Chapter 240: Winterfell After a Long Time (Canon Starts)
Winterfell Castle, Stark Lands
POV of Domeric Bolton
When they finally arrived in Winterfell, the atmosphere was tense and palpable.
He knew why that was, thanks to Lyra's spy network.
One day before they arrived, Bran Stark fell from the top of a ruined tower. He fell into a coma soon after and has not woken up since.
When they finally entered the castle, he could see the black stag emblem on a yellow background everywhere. The sigil of the Royal House of Baratheon. He could also see the Red Cloaks everywhere and shook his head.
The King's entourage held far more Lannister men than it held his own Baratheon men. A clear sign of a destabilized throne, if there was any. The Lannisters have secured far more power for themselves. He wondered how the other houses felt about that.
He stopped in the courtyard where Robb and Jon had come out to greet him, along with little Arya.
Rickon was too young to go anywhere on his own. Bran Stark was bedridden, and his mother was probably with him.
That didn't explain Lord Stark's absence.
If Domeric remembered correctly, Arya was 11 years old at this time. Robb and Jon were 15 and would soon be considered grown men.
And Domeric was now 17. Before he knew it, a decade had passed since he had arrived in this world.
About a year earlier, Domeric had come of age, and by then the five-year betrothal agreement he had made with Lord Stark had expired, automatically making Domeric and Sansa betrothed.
Sansa was now 13, and if Domeric and Sansa's betrothal hadn't broken off by the King's order, they would have been married three years later when Sansa turned 16.
This was the major problem with Lord Stark's breaking his promise. If this had happened during the waiting period, it might not have been such a big deal.
But breaking a betrothal was not something any lord would easily accept.
"It's good to see you here, Lord Bolton," Robb said with a genuine smile. "The hospitality of Winterfell is yours."
Domeric climbed down from the horse and pulled both Robb and Jon in a hug before he ruffled up Arya's hair, who shook his hand off and growled at him.
Robb and Jon's direwolves, Midnight and Snowric, were there as well. They had each grown to the size of an adult direwolf, but he could still remember them as the little pups they were when he had given them to Robb and Jon.
He petted their heads as well before turning to the new addition in the family.
"And who are these?" he asked as he sat down and looked at the three direwolves around Robb, Jon, and Arya.
"This is Greywind. My second partner." Robb said as he gestured Greywind to go ahead.
Greywind sniffed Domeric's hand and nipped at his finger before yelping at him in joy.
He smiled and turned to the albino direwolf, which curiously stared at him with its red eyes.
"His name is Snowstorm. At first, I wanted to name it Ghost, but then I remembered that Raksa's direwolf had that name. He doesn't speak much." Jon said, and Snowstorm sniffed Domeric's hand before it went back to Jon.
"Like you then," Domeric said with a smile and turned to the last direwolf.
"And who's this hellion?" he asked.
"Her name is Nymeria," Arya said, her voice filled with childish pride.
"You named your direwolf after the Warrior-Queen of the Rhoynar and the great ancestor of House Martell?"
"Of course." She replied, and Domeric chuckled and petted Nymeria's head before he rose and ruffled up Arya's hair once again, much to her annoyance and the amusement of her brothers.
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Arya," Domeric said with a smile.
Domeric might not like the betrothal that Lord Stark had imposed on him, and he didn't like Lady Stark or Sansa all that much, but he did like the rest of the family.
They reminded him of the Weasleys in how close they were and how much they fought amongst each other despite being a family.
"Hey! Can I see Excalibur?" Arya suddenly asked as she looked at the Valyrian steel sword on his waist.
"Arya. He is a lord. You cannot talk with him like that." Jon whispered to Arya, who looked disgruntled, but Domeric simply chuckled at the siblings.
"It's perfectly alright." He said, "And I can show you Excalibur. But you must be very, very careful with it." He said, and when Arya nodded, he removed the belt from around his waist and showed it to Arya before slowly bringing out the Valyrian sword from its sheath.
Arya's eyes widened with joy, and her hand went to touch the colorful ripples on the sword.
Domeric didn't move and allowed her to admire the sword for a few more moments before he put the sword back in its sheath and put the belt back around his waist.
Arya looked disgruntled but didn't complain. Then her eyes lit up, and she asked, "Hey, Domeric! Where did you get that sword? And can I get one as well?"
Domeric smiled and reached for her head once again, but she quickly moved out of the way. He took back his hand and said. "That's a secret. And who knows. Anything can happen in the future."
"Then can you tell me where the name Excalibur comes from? Nobody here knows." Arya asked.
"Arya…"
Robb started to speak, but Domeric interrupted.
"No problem, Robb. The name Excalibur is based on an ancient legend. A legend involving a brave king, his knights of the round table, his wizard friend, his wicked witch cousin, and a dragon." Domeric said, and Arya's eyes began to shine brighter with each word.
"Really? Tell me more." Arya demanded in an excited voice.
"Maybe another time," Domeric said with a mischievous smile.
Then Robb gestured to one of the servants, who brought forward a plate filled with bread and salt to complete the tradition of the Guest Rights.
"Please partake in our bread and salt, Lord Bolton," Robb said, trying to imitate the serious demeanor of his father. He was doing a decent job of it, but he was still much too young and inexperienced to pull it off perfectly.
"I thank you for your hospitality, Robb Stark." He said and ate the bread and salt. The bread was nowhere near as soft or tasty as the bread he got in Dreadfort, but he didn't mind.
He and his party would only stay here for a few days anyway.
"Let me show you to your rooms, Lord Bolton," Robb said and gestured to Jon, who went to show the rooms to Domeric's men.
Domeric nodded and followed the younger boy to his guest room.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.241: Lord Stark's Apology
Ch.242: We Call These Consequences
Ch.243: Demands