The Return
Deep within the Wolfwood, Helena stalked a limping, bloodied wolf…
It had taken hours for Helena to find one, and even longer for it to heal enough from her beating when it dared to attack her for it to eventually lead her to its den…
She had heard whispers of her beautiful daughter playing with the pups in Winterfell, and decided that her children should have some of their own. Hounds were much too basic for her children, or so Helena thought…
At first, Helena had wanted to capture a Shadowcat, but she had found the wolf first and thus her thoughts changed… Though, if she stumbled across a Shadowcat, Helena wouldn't mind taking both wolf pups and Shadowcat kittens…
As the sun began to fade away, and darkness began to drown the Wolfwood, Helena watched as the wolf disappeared under the roots of a half—uprooted angled tree…
She brandished her axe in preparation, as she stalked closer and closer, until she could peer within the darkness doing little to hinder her sight as she spotted a whole litter nursing upon the injured wolf's mate—
With no hesitation, Helena butchered the grown wolves, skinned their corpses and stuffed the pups into the bloodied skins of their parents, before running back towards Winterfell…
She hadn't bothered counting them, but there were most definitely more than three wolf pups…
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Sullivan spied his Mother's return, as she sprinted towards the castle walls, a bundle of furred skins jostling around at her back and his eyes narrowed, momentarily worried that his Mother had kidnapped someone's child…
Fortunately, his worries were unfounded, and he found himself staring at the two pups he held in his hands… One is dark brown, and the other is pale brown. Laenah fussed over the pups in his hands while Aria pestered Jon with no small number of questions, having likened the wolf pup to a hound with it curled up against her chest…
While Brandon was actually sharing his pillow with three wolf pups curled up with the youth, as Brandon had nearly screamed in joy at the sight of the bloodied pups, pulling them all into his grasp the moment he had seen them… It seems his youngest brother is happy with having the lion's share, while Sullivan found himself at a loss when it came to how to deal with the two pups in his hands…
From the looks of it, Laenah fancied the dark brown pup, which left him with the light brown pup who had only remained silent this whole time wholly uncaring of being handled as roughly as Mother had, and being in Sullivan unsure grasp…
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Robert shoved a moderate pouch of silver and gold into Ned's hands, "For the food we've eaten during our stay, and for hosting my men.
"Aye," Ned tossed the pouch towards his quartermaster, as he watched the Royal children fuss over wolf pups, "Helena truly would do anything for her children…"
"Aye," Robert nodded along, looking terribly exhausted, "The children were so happy when they learned of the gift their Mother had brought them, that Helena was downright overjoyed… I barely managed to get any sleep tonight, and my luck would have it that I'll have another child in Nine Moons…"
Ned forced a chuckle as he slapped Robert's back, "Don't tempt fate my friend…"
"Bah! Fate can go get fisted for all I care! It better be another boy so I don't have to worry about grown men trying to spin a story in an attempt to wed my daughter! Bah! I'll kill them all!"
Down in the courtyard, Helena gazed upwards to meet Robert's, a look of pure unadulterated fury washing across her face, and Robert cursed as he realized how loudly he had spoken…
The journey back to Kingslanding was long, and difficult as Sullivan had to be brought into the fold to stop the Queen from visiting no small number of lord's, with the intent on ending their slaughtering their families…
The Queen was truly terrifying, to not fear death when she tempted it so… Eddard could only watch from a distance and reevaluate how he was going to broach the subject of Prince Brandon and Sansa…
The young girl had practically begged to be brought along, and when Eddard caved into her pleas, he found most of his other children wishing to be brought along…
Thus, Arya, Sansa, Bran, and Jon joined him in this journey southward…
Though Jon had joined for a different reason, for Crown Prince Sullivan wished to raise the youth into a Lord of his own… Which meant that the truth must be revealed soon…
Robert had changed, but Eddard still feared how the man would react…
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Aria, and Arya had snuck away with a baker's boy in tow; Aria having convinced Ser Jamie and Ser Barristan to source them some wooden weapons.
Thus the two children were off with Ol' Wisened Knight trailing from a safe distance while some of Robert's men cleared the area of passersby covertly with gentle warning words, and some coin to soothe the experience.
