To The North

•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•

[1 Month Later]

An old man softly hummed as he trudged through the tree, occasionally tugging the lead in his hand to urge the mule behind him.

"Aghhh!—" His hums didn't stop, people did all kinds of things in the woods. Metal clashing would be a bigger concern…

Only now did his hums stop as the unforgettable sound of swords clashing resounded, followed by a shout that was cut short… "You basta—!"

The old man continued on his way, hoping to be able to slip past ignored… "Run—!"

"Please sa—" F*ck… the old man was shaking in his boots, as he heard the plea silenced…

"Spare—" The old man's steps froze, as he forced together what courage he had…

"Travel'n off the King's Road? I'd warn ya of bandits an' such but it seems ya could 'andle yours," A old man, leading a mule loaded with sacks watched as an armored man heaved a heavy breath surrounded by mutilated bodies. The ragtag pelts, leathers, mismatched armor, and crude weapons made it obvious enough they weren't the nicest type, yet the large man in a mangled chainmail, soaked in splattered blood looked like the worst of them, yet he tipped his helmet towards the old man.

"Thanks! If you're headed south, keep along this path, you shouldn't find any troubles along the way."

"Alright youngin! 'ave a good day now, ya hear!"

"Haha," Tolfdir chuckled to himself as he watched the old man walk off, finally feeling at peace, it had been too long since he got himself stained in blood, "Now, let's see how much coin is added to what I've gained today."

Tolfdir removed his helmet and shook his head, freeing the hair that stuck to his face, before crouching down as flipping the closest body. It was missing an arm, the man's jaw hung unnaturally, and his own dagger was plunged into his skull. Sifting through the corpses clothes he found a pouch of coppers, smiling he continued his scavenging, only stopping when he heard a pair of light steps approaching through the trees, "Come out! Do it now!"

"Far from the south, Andal…" from behind a tree, a young man, dressed in dark leather, covered in mud revealed himself.

"Ha! Boy, why'd you sneak up on me? There is nothing here for you."

The young man tossed over a pouch, "The House of Reed welcomes Ser Tolfdir Solas; The Creeping Darkness."

Tolfdir furrowed his brows as he loosened the neck of the pouch, but before he could ask the man spoke, "Half a silver for every bandit you slain on your travels through the neck, You've saved the Reed's quite the effort."

Feeling the weight of the pouch, Tolfdir frowned, "You've been following me…?"

"Does it matter if we were? You didn't seem to care until I got too close for comfort."

Tolfdir said with a grin, "I knew there were more than one, I had begun to doubt my senses for a while there."

The young man shook his head, "No, it was only me following you."

Tolfdir waved his hand in annoyance, "Whatever, I'll be leaving once I've finished gathering my things. You can have whatever's left."

The young man's eyes rolled back into his head for a few moments before they fell, he spoke once more, "Lord Manderly is in need of your expertise, He will be waiting at Moat Cailin for your arrival," before swiftly leaving, weaving through the trees.

"Haaa… This is perfect." Work was coming to him, what was better than that as a Sellsword. Looking over the mess he made, he continued to search the corpses for coins before grabbing his bastard sword and ripping a piece of fairly clean cloth from corpses; he quickly wiped off his swords before sheathing them. Mentally reminding himself to properly clean them later, as he'd have the chance to at Moat Cailin.

However that would mean Tolfdir would be trailing off his previously intended path, initially he wanted to wrap around the Saltspear river, and head northwest to Mormont Lands. They may be one of the poorest if not the poorest lands in the north, but they always had trouble with the Ironborns… and the Ironborns always had something useful…

Moving through the forested sections of the neck, Tolfdir entertained many thoughts, while his body moved. Occasionally stopping to check for tracks, he wasn't going to stop hunting. He wanted more…

"If only my horse hadn't died…"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Robert sat in his solar, a happy smile on his face as he took a sip of his mead, before a drink of water that sat on the side. Today, today… he had managed to fit into his armor. No no, not the newly forged gaudy thing he had worn during the tourneys, the one he had worn during the war… and it felt amazing.

How long had it been since he swung his war hammer around with the ease he showed during the Rebellion? An hour, he was just doing it and he felt unwound… as if all the stress that had built up just drained from his body. He was ready for WAR! Sadly there was no war.

Breaking the yellow Baratheon seal on the missive Evelyn had sent, Roberts' eyes scoured the parchment before he grunted, the Kingsguard who stood in the corner near the door took it as his majesty being upset. Yet, the kingly, 'handsome', and downright 'perfect' man was deep in thought.

Robert never thought the 'Coin of Favors' his sister held over him would be used so soon, and for something so simple.

People… Evelyn wanted 5 dozen families every two moons for a year straight, in the message, Evelyn stated that she had informed Stannis of her gathering of 400 of their House's men and their families to the Dimlight Subterrane in the Vale. She had stated that it didn't matter where the families came from, just as long as they were willing to leave, and not the scums of the slums.

"Fetch a steward, and hand me that parchment," Robert spoke as he picked up his quill and took the offered parchment before writing while the Kingsguard stepped out of the room, another stepping into their place, while another replaced the one that was at the door.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Tolfdir stared at the duo in front of him, "What?"

The two looked at each other before one met his eyes and spoke, "Yer ah knight or summin?"

"Sellsword," Tolfdir corrected, "You guys some bandits"

"No, just ran 'way from the missus. My friend here's the same."

Tolfdir showed a kind smile, "Figured, bandits wouldn't be out here with nothing but a hoe as a weapon. Good day."

As Tolfdir left one spoke, "He was about to kill us…"

"Aye…"

"Surprised he hadn't, only bad folk travel off the beaten path."

"Aye."

(A/N: Short Chap)