And now it begins

A pleasant, safe, silent and reassuring warmth.

These were my sensations as if I were at the bottom of an enthralling pool and could breathe slowly, while delicate hands caressed my skin gently.

'I am inside the womb of my second mother,' I thought, enjoying every moment in this different paradise.

'Correction: I was.'

I felt something break, and something else beginning to pull me elsewhere.

About three hours later, total frost, severe burning in my eyes, and a deafening noise.

'Argh! That was my umbilical cord. Whoever you are, I damn you, butcher!'

In my heart, I believe that cutting the cord was mostly a psychological deprivation than a physical one. Like the deprivation of a bond that, who knows the reason, had comforted me. I felt wounded in my soul.

'I don't understand what they're saying...', I thought, as someone pressed insistently on my chest.

I had no clue where I was, everything was a blur, voices were agitated, and it was hard to focus.

I realized I had to end the excruciating agony, so I began to cry and scream with all the energy I had.

'Damn it!' I cursed. 'Remember the first rule: [Show your skills, knowledge, and qualities in a gradual and justified manner, or else armies of people will come marching after you based on the hymn Let's Burn That Monster!]'

*****

POV Varra Tallhart

In the Northern Lands, Torrhen's Square.

Year 278, Fourth day of the First Moon…

'I did it! He was born healthy and strong!' thought Varra, happy and exhausted.

"You are beautiful, my son..." she said later, clutching a dirty, screaming bundle tightly to her. "Master, will my son be all right?"

His frown betrayed a certain anguish.

Maester Golbarth smiled thoughtfully at her, explaining it was not uncommon for an infant to cry immediately when pulled from its mother's womb. "I must attend to you now, however. You are bleeding, my Lady."

"Master!" Helman Tallhart, Torrhen's Square Master, burst into his lady's chambers and rushed to her bedside. "You must save her! You must save her now!"

"It's too late," Varra whispered, at the brink of her strength. "We knew this would happen. It was written. Let me be alone with you."

"Don't listen to her," Helman retorted. "Save her! Now!"

"Oh, my dear," whispered the woman in a caressing voice. "The gods predicted this. We knew this would happen..."

After a few seconds of the couple being left alone in the room with the newborn....

"You can't leave me!" exclaimed the other, in despair.

"No, no... You have to listen to me, Helman... anf...anf..." With her last remaining effort, Varra said:

"He will be the key... The key to a chance for peace between my people and yours. I have seen him in my dreams, Helman.

Protect him, help him grow, guide him, and when the time comes, tell him the truth... Swear to me that you will, that you will do all that you can. Swear to me, Helman!"

Helman bowed his head to his wife's chest. "I swear it by the Old and New gods. I swear it on my life and everything I hold dear. May the gods and men damn me for eternity if I should ever fail in my pledge!"

"I have thought... of a name..." gasped Varra finally. "That of the knight and his squire prince you were telling me about..."

"Duncan." A blissful sigh. "It is a perfect name, my love. Yes, our son will be named Duncan Tallhart."

This was how the new lord of Torrhen's Square was baptized.

And with one last smile on her face, Varra handed the child to her husband, who held the firstborn to himself. He kissed his forehead.

Then the light left the eyes of Varra Tallhart, daughter of the Free Folk and descendant of the ancient King-Behind-The-Wall Joramun.

*****

POV Duncan

Torrhen Square.

Year 278 BC, fifth day of the seventh moon.

About Six Months Later…

"Yes! I can finally more or less understand this sort of philo-Germanic language, whatever it is!"

Some of the terms were still unclear, and in itself, it was not at all simple. I mainly heard my "father" speak, sometimes maester Golbarth. Nanny, on the other hand, sang all the time.

Ah, Metatron had thrown me a curveball, there was no doubt about it!

I couldn't even apply my breathing techniques, I had only tried for a minute once and woke up in Maester Golbarth's room, with Helman slumped in the corner. He had dark circles under his eyes and the despairing expression of someone who couldn't bear to grieve again, which meant my body still couldn't handle the physical strain.

On a mental level, it was a different story.

I was basically caged. A microscopic cage that wouldn't even allow me to crawl. For the time being.

Humiliating, right? Did I mention that Metraton is an asshole?

Anyway, today was my debut day. I had been practicing and was ready for the big event.

Helman Tallhart arrived to say goodnight to me with the customary kiss on the forehead.

When he bent down towards me, in the arms of my wet nurse, Bicka, I moved mine towards him, smiling. My father greeted me, pulling me up.

"Good night, my little Ser Duncan," he said, and kissed my forehead.

'Houston!', I thought. 'Ready to go! Verbalization in three, two, one...'

"P... pp... pa-pa!"

My father stared at me with his mouth open and eyes wide.

"Bi-Bicka did you hear that too?" His astonishment even made him stammer.

Bicka the woman who served as my cow, cradle and caregiver, approached me with a trembling mouth.

"Oh, milord. The gods...this is the work of the gods!"

*****

Five months later…

Year 278 BC, eleventh day of the twelfth moon.

Bicka had left the room.

My jailer had let his guard down. I caught a glimpse of light through the crack in the door.