Robert had given all permission to a select number of the Kingsguard when it came to using the coffers for the princelings and when paired with the account Maester Theobald had settled for Her Majesty; for the business he sorted through his connects; selling Her Majesty's various creations that she had forgotten about, as the Queen has picked up many trades and thus has created many things that are simply set aside…
As if the Queen simply made it, only for the process and the results ignored. Ser Barristan wondered if that is why the Queen did as much as she did, if it was all for the process and not the results… Different thoughts suited different people.
As for Sullivan, Robb, Jon, and Laenah…? They had settled into a carriage to discuss their opinions; it was mostly fabricated by Sullivan to create a similar situation as his Father, and Robb's Father. Something Sullivan planned to use to gather all the Heir's of the major Lords…
All to foster better relations through the kingdom, he didn't care for petty squabbles that could be squashed in a spar, or minor territory wars between Lower Lords, as it was necessary to keep training and developing… All as long as it followed the necessary laws that allow it…
Robert was off with Ned hunting the closest woods, while Helena was lazing in the grass watching the clouds with Brandon, as Ser Lannister deigned to watch the surroundings.
The Prince's three pups cuddling up with the two cloud gazers…
Brandon was staring intently at his hands, as he slowly crossed his index fingers, his middle fingers looping over and spreading the index fingers will folding his palms together with his ring and pinky fingers pointing forward from his body…
The boy had formed a snake from his hands…
The fingertips of his index fingers were eyes, his thumbs it's fangs, his ring and pinky fingers it's snout…
Ser Lannister stole a moment to look at his gauntleted hands wondering if he could do the same; outside of the armor Ofcourse…
As for Helena…? She held a toothy smile, singing sweet praises, to Ser Lannister it was more than he ever received in his—A sharp silence fell upon his mind, as he took a breath not wishing to head down such a line of thought—It wasn't 'his' fault—Mother wasn't this affectionate anyways—
A deep shadowed pain rose once more bringing a solemnity to Jamie's hidden face, but it softened as he watched as the Queen before his gaze fell to Brandon. A quiet child, and one often overlooked by those at court, or during feasts, but those of the Kingsguard knew better… From all of the Royal children, Brandon was the most like his Mother.
He was learning under a Maester Theobald, an apprentice in all but name, an artist of many sort whether it be with paints, ink, or parchment, an aspiring tailor, and trained the hardest of all the children…
Most thought of the youth as a slothful child who had been coddled for far too long, yet they didn't see the youth burdening his body with heavy plates of iron deep into the night and the exercises he forces upon himself in the privacy of his chambers, nor did they question the pillow he clutched to his chest…
It may be of cotton and silk, but it held a secret all the same… An Ingot of lead was veiled within suspended by leather straps, a weight the youth always carried, a secret not even his mother knows…
Only Ser Lannister…
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Aria deflected Arya's blow, her dress splayed as she spun with the impact and smacked Arya aside with the flat of her blade, before slamming her foot down and advancing forever keeping Arya on the back foot in the same manner Sullivan and Mother would… Brandon didn't like sparring, but he has broken more sparring swords than Aria has fingers.
Everyone seemed blind to Brandon's efforts, not for a lack of trying by the youth, he seemed to wish to emulate a saying from her past life; one that she couldn't truly remember…
Being reincarnated is difficult, Aria internally whined feeling as if she was letting down all those novels she had read… Wait… Was she supposed to be a protagonist?! Make reincarnating easier! Aria cried out internally, and her whining surfaced on her face as a pout as her sword arm dropped, leaving Arya without an attack to defend, the Northgirl steadied herself with heavy breath staring at Aria like she had grown a second head…
This wasn't how it was supposed to go… Arya thought that Aria had to sneak away to train as well, wholly unaware that all of the Queen's children have more training than a Noble House's men—at—arms…
The baker's boy who had been watching with an agape mouth finally seemed to regain awareness as he can only mutter, "Woah…"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Helena wiped her eyes as she stood up from her work, looking down upon the set of clothes she had just finished, a yawn tore through her lips as the numerous sleepless nights began to catch up to her, bundling the clothes up and stuffing them away into a chest. Helena laid down in her seat, her legs stretched across the carriage intent on going to sleep…
Only for the door to open, revealing Robert's smiling face, "What…?"
