couldn't do anything to pull her free of the cursed lives her parents had enlisted her in. She knew that, and tried to make him feel less guilty about it, but she couldn't conceal her obvious hatred about the ordeal, and how disgusted she was with the Boltons in generally. "Ramsay killed Ethan. Did you hear of it? Has Asher? Ludd Whitehill was here speaking of it, he had little Ryon as his ward; I swear I could've castrated them both on the spot for the way they spoke of our friends." Raina replied, subconsciously ranting of all the things Ramsay had done in the past days to distress her. "How am I to marry that man in 2 weeks. That's not enough time to adjust to this. To learn to live with him..." Raina's voice quietened, she knew she was only making Delvin and herself feel worse on the matter, and didn't exactly wish to bring his mood down to where hers had been looming all the while. "Ethan Forrester? That monster! He was only a boy..." Delvin exclaimed, cursing at the dirt as his head hung low and his boot collided with a pile of mud in his way; it was scattered across the courtyard. "I'm sorry you must go through with this, sister. If there were anything I could--" "Don't. Delvin, don't. This is not your fault, it is just chance Ramsay would be the one I marry. There is nothing neither one of us can do so we best learn to deal with it, and forget the blame you so easily cast to yourself. Poor circumstances, that's all." Raina smiled, it was forced and tight but she tried her best to comfort her brother, whom now hated himself more than the Bolton bastard who was to blame for all of this.

They ventured through the open courtyard, not speaking any more of the Bolton's or Raina's new life situation, only staying quiet in one another's company. Raina was pleased to have her brothers, and new family, around her for the time being, and wasn't going to let anything get in the way of her spending her time with them. She was happy, in the only way she could muster; even in the dullness of her life now, and the darker days she'd faced prior to now, and was due to face from here on in, she was happy to have her brothers with her. That mood drastically dropped within minutes. 

The party stepped into the Great Hall, quite quietly as it turned out, and were greeted with the sight of Robett, not a portly gentlemen like Clerk,  but he wasn't as shapely as his son by any means, and by now means as handsome or youthful, he was a man with thin greying hair and a speckled grey beard that coated the lower half of his face, her Uncle, stood before Lord Bolton and his son with her father, his brother, with him as they spoke calmly. Robett spoke of Deepwood Motte, and how it had savagely been taken by the Greyjoys, who had outnumbered them at the beginning of the month. Raina felt sick, and the sudden urge to punch Theon very hard in the face, but she remained perfectly, surprisingly, still, listening to the northern twang in the man's voice. "As we are to be family soon, I ask only for a few men to help us reclaim our home. Please, m'lord-" "My daughter would ask this of you if she knew of it, we ask only as her family seeking assistance from her betrothed's family." Galbart participated, backing his brother for the first time in years; decades even. Lord Bolton seemed at ease, as though he'd already made up his mind, and Robett's persistence was a mere means to waste away hours until supper. "I shall offer my services in any way you would ask; if it is men you seek, I shall provide. I will send a party of my best men at dawn, they will see to it that those Greyjoy scum should see a good battle before their ship home." Roose smiled, it was an eerie sort of expression that didn't suit him in the slightest, it made Raina feel the slightest taste of nausea it was that disturbing, and offered a chalice of wine to each of the men stood before him, so that they may clink their glasses and make this agreement sealed. 

Raina was disgusted, by her father and her uncle, at the thought of them seeking help, in her name, from the bastards that are responsible for their King's death. How was it that such a man could be intrusted with the recapture of their home, after all he had done? Raina was infuriated, or worse if there were any way of describing such rage. If there had been any doubt in her hatred towards her father before now, it was secured in what he had just done, what he'd just sort out and agreed to. Raina hated the mention of such a man, and felt unclean at knowing she must bear the same name as such a pig-headed brute. "Excuse me..." She mumbled to her brother, whom still stood idly at her side, watching with no real interest in the words being conversed in the room before them, and who had now only just noticed Raina's rapid departure. She ventured from the room with haste, making through the courtyard and back to the only familiar, reasonably warm place she knew. Into the woods.