"This is my chance!", I thought as I slid down from the cradle.

I crawled quickly to cover the few steps that separated me from freedom.

I pushed the door ajar with my weight.

It was the second time this week that I managed to slip out of my nurse's loving grasp.

'I'll at least reach the stairs today! Come on, Duncan! One foot after the other!

Get up and walk, Lazarus! At least seven consecutive steps before you fall! You can do it, soldier!'

I managed to stand up and perform a barely passable stroll.

One after another.

On the fifth, I fell off balance to my left, but I didn't give up.

It was a rare moment to practice on a straight run and breathe new air.

My leg muscles were not yet fully developed, and my center of gravity was off balance.

Learning to walk and move independently was the first step to my goals.

Exercise was the key.

I knew Bicka would be back within minutes. The more distance I could leave behind, the more time I would have to perform my exercises in peace.

After my 32nd fall, I heard a voice come from the hallway.

"Tom! Tom! The little lord has run away again! Help me look for him!" It was my nurse.

Tom would come looking for me.

Thirty feet... twenty-five...twenty...fifteen...and game over.

Two hands grabbed me and lifted me off the ground. But to my surprise, they were neither Bicka's nor Tom's.

It was my new father Helman who had accomplished the capture of the fugitive. "You little brat! You already know what you're in for, don't you?"

"No! No! Good Duncan! Duncan good! Bad Papa!"

The punishment began.

Bicka arrived and amusedly watched a father continue to blow on the uncovered belly of a poor child innocent of all charges.

A minute later the torture ended... lucky for me.

"Milord, I am mortified... I..." Bicka was interrupted.

"Don't worry Bicka. I'll take care of Duncan for the rest of the morning. You go ahead and get some rest." Said Helman quietly taking away the servant's worries.

"Yes, milord. Thank you. If you need me, I will be in my chambers." Bicka left after bowing.

"Duncan today will be a special day. We are going together for the first time to the Godswood and we will meet two special people. Do you want to come with Papa!" asked a smiling man.

"Yeahh! Godswood!" I raised my arms like I was on a roller coaster and squealed my approval as loud as I could.

Outside...

Light at last! For the first time in twelve months, I was seeing something other than the stone, my crib, and a few tapestries and rugs decorated with the symbols of the Tallhart House.

I promised myself that as soon as I had the chance, I would burn every single piece of poorly crafted fabric that adorned that small room.

I was able to see the entire castle of Torrhen's Square: stone walls nearly a hundred feet high, with square towers at each corner and a fortress, also square within the walls.

From up there you could see a landscape that stretched for many miles. The fortress was situated on a small peninsula surrounded by a fairly deep lake. Beyond it stretched snow-covered mountain ranges that foretold the coming of winter. On the opposite side, you could see white valleys accompanied by small meadows of trees. It was breathtaking.

Upon reaching the forest, my father introduced me to my aunt and uncle.

"Brother, Lady Berena... I present Duncan Tallhart, my son and heir."

A man in his late teens and a woman in her early fifties stared at me curiously. Though it was I who felt the most.

Something unexpected stood out in front of me.

As soon as I entered the park, I felt a refreshing and satisfying feeling inside. The air filled my lungs and I felt myself getting calmer and more relaxed and then I saw them. Two numbers made of glowing green smoke floated above the heads of those two individuals. I turned around and noticed the same peculiarity on Helman's head.

Leobald Tallhart (Helman's brother): [4];

Berena (Hornwood future wife of Leobald): [1]

Helman Tallhart: [6]

'That number should be the level, but why am I only seeing it now! It never activated before, I thought it was due to age,' I pondered for a moment. 'Godswood! Here's the answer. I must have made contact with the divine energy that activated my first ability!'

"My nephew has a piercing gaze! I've never seen a child who hasn't even turned one yet stare at someone like that!" my supposed uncle exclaimed laughing.

"Do you want to hold him?" Helman asked.

"Of course, I do! Let me take a look at this supposed genius little demon you've been bragging about so much!"

'Oh yeah? Who did you call a demon, you redneck!' I thought irritated. As soon as Leobald took me in his arms and brought his face closer to mine, I cleaved the first open-handed blow toward his forehead.

*Smack!* and I continued repeatedly hitting (as hard as I could) that face that was crying out for slaps

"Bad Uncle! Bad Uncle!" *Smack!, Smack!* Two minute slaps had hit the target before Leobald pulled me away to a safe distance.

Helman keeled over in laughter, Berena trying with much effort to maintain the composure and dignity of a future Lady wife. My uncle, startled by the blows, stood still and stared at me for a moment before joining in the laughter.

"A true knight! Fully prepared to defend his honor and that of his lord! " roared Leobald in a proud tone between laughs.

An hour of praise and talk later...

It was just me, my uncle, and Helman. Sitting on the moss and fallen red leaves of the carved Tree-Heart in the center of the Godswood. I had curled up between my father's legs as I pretended to sleep peacefully while keeping my ears wide open. The young bride-to-be had gone to her chambers to prepare for the welcoming banquet.

