A New Hope (Books I - VI)

Chapter 2

Winterfell - Year 300

Robb was leaning against the railing with Jon as they were trying to help Bran with his archery. Jon chuckled as Bran missed, again, and leaned forward to give him a little pat on his shoulder before he looked around and realized that Eddard and Catelyn were watching the spectacle. Jon straightened up and helped Bran reposition before letting him know.

"Go on. Father's watching." Bran stiffened up but tried to not let it show as he glanced over at Jon. Jon gave him a soft smile and nodded quickly before talking again.

"And your mother." Bran huffed and straightened up and tried to shot it again, and missed, again. Jon and Robb couldn't help but let the laughter out as their little brother missed yet again. Ned was apparently getting frustrated with his elder sons behavior as his voice rang out over the yard.

"And which one of you was a marksman at ten? Keep practicing, Bran. Go on." Jon glanced up at his father before looking back at Bran who was trying to be strong and not show his frustration.

"Don't think to much, Bran." Jon said softly as Robb walked up on his other side.

"Relax your bow arm." Robb rumbled out in his deep voice as he finally tried to help his brother. Bran pulled his arm back and was about to let the arrow fly when an arrow came shooting out from behind the boys. Jon and Robb turned with their little brother to see Arya standing on the other side of the rail with a bow in her hands. She let a grin fall over her face as she did a quick curtsy for her perfect shot. Robb and Jon started to roar their laughter out as Bran dropped his bow and leaped over the rail to chase after his sister. Arya took off as well with laughter trailing behind her.

"Quick Bran! Faster!" Robb yelled out between his chuckles as his parents laughed from above them. After their laughter died down Robb assisted Jon with putting away the gear that Bran had left laying on the floor when he ran off, until Theon Greyjoy, their father's ward, came up to them with a grim face. Robb glanced up at him from where he was kneeling to put away the arrows before rising with a sigh.

"What is it Theon?" He rumbled out. Theon let out a little sigh before answering.

"The men have captured a deserter from the Night's Watch a few leagues outside of our walls. Lord Stark wishes you, Jon, and Bran to saddle your horses. You will be riding out with him." Robb nodded before looking over at Jon who got the hint to saddle the horses while Robb found their little brother.

Outside Winterfell's Walls - At the Execution Block

Robb and his brothers watched from near the block as a dirty, wirey man, who could not have been more than five years older than Robb, was walked to the block in chains. Eddard was standing near the block facing the deserter.

"White Walkers. I saw the White Walkers. White Walkers. The White Walkers, I saw them." The man was mumbling in a crazed manner as he was dragged. Robb shot a glance over at Jon over Bran's head as concern settled in his mind. He thought the White Walkers were gone. When the deserter arrived at the block, he turned to face Ned. The man looked around before looking back at the Lord of Winterfell.

"I know I broke my oath. And I know I'm a deserter. I should have gone back to the Wall and warned them. But I saw what I saw. I saw the White Walkers. People need to know. If you can get word to my family, tell them I'm no coward. Tell them I'm sorry." Ned nodded yes at him, and tried to hide the confusion spreading across his face as the deserter was lain on the tree limb that was serving as the executioner's block. Ned turned towards Theon who was holding his scabbard, and withdrew his Valyrian steel sword, Ice, from the scabbard. Ned lowered the point of his sword into the ground as he bowed his head, almost in prayer. The deserter looked over at the sword and then back to the ground, and Robb thought he heard him speak.