✓ | TOUGH AS THE IRONWOOD (A.FORRESTER 2)

Cold in the North. Chapter Twenty Three.

"CYNTHIA! CYNTHIA WAKE UP! WAKE UP, COME ON!" A high pitched screaming snapped Cynthia's eyes open. The whole corridor echoed noise through an open door, which hadn't been opened before but had in fact be slammed open by a very excitable Talia, who now had thrown herself across Cynthia's bed to shake her awake. "COME QUICKLY!" She grabbed one of Cynthia's hands, preventing her from rubbing her eyes like she'd wanted to instinctively, and dragging her from the warm confines of her quilts. "What? What's going on? Talia slow down!" Cynthia frantically inquired as she ended up sprinting down the stairs with a very enthusiastic little girl. It was far too early, as far as Cynthia could tell, to even be awake at this time in the morning, let alone this happy and energetic. She had barely opened her eyes before Talia had her running about Ironrath. "JUST COME ON!" She screamed excitedly. At least, if anything, Cynthia could be sure nothing was wrong. Given there was no alarm in Talia's commands she could be certain it was a surprise, and a good one, not something she need concern herself with too much. The concerning this was why Talia was up so early, and how exactly she knew of whatever had her so hyper. 

They ran straight through the Great Hall, where Elyssa and Royland were having their regular council meetings with their Lord, who looked just as dead and knackered as Cynthia felt. But as soon as the eager child burst through the doors he stood up in alarm. "Talia, what in the seven hells is going on?" He asked instantly, though his gaze soon switched to Cynthia as Talia was already bolting towards another exit. She shrugged as best she could, while her arm was all but pulled from it's socket by a surprisingly strong Talia, who refused to slow down any time soon. "COME ON, RODRIK!" Talia shouted over her shoulder, and rounded the corner with Cynthia tailing helplessly behind. The distant thud of several pairs of feet confirmed Cynthia's queries as to whether Rodrik would indeed follow or not. And it as clear, his mother and Royland decided to come too. They were probably as confused as Cynthia was. 

Once they broke out into the courtyard, a brisk wind swept Cynthia's unkempt hair from her face in a wild billow. There was a bitter chill to the air, given it was barely dawn, and the sun was beginning to pierce the distant horizon with a golden glow. Light flooded the courtyard billow, casting shadows across the muddy paths and under sheltered buildings within the towering walls. It was quite a pleasant sight. But all the surroundings faded in seconds, as Cynthia soon realised what exactly had Talia so animated this morning. 

"Gared!" She screamed, releasing hold of Talia's hand, who had thankfully stopped dead at the top the stairs, and it wasn't long before Cynthia abandoned her there in a full sprint. Stood in the opening gateway, looking cold, tired and hungry. With a sword strapped to his back and the Night's Watch uniform soaked against his body, was the Tuttle boy Cynthia had not seen in over a year. She ran straight towards him, watching his face light up immediately. "Cyn!" He beamed, and met her half way in a delightful hug. She clung tightly to him, not quite believing her eyes. Members of the Night's Watch aren't supposed to leave the wall, ever. If people were to find out, he was be executed. As was the correct punishment for deserters. And she didn't want that to happen. Nevertheless, she was beyond thrilled to see her childhood best friend, stood directly in front of her, real as anything, with a huge smile broadening on his face. "What in the seven hells are you doing here!??" She exclaimed, looking at him in astonishment. "That, is one hell of a long story." He chuckled. Even his voice sounded unbelievably, yet familiar all the same. "Gared!" Yelled another female voice, and as they both looked, Talia had bolted towards him too. She wrapped her too-short-arms around his torso and held him close. She wasn't quite tall enough for a proper hug yet, but then Cynthia wasn't that much taller either. "Hello there," Gared chuckled, patting Talia's back with a beaming look Cynthia couldn't quite place. 

"Gared?" Rodrik called distantly from behind where the three had stopped in the middle of the courtyard. When Cynthia looked, he wore a stern frown that worried her slightly, but once she stepped out of the way, that expression fell to a smile in a second. Clearly he was just as happy as the others to see their old friend. Royland could faintly be seen to be muttering something to Elyssa, but for a moment Cynthia didn't care. She was just happy. 

"You must have had quite the adventure." Talia asked excitedly later that morning, when they'd all bustled up in the Great Hall beside the fire. Asher and Mira were still yet to wake up, some how managing to avoid the previous shouting Talia had filled the halls with, and Rodirk and his council had swanned off to a different room where no one else could hear. Presumably they were discussing what to do with Gared, given the consequences of him being here, but Cynthia already knew what she could do about it, so instead she fuelled Talia's enthusiasm with her own, and sat in front of Gared expectantly. "Come on, tell us one story at least." She chuckled lightheartedly at him, avoiding any thought given to what was being discussing beyond closed doors. "Let me think..." He pretended to contemplate something difficult, tapping his chin curiously, and then he turned back to the pair with a bright expression. "I met a warg." He gushed, gaining an excited squeal from Talia who was practically jumping. "What could they turn into?" She asked, desperately interested. "They don't turn into things, they can control animals with their mind." Cynthia rolled her eyes with a laugh, and then turned back to Gared: "Go on then, what animal was it?" "A polar bear." He shrugged, as if it were nothing. "WOW!" Talia's mouth fell open in disbelief. "A massive one!" Gared exclaimed humorously, only adding to Talia's childish delight. 

"Talia? Cynthia?" A familiar voice called from a nearby corridor. Mira. Finally, she was up. Now, all they had to wait for was Asher - who would likely not awake until long after dawn. "Go get your sister, will you Talia?" Cynthia smiled sweetly at the young girl, who nodded frantically and rushed off just as quickly. After a short moment staring after her, Cynthia's attention was brought back to her company. "Cyn...Where's my Uncle?" Gared questioned slowly, clearly glancing about the hall as if expecting Duncan to burst in any second now. That stopped whatever happy swirls were whirling around inside of Cynthia immediately. This was going to end poorly, she thought to herself sadly. Gared had no one anymore - all of his family was dead. Duncan was all he had, that was related to him, and to find out the Forresters, his close friends and practically family, were the ones responsible for his death - that would really hurt. And now Cynthia had to be the one to say it. "Gared..." She sighed. She closed her eyes and thought hard about how she would put this. It was going to be bad anyway she put it, but she wanted to at least sound delicate, even if she didn't care at all for Duncan after what he did, she still cared an awful lot for Gared, and she knew how much he loved his Uncle. "He's dead." Another voice finished her sentence so abruptly she physically cringed. Gared's face fell, and suddenly the room was eerily chilly. "He betrayed my family, so Rodrik put a knife through him." Asher. He hadn't taken well to the news of a traitor within the council, and he'd been pleasantly surprised to hear of Duncan's demise, and Cynthia could understand why. She had been too, to some extent. But now was not the time to vocalise that. "What?" Gared murmured in complete and utter shock. "I'm sorry Gared..." Cynthia frowned sincerely, she felt bad for him having to hear this now. He'd lost everyone, truly everyone. This was bound to be painful. "He was a traitor?" Gared furrowed his brow in confusion. It was clear he was struggling to comprehend this all. Cynthia nodded slowly, she was at a loss for words and right now she just wanted to punch Asher square in the face for putting her in this position. "Let me explain." Cynthia looked imploringly up at him, and he nodded. This was going to take a while.