The Master of Torrhen's Square and his brother took the opportunity to discuss matters that required greater seriousness and attention.

"So brother have you decided whether to accept Lord Cerwyn's marriage proposal?" Leobald asked in a less playful tone.

"Lady Myra Cerwyn is seventeen years old. A young woman, beautiful and pure. She is Lord Medger's only direct cousin and one of the few Cerwyns left in this generation." Helman sighed in a surrendered tone.

"I don't know if I can make it, Leobald, you know I haven't gotten over Varra's grief yet," Helman replied.

"Brother, winter is coming... The peasants will suffer without the Cerwyn's grain supply, and as you know the seat of House Hornwood is hundreds of leagues away. Soon the roads will be blocked. We cannot risk being isolated here without allies," my uncle replied immediately afterwards and continued, "Lord Cerwyn has already accepted my proposal to postpone the wedding, but within a year at the very least we must accommodate lady Myra.

I would not insist if we were not in such a precarious situation." Helman took a good minute of careful consideration before answering:

"I will send a raven to lord Medger Cerwyn... I will accept the proposal." Said the lord of Torrhen's Square.

'Well well, it looks like I'll have a stepmother soon,' I thought, still pretending to be asleep.

'I'll have to give her a warm welcome. After all, Winter is Coming.'

*****

POV Myra Cerwyn

Near the road to Torrhen's Square.

Year 279 AC thirteenth day of the tenth moon.

About eleven months after Helman accepted the proposal....

Myra couldn't stop thinking about the words of her cousin, lord Medger Cerwyn.

By now she was almost at Torrhen's Square to meet her future husband and stepchild...

'That child... could I really do that?' the young bride-to-be thought with concern and disquiet.

She remembered her cousin's words, [Remember, this is a great opportunity for our family. The alliance between our two Houses will make us stronger. With this union, we will be able to root even deeper and firmer roots. Who knows, your children in the future might even become the new lords of Torrhen's Square. After all, the rumors about the 'bastard son of Wildling' might be true, or maybe... the boy might even have 'an accident' in the future.] The word 'accident' hid several meanings, she knew. Her cousin, the Lord of House Cerwyn, was not an evil person, but over the years several 'accidents' occurred in Cerwyn lands in various disputes with tax-evading lesser lords or dishonest merchants. Medger had no qualms about doing whatever needed to be done to safeguard his family.

The cousin hoped that Myra, too, would in the future have the 'moral elasticity' to act on behalf of the future of House Cerwyn.

'Would I be capable of doing that?' she wondered for the umpteenth time.

'In the future, I might have a son and his half-brother might see him as a threat and so getting rid of him would be...' she interrupted this forced thought as the carriage had stopped.

It had finally arrived at its destination. A Cerwyn soldier opened the door.

Myra stepped out of the carriage in her expensive and elegant fur coat lined with the finest wool. Straight light brown hair finely braided down to her chest. The girl, who had recently turned eighteen was a true Nordic beauty.

The daylight blinded her for a few moments making it difficult for her to perceive her surroundings at that moment.

A few uncertain steps later, Myra caught sight of a small procession of guards forming a path for two individuals in the center: a man about half her age, about six feet tall, with dark brown hair, pleasant looking and well-groomed, and a beautiful child with silvery hair, piercing green eyes and dressed in finely woven clothes.

Myra was mesmerized by the child and continued to advance, staring at him involuntarily.

"Lady Cerwyn, Torrhen's Square welcomes you. I am Helman Tallhart and this here is my son Dunc..." An innocent voice interrupted Helman.

"Papa! Papa! Who is that beautiful princess? Is she that fairy tale princess you were telling me about last night?"

Slight nods of laughter echoed through the castle.

"Duncan!!! I beg your pardon, my lady… emm… No, she is the special maiden we spoke of this morning. My future wife and your future stepmother." Said Helman holding back the child.

"Really?!!! Papa, you are the luckiest man in the world! She is beautiful!!!"

This time even the ceremonial guards in all their composure couldn't hold back their laughter. Helman blushed embarrassed not knowing what to do.

Duncan slipped from his father's grasp and hurried a few steps closer to lady Cerwyn.

"So, you are my new Mama, Lady Princess?!" asked the child with a look that pleaded hope and expectation.

Myra Cerwyn collapsed to her knees hugging the baby in tears.

'I AM A MONSTER!!! A MONSTER!!! A monster who deserves to rot in the seven hells just for thinking she could hurt a child!!!' Shrieked the woman inwardly, holding the little gentleman Lord firmly in her arms.

At that moment Myra regretted every single bad thought she had ever had for the tender creature she held in her arms.

"Yes...yes little one...I'll be your new Mama!" Myra managed to say with a small smile between sobs.

"Why are you crying Mama?! Did someone hurt you? Tell me who it was, I'll protect you!" said the child pulling out his wooden sword. The little aspiring knight and sworn protector of Myra cleaved three imprecise blows wide open to demonstrate his fighting skills.

"I... sigh... Ugh... Aargh!!! Thank you, my baby!"

Squealed Lady Cerwyn in pain and tears as she tried to hug her new protector.