Helena's voice was soft, and despite the coldness in her tone, there was a warmth to her eyes, as his smile grew gentle, "Finally going to sleep…? Good, I'll leave you be."
"Mhm," Helena just nodding, unaware of her hum as she settled into a comfortable position, and drifted off to sleep…
Only to awake in the dead of night to find Laenah, Sully, Brandon, Robert, Aria, and all their pups crammed into the carriage all sleeping soundly… With Robert claiming her thighs as a pillow, Brandon face deep into his pillow leaning against her side much like Aria who laid on the other side, and then Sullivan and Laenah were tangled with each other…
Helena showed a smile that was neither large, nor small, toothy, nor closed…
A simple smile, one that brought tears to Helena's eyes as she simply laid there enjoying the presence of all her children; making sure well to add Laenah… As for Robert…
Well, that's a story that won't be told… Robert was pleased, and would most definitely remember that story…
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After stopping at a few castles along the way, which were filled aplenty with pointless pleasantries they soon arrived at Kingslanding, and the first place Helena went was the forge.
_____________________________________
(A/NStats -
Main Level: 65 -
• Basic Special Knowledge [Indepth First Aid]
• Synthetic Mutation [False Immortal's Brew]
Strength: 22 [|||||||||||||||||||||||||||] -
• Exquisite Knowledge [Leverage]
Agility: 20 [|||||||||||||||||||||||||||] -
• Moderate Knowledge [Breathing]
• Moderate Knowledge [Flexibility]
Vitality: 23 [||||||||||||||||||||||||||] -
• Basic Uncommon Illness Resistance
• Heightened Physique
• Minor Poison Resistance
Combat -
Defense: 14 [|||||||||||||||||||||||--] -
• Moderate Knowledge [Parry]
Warfare: 9 [||||||||||||||||||-——] -
• Basic Knowledge [One V. Many]
Axe: 10 [||||||||||||————] -
• Moderate Knowledge [Edge Alignment]
Bow: 2 [|||||||—————] +
Hammer/Mace: 6 [|||||||||||||———-] -
• Basic Knowledge [Blunt Alignment]
Spear: 4 [|||||||||||||||||||||||||-] +
Sword: 7 [||||||||||||||———] -
• Basic Knowledge [Edge Alignment]
Unarmed: 20 [|||||||||||—-——] -
• Exquisite Knowledge [Stance]
Skills -
Alchemy: 16 [||||||||||||||||||||||-—] -
• Basic Knowledge [Natural Remedies]
• Moderate Knowledge [Distilled Remedies]
Blacksmithing: 20 [|||||||||||-——-—] -
• Greater Knowledge [Steel]
• Basic Special Knowledge [Damascus]
Bowery: 0 [———————] +
Carpentry: 8 [|||||||||||||||—-——] -
• Basic Knowledge [Rough Building]
Drinking: 8 [||||||||||||||||||||||—] -
• Tempered Gut
Herbalism: 14 [||||||||—-—-—-] +
• Moderate Herbology Knowledge [Riverlands]
• Meticulous Picker
Horsemanship: 5 [|||————-—] -
• Basic Knowledge [Rhythm]
Houndmaster: 0 [———————] +
Hunting: 4 [|||||||||||||||||||||||—] +
Lockpicking: 0 [———————] +
Maintenance: 27 [|||||||||||||———] -
• Basic Knowledge [Tools]
• Basic Knowledge [Weapons]
• Greater Knowledge [Armor]
Pickpocketing: 0 [———————] +
Reading: 29 [||||||||||||||||||||||—] -
• Greater Westerosi Language
• Moderate Calligraphy
• Mindless Reader
Tailoring: 22 [||||———-——--] -
• Moderate Knowledge [Linen]
• Moderate Knowledge [Leather]
• Basic Special Knowledge [Armored Clothes]
Stealth: 18 [|||||||||————] -
• Moderate Habit [Light Footed]
• Basic Knowledge [Camouflage]
Total Level: 303
________________________________
(A/N: [19?? Words] Super Short Chap. Next chapter won't be fire a short while.
Anyways, Until Next Time,
White_Dog
)